Sheridan WYO Rodeo Magazine 2019 by Kristen Czaban

2019 SCHEDULE OF Events THURSDAY, JULY 11

**Pink Night (wear pink)** 11 a.m. Rodeo slack (Fairgrounds) 5 p.m. Carnival (Fairgrounds close at midnight) 6:30 p.m. Kids Calf Scramble (Fairgrounds) 7 p.m. Second PRCA rodeo performance including World Championship Indian Relay Race (Fairgrounds)

FRIDAY, JULY 12

SATURDAY, JULY 6 2 p.m.

Second annual Untapped Homebrew Festival (Brundage Street by the WYO Performing Arts and Education Center)

TUESDAY, JULY 9

7 a.m. PRCA steer roping slack (Fairgrounds) 4 p.m. Sheridan WYO Rodeo Boot Kickoff (Whitney Commons) 6 p.m. WPRA Barrel Racing Slack (Fairgrounds) 7 p.m. Boot Kickoff Street After Party featuring Tris Munsick & the Innocents (Black Tooth Brewing Company)

WEDNESDAY, JULY 10

**Kids Night (kids 12 and younger — tickets $7)** 9 a.m. Rodeo slack (Fairgrounds) 5 p.m. Carnival — Buddy Night (Fairgrounds close at midnight) 6:30 p.m. Kids Calf Scramble (Fairgrounds) 7 p.m. First PRCA rodeo performance including World Championship Indian Relay Races (Fairgrounds)

**Patriot Night (wear red)** 6 a.m. Dr. Bisbee Memorial Boy Scouts Troop 117 Pancake Breakfast (Grinnell Plaza) 8 a.m. Sneakers & Spurs Rodeo Run (Main Street) 9 a.m. Beds Along the Big Horns (Main Street) 10 a.m. “Saddle Up for the WYO Rodeo” parade (Main Street) 11 a.m. Rodeo slack (Fairgrounds) 12 p.m. First People’s Powwow and Dance following parade (Historic Sheridan Inn) 1 p.m. Kiwanis Duck Race (Kendrick Park) 5 p.m. Carnival (Fairgrounds close at midnight) 6:30 p.m. Kids Calf Scramble (Fairgrounds) 7 p.m. Third PRCA rodeo performance including World Championship Indian Relay Races (Fairgrounds) Following rodeo Street dance (Main Street downtown)

SATURDAY, JULY 13

**Celebrating 89 years** 9 a.m. Rodeo slack (Fairgrounds) 5 p.m. Carnival (Fairgrounds close at midnight) 6:30 p.m. Coronation of the 2019 Sheridan WYO Rodeo Royalty (Fairgrounds) 7 p.m. Fourth PRCA rodeo performance including World Championship Indian Relay Races (Fairgrounds) Following rodeo Street dance (Main Street downtown)

SUNDAY, JULY 14

10 a.m. Bob King Memorial Team Roping (Fairgrounds) 1 p.m. Tailgate party and polo games — The WYO Rodeo Cup, Eatons’ Cup and Cowboy Polo (Big Horn Equestrian Center)

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON RODEO WEEK AND THE SURROUNDING EVENTS, SEE THE SHERIDAN WYO RODEO WEBSITE AT WWW.SHERIDANWYORODEO.COM OR CALL SHERIDAN WYO RODEO CENTRAL AT 307-675-9963. 4

SHE RI DAN WYO RODE O 2 019

WHAT'S INSIDE 12

SHERIDAN WYO RODEO BOARD

Welcoming new members in 2019

24 28

SHERIDAN STYLE

CUSTOM-MADE SADDLES FIT THE HORSE AND RIDER SAVE A HORSE, RIDE A SADDLE How ranch workers choose their equipment

SADDLE UP, COWBOY

The many variations of rodeo saddles

ABOVE | Jordan Wacey Spears of Redding, California, spills off his bull during the Sheridan WYO Rodeo. Photo by Justin Sheely 6

SHE RI DAN WYO RODE O 2 019 – B Y T H E S H ER ID A N PR ES S

A SPECIAL EDITION OF

VOLUME 8 | NUMBER 3 PUBLISHED JUNE 2019 Destination Sheridan is a lifestyle and tourism magazine dedicated to serving the greater Sheridan area. Its circulation reaches visitor centers, places of hospitality, local businesses and other establishments in northern Wyoming, South Dakota, Montana and Colorado, in addition to home delivery customers of The Sheridan Press. It is also available online at thesheridanpress.com. All photos in Destination Sheridan are by Matt Gaston or are file photos from The Sheridan Press archives unless otherwise noted. Copyright Sheridan Newspapers, Inc. All uncredited stories are from The Sheridan Press staff reports.

CONTRIBUTORS Kristen Czaban Publisher

Jon Cates Art director

Chad Riegler Operations manager

Matthew Gaston Photojournalist

Becky Martini Office manager Janea LaMeres Lead marketing specialist Mandi Hicks Marketing specialist Thomas Snooks Marketing specialist

38 44

FROM APPLIED ART TO FINE ART

Sheridan WYO Winter Rodeo

PRESERVING HISTORY

YOUTH ENGAGEMENT

Kids Calf Scramble debuts in WYO Rodeo this year

100

RODEO IN THE SNOW

Marsden rebuilds hay rack wagon

ON THE ROAD AGAIN

Deb Mclain Graphic designer Caitlin Addlesperger Director of special projects

Ashleigh Fox Editor Michael Illiano Journalist Bud Denega Journalist Ryan Patterson Journalist Jana Mackin Journalist Carrie Haderlie Journalist

ON THE COVER A cowboy competes at the Sheridan WYO Rodeo in 2018. Courtesy photo | Eva Scofield

A PRODUCT OF

Miles upon miles of wheel time

PARACHUTE MEN

Former SEALS to jump with flag at start of rodeo WWW.THESHERIDANPRESS.COM

SHERIDAN WYO RODEO BOARD SADDLES UP FOR 2019

Nick siddle

SHE RI DAN WYO RODE O 2 019 – B Y T H E S H ER ID A N PR ES S

owdy, friends. Welcome to the 89th Sheridan WYO Rodeo festivities, themed “Saddle Up for the WYO!” We are celebrating the time-honored tradition of saddlemaking and leatherworking in the Sheridan area and the other Sheridan tradition of raising and training some of the finest horses anywhere. We invite you to “saddle up” and come along for the ride. I have the unparalleled opportunity to preside over the award-winning volunteer WYO Rodeo board, 13 of the hardest working, most public-minded members of our community, with a single goal of providing a tremendous event for Sheridan and the surrounding area. We have the assistance of the WYO Rodeo SPURS group, our community volunteers and the outstanding volunteer drill and flag carrying team, the WYO Rodeo Wranglers. We will open the evenings Wednesday through Friday with a new event, the kids calf scramble, so get your kids there early as this will be the pre-rodeo entertainment. Saturday evening will open with the WYO Rodeo Royalty Coronation. We have a new grand entry treat with the addition of the Valor Skydiving Team bringing Old Glory into the arena each evening. As usual, the action-packed performance will kick off with the World Champion Indian Relay Races, a WYO Rodeo tradition, finishing with the world champions crowned Saturday. WYO Rodeo week is truly a community event. With family reunions,

class reunions and friendly once-ayear get togethers, it has become a tradition for people to say, “I’ll see you at rodeo.” It all comes together with the board goals of supporting and producing an outstanding PRCA rodeo, promoting the western lifestyle and economic development in the Sheridan community. This year even marked a new tradition, the WYO Winter Rodeo, a new funfilled, exciting western event. All this could not happen without the great support we receive from the community and particularly our outstanding sponsors and partners. For four evenings, you will be treated to pre-rodeo entertainment, world-class livestock and top PRCA and WPRA competitors; three of the best pickup men in the business; two of our nation’s best bullfighters; and the best barrel man and entertainer anywhere. Top that off with an outstanding rodeo announcer; a fast-paced variety of edge-of-yourseat events; and plenty of food, drink and merchandise options. Before and after the rodeo, you can enjoy the carnival, plentiful concessions and downtown activities galore, not to mention Friday’s downtown parade and First People’s Powwow. Don’t forget to finish the week with polo and a tailgate party at the Big Horn Equestrian Center on Sunday. Enjoy the week. Take time with family and friends to entertain and be entertained. Be excited to “Saddle Up for the WYO” this year. Have a great time, and “LET’S GET WYO’D!”

GET YOUR WYO RODEO

TICKETS

heridan WYO Rodeo walkup ticket sales are available downtown at the Elks Lodge, 45 W. Brundage St., where customers may purchase their tickets in person or have their online ticket purchases printed. Box office hours are Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 4–7 p.m. and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Ticket sales at the Elk’s end July 6. After that, tickets may be purchased online at the box office all four nights of the rodeo until they’re sold out. Please note that E-Tix is the Sheridan WYO Rodeo’s only authorized online ticket seller. Third-party ticket sellers do not support the rodeo’s community mission, and tickets purchased through third-party vendors may not be valid.

S HERIDAN WYO RODE O 2019 – B Y T H E S H ER ID A N PR ES S

SHERIDAN WYO RODEO

BOARD

ABOVE | The Sheridan WYO Rodeo Board, from left, includes Nick Siddle, Frank Boley, Hayden Heaphy, Lonnie Wright, Jeff Wells, Linda St. Clair, Zane Garstad, Jess Sams, Nate Boyd, Jim Wolf, Sarah Schreiber, Billy Craft and Charlie Jorgenson. Courtesy photo | Jenae Neeson

ach summer, an army of women and men in matching button-down shirts puts on the largest event of the year — Sheridan WYO Rodeo. The WYO Rodeo Board of Directors, consisting of 13 community members, pulls off a substantial feat each year with all the events surrounding the pinnacle Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association competitions. In awe of the work the current crew completes with ease and humbled by being chosen to join the powerful team of coordinators this year are Sarah Schreiber and Nate Boyd. The process to become a board member is competitive, and leaving the board usually only happens when someone moves or retires. This year, one member moved out of town and one more retired. “It’s not frequently that we get new board members, but we did have two

openings this year, and we were able to fill them with two, we think, really qualified people,” Board President Nick Siddle said. The board of directors works through the long list of volunteers who help put the rodeo together to find potential candidates for open positions. After compiling the first list, the executive officer team on the board interviews top candidates, and the team collectively chooses board members from there. Two longtime board members — Sam Summers, who moved, and Larry Gold, who retired after serving as board treasurer for many years — vacated their positions after the 2018 Sheridan WYO Rodeo. Schreiber and Boyd accepted the honor and responsibility of serving on the WYO Rodeo board indefinitely. Before the week of fun begins, though, the two had to undergo a hefty on-

S HERIDAN WYO RODE O 2019 – B Y T H E S H ER ID A N PR ES S

boarding process. The board chose Schreiber — one of the lead veterinarians at Moxey Schreiber Veterinary Hospital in Sheridan — and Boyd — a longtime rodeo athlete and banker at the First Northern Bank in Sheridan — because of their commitment to the rodeo in years past. “With animal welfare being one of the big focuses of rodeo, I think it adds a new dimension to our committee that’s really familiar with animal welfare and can really help us along those lines,” Siddle said. “Plus, she’ll be very good at working with all the veterinarians we bring in during the rodeo, and (she) has a lot of expertise there.” Boyd also volunteered to help coordinate the WYO Rodeo Wranglers and judge the Indian Relay Races. “(Boyd) offers us a pretty good bunch of skills that we can use,” Siddle said.

WOOD

FIRED

GRILL

POISED AND HUMBLED Although she has been part of the WYO Rodeo volunteer veterinarian group since her predecessor Lance Moxey passed the buck, Schreiber has never before stepped into such a large role for the WYO Rodeo. She is slowly working through the bulk of information about scheduling veterinarians for every element involving an animal during the weeks’ worth of rodeo festivities — which account for most of them — while keeping in mind the bigger picture of animal welfare that sits as a pinnacle conversation surrounding rodeo today. “I’m terrified...I’m just looking at Nate and I, and I’m like, ‘In 10 years if we have half the grasp of the concept of what’s going on,’ because a lot of the board members have been there for a long time.” Schreiber described the honor as similar to being elected mayor as far as time commitment and caliber of work that needs to be considered when taking the job. Despite the heavy load now in her lap, Schreiber is in her element. “It’s what I love,” Schreiber said. “I love rodeo and I love being a vet, and the Sheridan WYO Rodeo, I’ve always been proud to be a small part of it. Like I said, I’m pretty humbled and terrified to be a bigger part of it.” READY TO DIVE Boyd said he might have known a little more about

the workload for the board than Schreiber, but he is still learning under the direction of Billy Craft. Boyd’s interest in rodeo started when he was around 10 or 11 years old. Since then, he has rodeoed for the University of Wyoming and became involved with the WYO Rodeo as a volunteer. His boss at First Northern Bank was also his partner in Indian Relay Race judging. In that, judges score for best costumes, as well as the technical side of the races. The board came to Boyd with the opportunity to apply for an open spot on the board. The position, though, is more than a shirt for Boyd, and he believes that knowledge of that mindset is the mark of a successful board member. “The biggest thing that anybody, newcomers to the board or whatever down the road, it’s not about wearing the shirt,” Boyd said. “There’s a lot of people that want to be on the board, and it’s to have a shirt and walk around. It’s a commitment, it’s not a shirt.” COMMUNITY EVENT The Sheridan WYO Rodeo serves as the biggest event for the community of Sheridan County, and it could not be run without the board members. “This is more than a rodeo, it’s a huge community event,” Boyd said. “It’s not our rodeo, it’s not the board members’ rodeo, it’s the community’s rodeo and carnival and the whole summer event for Sheridan County.”

S HERIDAN WYO RODE O 2019 – B Y T H E S H ER ID A N PR ES S

NEW MEMBER QUICK FACTS

Sarah Schreiber • Owner of Moxey Schreiber Veterinary Hospital • Grew up in Ennis, Montana • Attended Montana State University on a rodeo scholarship • Received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Colorado State University

NATE BOYD • Employed by First Northern Bank in Sheridan • Raised in Basin • Attended Sheridan College • Graduated from the University of Wyoming

WWW.THESHERIDANPRESS.COM

SPONSORS CREDITED WITH MAKING RODEO POSSIBLE

he Sheridan WYO Rodeo will celebrate its 89th year this July. Managed and organized by a group of dedicated community volunteers, the weeklong experience promotes the sport of rodeo, western values and community. None of that would be possible without the help of the rodeo’s sponsors. With the event drawing more than

24,000 people each year, sponsors help to ensure each of them has access to four nights of fun entertainment. The WYO places in the top 40 of all professional rodeos in the U.S. and Canada and pays out more than $314,000 in prize money. The rodeo provides sponsorships ranging from $250 to more than $25,000. These levels include the

Sheridan WYO Rodeo Posse, Banner, Contract, Rodeo Event Performance (including the World Championship Indian Relay Races), Special Event, Jumbotron and Official Sponsor designations. In exchange for support, Sheridan WYO Rodeo provides sponsors with exposure at the largest event in Sheridan County.

2019 sponsors OFFICIAL

CHUTESIDE TENT

WILD PONY RACE

M&M’s, EMIT, Coca-Cola, Gold Buckle Club, Sheridan WYO Posse

C&B Operations

The Powder Horn

JUMBOTRON

ANIMAL CARE

ANNOUNCER

Wood Group

Sheridan Horse Palace

CONTESTANT HOSPITALITY

STOCK CONTRACTOR

WYO Rodeo Whisky

Zowada Recycling and Steel

SHERIDAN WYO WRANGLERS

BULLFIGHTERS

Sportsman’s Warehouse

Holiday Inn

EMERGENCY MEDICAL

CLOWN

Crowley Fleck PLLP

Perkins Family Restaurant

BAREBACK RIDING AND BULL RIDING

PICK-UP MEN

Hammer Chevrolet

CONTESTANT NUMBER

Sheridan Travel & Tourism and RAMACO

PERFORMANCE Big Horn Beverage, Cheyenne Metz Beverage, The Sheridan Press, Standish Family Fund

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP INDIAN RELAY RACES Sheridan Seed, Holy Cow Ranch, Jan Pamela Polo Ranch, First Federal Bank & Trust

PARADE Century 21 BHJ Realty, Inc.

BOOT KICKOFF Historic Sheridan Inn

WAGON Cato Ranch

AWARDS PARTNER Montana Silversmiths

TIMED EVENT CHUTE Powers Land Brokerage, LLC

SPURS Verizon CellOnly

TAILGATE Alliance Tire Inc.

INDIAN VILLAGE Total Comfort Heating and Air Conditioning 16

STEER WRESTLING First Interstate Bank

STEER ROPING ERA-Carroll Realty

SADDLE BRONC RIDING

TruBuilt Builders Bistro 307

RODEO DAYSHEETS Western Transport LLC

PRE-RODEO Rocky Mountain Propane Association

Farmer’s Co-Op

INSIDE CHUTE SIGN

TEAM ROPING HEELER

Lee Iron Works, Cowboy State Bank and Hayward Baker Inc

Heartland Kubota

TEAM ROPING HEADER Sheridan Orthopaedic Associates

FLAG PRESENTATION Rocking WW Minerals

ARENA BANNERS Big Horn Surgical, Big Horn Mountain Radio Network, Westview Health Care, US Bank, Craftco Metal Services, Wyoming Rib and Chop House

TIE DOWN ROPING Shipton’s Big “R”

BARREL RACING Sheridan Realty Associates

S HERIDAN WYO RODE O 2019 – B Y T H E S H ER ID A N PR ES S

SPECIAL THANKS Jim and Candy Hardesty for providing hay for the livestock

EMIT joins ranks as official sponsor

YO Rodeo president Nick Siddle announced early this year that Sheridan-based EMIT Technologies is now an official WYO sponsor, alongside M&M’s, Coca-Cola, Gold Buckle Club and the WYO Rodeo Posse. It’s been 10 years since the WYO Rodeo has added an official sponsor to the lineup. First Federal Bank and Trust has also joined the family as one of the WYO Rodeo’s World Championship Indian Relay sponsors. “Our mission is to preserve and celebrate our western culture while actively contributing to Sheridan’s economy, and we like to partner with like-minded folks,” Siddle said. “EMIT has been part of the WYO Rodeo family for years, and they’ve just ratcheted up their support to the WYO Rodeo’s top-tier, official sponsor ranks. EMIT is one of Sheridan’s fastest growing companies, a top employer and major economic contributor in Sheridan and beyond.” Casey D. Osborn, CEO of EMIT, said the company and its staff are thrilled with the opportunity to become one of the WYO Rodeo’s official sponsors. “The Sheridan WYO Rodeo brings us all together like no other event, and at EMIT we believe ‘together’ is when Sheridan is at its best,” Osborn said. “That’s at the heart of our sponsorship.” EMIT solves problems and designs solutions for natural gas compression applications.

Welder Sedric Raines works in a shop at EMIT Technologies on Heartland Drive. | Photo by Justin Sheely WWW.THESHERIDANPRESS.COM

OUT THE DOOR GOLD BUCKLE HAS WAITING LIST

he south side of the rodeo arena at the Sheridan County Fairgrounds teems with generous supporters of the pinnacle summer event — Sheridan WYO Rodeo. Those filling the red seats have rich history and deep roots in the sport that go beyond food, drinks and dancing. The Gold Buckle Club gives in excess of $50,000 a year to the event. That started at $25,000 per year, but the club has since grown. It all started when founder Doug Meier borrowed the idea from the rodeo in Ellensburg, Washington. In 2005, 49 people joined and attended the first drawing to assign buckle numbers for the club’s now-famous belt buckles. By virtue of random drawings, Troy Baker holds membership No. 1. Of those 49 original

crew, there are only a couple who are not still active members. The Gold Buckle Club is a members-only organization that allows a maximum of 250 people to join by paying a $2,000 entry fee and $1,000 per year in membership dues. Only individuals are allowed to join, not businesses. Each individual is allowed to bring one guest to social events put on by the club. Currently, the club is full, and individuals hope for their shot at the fun on a waiting list, which runs about 72 people long. The membership dues are now divided into three uses: the original rodeo purpose, capital construction costs and social events and community partnerships. Some examples of improvements made with the funds from the Gold

S HERIDAN WYO RODE O 2019 – B Y T H E S H ER ID A N PR ES S

Buckle Club include the air conditioning and two walk-in coolers in the Exhibit Hall, the expanded seating area on the south side of the arena and the prominent skywalk allowing guests to easily travel to and from each side of the rodeo arena while the action continues beneath them. While the original idea for the club may have been borrowed from Washington, the Sheridan edition has seen much broader success than its western counterpart. Organizers have said folks from other states have visited Sheridan with the hopes of replicating the success found here, but none have accomplished the feat. The waiting list speaks for itself — the Gold Buckle Club is the place to be at Sheridan WYO Rodeo.

JUMBOTRON, Wrangler offer opportunities to take in rodeo SPONSORED BY RAMACO AND SHERIDAN TRAVEL & TOURISM

ith all of the action surrounding Sheridan WYO Rodeo, you may miss one of the 8-second rides in the arena. Don’t worry, the jumbotron has you covered. Instant replays, highlights and scores will be shown on the big screen in the corner of the arena again in 2019. The enormous screen gives the rodeo a sense of professionalism and class — bonus for an already well-respected event. Over the last few years, the Sheridan WYO Ro-

deo board has partnered with Get Western Productions from Cheyenne to give a little something extra to the crowds. Each night, Get Western Productions will show highlight reels from the prior night’s performance (the first night of rodeo will show clips from the 2018 event). Then, after each ride, you’ll get a second look on the big screen. If you missed out on your chance to buy tickets to Sheridan WYO Rodeo — or you bought tickets for another night but cannot attend Saturday — you can still catch the

action from Saturday night’s performance remotely. According to Sheridan WYO Rodeo board members, Wrangler has long been a supporter of the local rodeo and the company has a network focused on broadcasting rodeos throughout the year. In 2016, Sheridan WYO Rodeo earned its first airtime on the Wrangler network, thanks to connections made by Jumbotron contractor Stu Pierson. For more information about the broadcast, see wranglernetwork.com.

ABOVE | The jumbotron shows fans a close-up of Dana Bowman’s descent into the arena to kick off the 2018 Sheridan WYO Rodeo. Photo by Justin Sheely

S HERIDAN WYO RODE O 2019 – B Y T H E S H ER ID A N PR ES S

SHERIDAN

STYLE BY JANA MACKIN

s inexorably interwoven in the mythos of the American West as its intricate wild rose motif is sculpted into leather, the Sheridan-style saddle elevates a once-utilitarian cowboy artifact into a museum masterpiece. For nearly 130 years, local saddlers have crafted the beautiful, highly recognizable Sheridan-style saddles through such masters as Otto and John Ernst, Rudy Mudra, Lloyd Davis, Reuben Bloomberg, Don King, Billy Gardner, Joseph Crackenberger, Chester Hape and

Bob Johnson, constituting a tight-knit, intergenerational guild of craftsmen who made Sheridan a mecca for saddles. Interestingly, the classic Sheridan style known and respected worldwide is locally only practiced by a handful of saddlers working mainly out of their houses and shops instead of the legendary King, Ernst and Mudra saddlers that graced downtown. Except for King’s Saddlery, such store-front saddleries have gone the way of the horse and buggy. “Sheridan was an epicenter of saddle making in the ‘50s and ‘60s, but most

S HERIDAN WYO RODE O 2019 – B Y T H E S H ER ID A N PR ES S

of them have retired or died. There are still saddlemakers doing quality work, but they are hidden in the wood work,” said Bruce King, whose father, Don, developed the classic, wild rose Sheridan saddle style from 1955 to 1985, according to folklorist Timothy H. Evans in his book “King of the Western Saddle.” To understand the trajectory of the Sheridan saddle from basic Western accoutrements to high-end collectibles commanding tens of thousands of dollars is to return to the dusty,

TOP | A handmade swell-fork saddle with detailed leather work created by local saddle maker and artist Wayne Hape sits in his shop. ABOVE | Legendary saddle maker Chester Hape’s personal slick-fork saddle built from scratch by the man himself is on display at Wayne Hape’s shop. LEFT | Otto F. Earnst was one of several saddlemakers — along with Don King and Chester Hape — who put Sheridan on the map as a national hub for custom saddles.

humble beginnings of the Spanish conquistadors and the development of the Mexican vaqueros and saddlemakers. The Texas saddle evolved in response to the needs of the Great Cattle Drives from in the 1800s that headed West, reaching up into the High Plains and Wyoming. Early saddle and leather workers followed the cowboys, cattle and railroads as new towns opened up. Early on, Wyoming was drawing saddlemakers such as Cheyenne’s Fank Meanea, credited with developing the Cheyenne roll cantle style. In Sheridan,

Andy Eads opened the town’s first saddlery and harness shop in 1890. Other pioneering saddlers were George Parmeter, and Frank Morrow — a Sheridan County sheriff — and Otto Ernst, who first partnered with John Buckley in 1902 then opened his own shop in 1907, where Otto hired his brother John Ernst as his saddlemaker. The family saddlery stayed in business until 1975. Reportedly, Joe Crackenberger Jr., under his father’s guidance, made the last Otto F. Ernst Incorporated saddle, according to Ana Gorzalka in “The

Saddlemakers of Sheridan, Wyoming.” With the closing of the frontier and the waning of the Wild West, a national interest and nostalgia for this vanishing part of Americana was fueled by such venues as Buffalo Bill’s Wild West shows and cowboy pulp culture and penny dreadfuls. This fed into Sheridan’s great wealth, British aristocracy, horse culture and sprawling ranches to encourage the rise of dude ranches such as Eatons’, Paradise, Horton’s HF Bar, PK Ranch, Spear-O-Wigwam and Bones Brothers. Evans estimated that WWW.THESHERIDANPRESS.COM

articulating the Sheridan style during those decades. Around the 1970s and ‘80s, the “young traditionalists” emerged, such as Bruce and John King, Fred Dooley, Lonnie Gorzalka, Joseph R. Crackenberger Jr., Wayne Hape — Chester’s son — and Don Butler as the next generation of saddlemakers, Lonnie’s mother Ann Gorzalka said. More recent saddlemakers include Link Weaver, Paul Van Dyke and Dusty Smith. After so many decades, those “young traditionalists” have aged. Some are still making saddles on a limited basis, along with other leather crafts or specialty tools. Others have stopped, and others are dead. Saddlemaking is a demanding art not amenable to pains and infirmities of old age. “It’s kind of sad. When I go, when Bob Douglas goes and the others, who’ll be left?” Lonnie Gorzalka said. “The Sheridan style has outlived its usefulness. It was really hot 30 years ago. Everybody was stamping them. Now people want leather bling,” he continued. The growth of weekend cowboys; changes in ranching, customer demands and pricing; decline of apprenticeship, along with the rise of the “Japanese quarter horse,” four-wheelers have impacted saddle making, he said. “The want for good handmade, nice saddles is still there,” Lonnie Gorzalka said, “but they’re more art works than a using tool back in the day.” One saddlemaker, Kate Johnson, 31, has been apprenticed with Gorzalka for several years. She sees the value of that

venue for young people learning the craft. “Lonnie is very generous with his time and expertise,” Johnson said. “Some saddlemakers want to keep their techniques secret whereas Lonnie believes you should share your knowledge so as to keep saddle making going.”

“

Don [King] developed the Sheridan style. If you look at the style, it flows in circles. You can’t see where the design begins or ends.

“

there were nearly 40 dude ranches within a 50-mile radius of Sheridan by 1939, all feeding the need for saddlemakers, leather crafters and outfitters. “It was a perfect storm for the saddle and leather making industry,” said Jim Jackson, an artist and master leather craftsman who learned from his father and Ed of Ernst’s Saddlery. “That shop (Ernst) was a focal point — Chester Hape, Don King, Joe Crackenberger and my dad were all out there. My dad was the head saddlemaker at Ernst’s saddlery. He must have made 400 to 500 saddles.” During the ‘20s and ‘30s, Ernst, Reuben Bloomberg, Ed Krenz, and the legendary Rudy Mudra were the go-to saddlemakers of the dude ranch heyday, followed by a Depression-era decline until a post-World War II resurgence with Don King (mentored by Mudra) who perfected the classic Sheridan style from 1955 to 1985 through such creations as his RCA (now PRCA) trophy saddles. The Sheridan style consisted of a wild rose motif, deep carving with emphasis on lines instead of shading and a scrolllike layout of flowers surrounded by leaves and stems, Evans said. “Don developed the Sheridan style,” said Clint Gibson, a local saddlemaker. “If you look at the style, it flows in circles. You can’t see where the design begins or ends.” Besides King and Ernst, other great local saddlemakers included Billy Gardner, Lloyd Davis, Chester Hape, Bob Douglas, Ed Jackson and Joseph Crackenberger Sr., all interpreting and

Clint Gibson

Keeping the art of saddlemaking vibrant, alive and relevant are the challenges leather craftsmen face within cultural, economic, technological and geographic changes as custom saddles have evolved into objets d’art. What was once a localized, downtown craft now has a global reach and impact through technology and the internet. “Saddlemaking is a distinctly American folk art that started in America and has spread through the whole world and is still evolving,” said Wayne Hape, Chester’s son, saddlemaker and leather craftsman. “The saddlemakers now are about keeping the art form alive,” Hape said. While downtown Sheridan has lost most of its downtown saddlers, Sheridan has not lost the saddlers’ art, nurtured by residents and visitors love and reverence for the cowboy culture. “It’s not like the old days,” said Jackson about today’s leather artists. “They want their own shop to do their own thing.” “It’s really unfortunate we’re losing a lot of these old leather shops but places like King’s will survive because of the history and the community that surrounds it.”

LEFT | Wayne Hape, son of legendary Sheridan saddlemaker Chester Hape, continues the family tradition of hand-crafting exceptional quality saddles from his shop in Sheridan. 26

S HERIDAN WYO RODE O 2019 – B Y T H E S H ER ID A N PR ES S

Handcrafted by saddlemaker Dustin Smith, a pair of completed saddle trees await the next phase in the saddle making process.

S HERIDAN WYO RODE O 2019 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; B Y T H E S H ER ID A N PR ES S

CUSTOM-MADE

SADDLES FIT THE HORSE AND RIDER BY CARRIE HADERLIE

custom-made saddle is a beautiful—albeit complicated—thing. A good saddle has to fit a horse and rider, from the wooden tree inside to the ornate leatherwork on the outside. “What I really want to do is to make a piece of art that is functional,” Buffalo-based saddlemaker Dusty Smith, owner of WYO Saddles and Trees, explained. “I want the saddle to be pretty and eye-appealing to most everybody, but I want a cowboy to be able to go rope a yearling on it, to be able to go do their job.” The Western saddle has many parts: the horn, the cantle, the seat and seat rise and the stirrup, among others. Cattle ranchers, cowboys, rodeo riders and hobbyists use the Western saddle, which is designed to be comfortable for many hours at a time. The foundation of a saddle is the tree, which Smith builds himself in his woodworking shop. Most saddlemakers use an equine fitting system, pairing horse measurements to the measurements of the tree. “I tell people when I (take measurements) that they might have one horse, but the saddle will fit a range of horses within a shape,” Smith said. “I don’t only want to fit one specific horse, because as people know, accidents can

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fashions decorations after that. “I have a basic outline of the (part) I am going to do, and I will fill it in with flowers and stems and leaves from there,” Smith said. “I really enjoy the artistic part of the work.” It’s as important that the saddle fit the horse as it is that it fits the rider. “If the horse is not comfortable, then we are not going to be comfortable. I make sure that the curvature and the large weight-bearing areas are well distributed,” Smith said. “And then I go on to the human aspect. What I want is a very comfortable seat that a rider feels secure in but not stuck in.” A custom-made saddle and tree, built from the base up, will be leaps and bounds better than a production-made item. “Essentially, we’re building the same thing, but a custom builder will take time with the ground seat and the edges and the lining and the sewing,” Smith said. “The quality of the leather is there, and we don’t take any shortcuts. We want to do it right.”

S HERIDAN WYO RODE O 2019 – B Y T H E S H ER ID A N PR ES S

“

If the horse is not comfortable, then we are not going to be comfortable. I make sure that the curvature and the large weight-bearing areas are well distributed. And then I go on to the human aspect. What I want is a very comfortable seat that a rider feels secure in but not stuck in.

Dusty Smith

“

happen, and I don’t want someone to have a saddle they can never use again.” The saddle tree lends to the the overall appearance of a saddle, and specific cuts and angles are used to fit certain horses, Smith said. There are three different pieces of a saddle tree, and once in place, Smith covers the wooden tree end-to-end with rawhide or fiberglass. Many custom builders cover their trees with either fiberglass or rawhide and do not offer a choice. Smith said he lets his customers determine the final covering. “There are benefits and drawbacks to both, and if there was a perfect product, every tree-maker would be using it,” Smith said. “Both materials are strong and durable and are going to last a long time. At the end of the day, the choice is one of preference.” While there are many parts to a saddle, Smith can build an entire saddle with two sides of leather. He uses Hermann Oak Leather or Thoroughbred Leather, which he said are the best options on the market. He molds and shapes the leather to the saddle itself and

ABOVE | Dustin Smith, a saddlemaker from Buffalo, talks about how minor variations in the degree of the swell or the width of the gullet can drastically impact the fit of the saddle.

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SAVE A HORSE, RIDE A

SADDLE

How ranch workers choose their equipment

and King Ropes, said the store has a few different types of saddles that generally fit horses in the area. King said saddle sales usually increase when the weather warms up and grass becomes greener. He added that most local ranchers are experienced and don’t have many questions when they come in looking for a new saddle. Quint Gonzales said the most important trait of a saddle involves comfort for riders. Gonzales is a farrier instructor at Sheridan College, owns a farrier business and has 13 horses on the family ranch he and his wife oversee. Ranch saddles usually weigh between 30 and 40 pounds. Trail and competitive saddles are lighter because their users generally require more speed. “A trail saddle doesn’t need to be near as durable and strong as somebody that’s doing ranch work and roping stuff,” Gonzales said. Pickeral agreed. “Most of the things that are on a ranch saddle are there out of necessity, not for show,” Pickeral said. The heart of the saddle is called a tree. Most trees are made from rawhide, but some are fiberglass, nylon or plastic. The vast majority of saddle colors are brown or black but it depends on the treatment they receive in the creation process. Despite its rough nature, a saddle must be handled with care. “Everyone’s scared to get leather wet, and leather is very forgiving if it’s conditioned,” Pickeral said. “Really, if you think about it, leather is nothing more than a cow’s skin. We put lotion on our skin when it gets dry ... Leather is the same dang thing.”

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Most saddles are made in factories and fairly inexpensive, while custom ones cost at least $3,000. Pickeral believes the price is well worth the cost. “That sounds like a lot of money, but for the time, effort and skill that goes into making a saddle, that’s not a huge amount, really,” Pickeral said. “... In mass production, they’ve lost some craftsmanship.”

“

Nothing’s worse than an ill-fitting saddle. It definitely has to be nonrestrictive to the horse that’s doing the job because those horses might be out there all day doing that job.

Bryan Pickeral

“

addles serve an essential purpose for cowboys. They provide comfort and security through all types of weather, day in and day out, for people herding cattle, feeding animals and building fences, among the other dozens of tasks on a ranch. “It’s so practical; it can’t be beat,” Bryan Pickeral said of the trusty saddle. With something so vital to life and work for area ranchers, it is important to choose the right saddle. Pickeral owns Pick’s Saddle Shop in Buffalo, a saddle repair business that mainly serves local ranchers. He also owns three quarter horses, works in Sheridan and is taking business agriculture and ranch management courses at Sheridan College. Pickeral said the main point of a saddle is comfort and durability for the rider. A saddle should not limit a horse’s movements, either. “Nothing’s worse than an ill-fitting saddle,” Pickeral said. “... It definitely has to be non-restrictive to the horse that’s doing the job because those horses might be out there all day doing that job.” Most ranchers have one Western saddle for multiple horses and use them year-round. “They try to find a saddle that’s going to fit a number of different kind of (horse)backs,” Pickeral said. “... Fit is very, very important.” Pickeral said ideally a saddlemaker can measure the specific dimensions of a horse to create the best-fitting custom saddle while also making it somewhat universal. He added that a saddle also depends on a person’s size, especially for the fit of a seat. Bruce King, owner of King’s Saddlery

BY RYAN PATTERSON

Indeed, some quality custom saddles can last a person’s lifetime, if not longer. They require repairs over the years but can be extremely sturdy. Gonzales said his wife still uses a saddle originally purchased by her great-uncle. Pickeral and Gonzales rarely, if ever, ride without a saddle. Pickeral said if the trip is short — a few minutes or less — he might go bareback but otherwise always uses a dependable saddle. Regardless of the type of person utilizing a saddle, it is vital for ranch workers to determine the saddle that best fits their needs. If they choose well, a saddle may stay with them for the rest of their lives.

THE RANCHING SADDLE

POMMEL

HORN

SLICK FORK SEAT SEAT RISE

CANTLE

BACK HOUSING

FENDER

STIRRUPS

SADDLE BAGS

THE RODEO SADDLE

HORN

CANTLE

POMMEL

SEAT

SWELL FORK

GULLET

SKIRT

JOCKEY SEAT FRONT RIGGING DEE

SADDLE UP,

COWBOY

The many variations of rodeo saddles

hile quite different, there are many elements that are similar between a horse saddle and a person’s shoe. There are various parts and different styles but at the end of the day, it’s all about fit and comfort. The type of saddle one chooses also depends on the event in which one competes. A saddle for a barrel racer is different than a saddle used by a bronc rider. At the end of the day, rodeo cowboys have many options when it comes to selecting a saddle. First a basic understanding of a saddle is necessary, and there’s nothing basic about a saddle. A typical horse saddle has 20 parts to it: horn, swell, gullet, strap holder, front rigging dee, blevins, hobble strap, tread cover, stirrup, fender, seat jockey, billet strap, leather rigging guard, skirt, rear rigging dee, concho, back housing, cantle, seat and seat rise. While not all of those elements are present in every saddle, they are the common pieces. A bronc rider’s saddle is a little less complex than others but certainly not any less important. “Our saddle is everything,” said Brody Cress, a saddle bronc rider from Cheyenne. “It’s the only way we can do our job. There’s so many things on it, little adjustments, that will either get you bucked off or keep you going. … Without our saddle, we wouldn’t be able to do what we do.” The first noticeable difference in a bronc rider’s saddle is it likely won’t have a horn up front. There’s no need for it. The second biggest difference in a bronc rider’s saddle has nothing to do

with the saddle itself but rather how it fits the cowboy. In most situations, a cowboy or cowgirl wants a saddle that’s equally comfortable for them as it is the horse. A saddle bronc rider is at the mercy of the draw. That makes the fit and comfort on a horse’s back less important. One horse may find it less comfortable than others, and that’s not a big issue because the cowboy only rides for a very short period of time — eight seconds.

“

Our saddle is everything. It’s the only way we can do our job. There’s so many things on it, little adjustments, that will either get you bucked off or keep you going. … Without our saddle, we wouldn’t be able to do what we do.

Brody Cress

“

BY BUD DENEGA

Bronc riders’ saddles also experience more wear and tear and have a shorter shelf life. The gyration of a bucking horse and the damage that can ensue when rigging up the horse in the chutes reduces the lifespan. Cress owns a backup saddle that he keeps at home just in case one breaks during competition, which has happened in the past.

Saddles for the timed events normally last longer. And in these events, the fit is more paramount. In barrel racing, breakaway roping, team roping, goat tying, steer wrestling and calf roping, a cowboy wants a fit that’s as comfortable for the horse as it is the cowboy to increase the likelihood of the animal performing at its best. “It’s like a shoe that’s too small,” Zane Garstad said. “If the shoe hurts you, then you don’t perform right and saddles are very similar. … You want the horse to be able to move freely and to perform to their ability.” Garstad has team roped for years. Many team ropers and steer wrestlers prefer a longer horn to make it easier to dally the rope. A longer horn, or thicker horn, is usually present for calf roping, steer wrestling and goat tying. Competitors utilize the horn to grab ahold of and thrust themselves off the horse and onto the ground. Barrel racers’ saddles have seen change over the years. Many of the saddles have gotten lighter to allow the horse to run more freely and quicker around all three barrels. Saddles are essential for any rodeo cowboy not identified as a bareback rider or a bull rider. While many of the basic characteristics are present and the same, many differences, albeit small, are present. Some of those difference are dictated by the event in which the cowboy is competing, while others are based on the rider’s preference and how the saddle fits a horse.

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FROM APPLIED ART

TO FINE ART BY CARRIE HADERLIE 38

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Jim Jackson carves an intricate design into a swatch of leather during a workshop he hosted at his shop at The Brinton Museum.

n a matter of decades, intricate leather work has become an internationally renowned fine art, while once it was considered applied art. Bradford Brinton, who bought the Quarter Circle A Ranch in Sheridan County in 1923, had a collection of exquisite saddles, Tod Windsor of The Brinton said. Today, his pieces are on display in the Ranch House. Brinton, who helped organize the earliest Sheridan WYO Rodeo events, rode in the parade in the early days, perhaps on the same saddles on display. It makes sense that his collection has a home in one of the region’s foremost museums, which features collections of unique Western artifacts and artwork. The leather-working history in Sheridan County is richer still than Brinton’s story and leads to Jim Jackson, who creates items for The Brinton today. Jackson is an artist directly descended from one of Sheridan’s greatest leather workers. WWW.THESHERIDANPRESS.COM

“Mr. Jackson is a great fit because he continues the legacy of talented area artists who were tied into the Brintons and the Quarter Circle A Ranch,” Windsor said. Bradford Brinton was a personal friend of Bill Gollings, Ed Borein, Charlie Russell and Frederic Remington, among others. “Our goal as a museum is to continue the legacy of supporting and working with artists that exemplify the Sheridan area and the West,” Windsor said. Jackson worked for King Ropes for several decades doing custom leather work but is also a painter. When he decided to retire, The Brinton asked if he would work onsite several days a week. Jackson felt the move made sense. “The Brinton is an educational institution, which is quite different from working in (retail),” Jackson said. “Sheridan has such a rich history of leather workers and saddlemaking. I think it is really important for people to understand what a rich history we’ve had, that we have a history of saddlemakers and leather workers who were extremely talented — who weren’t just run-of-the-mill people.” For about 20 years, the NFR World Championship saddles were built in Sheridan—and with that came the recognition of Sheridan-style leather carving. Jackson learned leather work at Ernst Saddlery in the late 1960s, where he would go after school and on Saturdays for work. As a painter, he went on to art school, but he stamped his way through college. “I’d already learned a trade by

high school. I was stamping belts for Ernst, and I stamped for King and for some places in Colorado,” Jackson said. “I worked my way through college that way.” He learned Sheridan-style carving, which is a phenomena in the leatherworking community that spread around the world. “What happened was Don King worked for the old Ernst shop. When he left there and opened his own business, he got a contract with the Rocky Mountain Quarter Horse Association, and he produced some trophy saddles,” Jackson explained. “Because of that, he got a contract with the World Championship Saddles. They called it the RCA then, but they call it the PRCA now.

“

Jim Jackson

“

Sheridan has such a rich history of leather workers and saddlemaking. I think it is really important for people to understand what a rich history we’ve had, that we have a history of saddlemakers and leather workers who were extremely talented.

“When he built those saddles, it was a big contract with 12-16 saddles a year, and they went to the top cowboys in the country. Those saddles got a lot of notoriety,” Jackson said. “The

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interesting thing about Sheridan and the Sheridan-style carving is that it has become a worldwide thing.” Jackson said he’s working on an exhibit to open in 2021 at The Brinton that will showcase Japanese and North American leather carvers. “If you go to any leather shop in Japan and mention Sheridan-style carving, they know what you’re talking about,” Jackson said. “And it is not only Japan, but it’s China and Indonesia, and you go to Europe and it is in France and England, Germany.” Sheridan-style likely started with Don King, who took the traditional open, floral patterns and made them his own. “What Don had done was he had taken the tooling style, the flowers, which were much wider, broader and open with larger stem and florals, and he tightened all of those up and made them much smaller flowers, with much more intricate patterns,” Jackson said. “The patterns were a little more stylistic, and his was different from other styles.” This was in the 1960s, and while leather carvers still make products to be used by the rider today, collectors and museums are also taking note. Museums across the world are collecting items from the past 50 years, curating exhibits of leather work, and buyers can find hand-tooled leather pieces in upscale boutiques for high dollar amounts. “That is what is happening. You have high-end, talented people that no longer consider this an applied art. It is becoming a fine art,” Jackson said.

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DON THE CROWN ROYALTY REPRESENTS HISTORY, SKILL

radition keeps patrons coming back to the Sheridan WYO Rodeo each year and the same holds true for the Sheridan WYO Rodeo Royalty pageant. The competition started in 1936, crowning Gladys Accola as the first Sheridan WYO Rodeo queen. Accola’s court consisted of lady-in-waiting Virginia Kerr, flag bearer Joan Churchill, Crow Indian Princess Myrtle Big Man and Cheyenne Indian Princess Josephine Stands-in-the-Timber. Throughout the next 44 years, the program ran but inconsistently. One year royalty was chosen by a secret committee, and political considerations were more important than horsemanship. This caused a woman with no horsemanship experience to be elected, and she needed riding lessons to make it through rodeo week. “Not anymore,” Rodeo Royalty board member Kerri Parr said. The current pageant places heavy emphasis on horsemanship, making it 50 percent of the overall score for each contestant. The pageant became too much for the rodeo board, and it was dropped as an official competition by the board in 1979. “We affiliated with the WYO Rodeo board back in 2007,” Parr said. “Since then, (we’ve) grown our organization with more sponsors, board members, girls with titles and opportunity for our WYO Rodeo royalty.” The competition was officially picked up again in 2008 and has remained consistent since. The new queen program formed its own Sheridan County Rodeo Queen Board to help keep the program running smoothly. The pageant includes a non-competitive Lil’ Miss Rodeo activity that takes place while the contestants prepare for casual modeling. The activity gives young 42

girls the opportunity to walk across the stage and be introduced by Parr, and it helps promote the program to young children and their parents. Royalty contestants must complete two modeling sessions, an impromptu question, impromptu speeches, media interviews and individual interviews with the judges. Judges elect candidates if they have received 70 percent or higher in each category, including horsemanship. Before the set rules of the current competition, though, contestants simply earned the crown by winning over the audience in attendance. Emma Jean Veach Hando earned the crown in 1965 by receiving the most applause, mostly because of her expert riding abilities. “She came into the arena, and her horse was bucking all the way around the arena,” Parr said. “So therefore she got the loudest applause because she was staying on.” Hando said the crown holds more

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responsibility now but requires fewer actual skills on a horse. “It’s totally a whole new world and a more expensive world for the parents,” Hando said. “Fifty years ago, it was just plain.” Now, crowned contestants must attend several rodeos and other functions around the state. They volunteer time at events and nonprofits, such as the community dinner in Sheridan, Toys for Tots, Rocky Mountain Elks Foundation, Friends of the Library and Pheasants Forever. This year, the contest will take place June 29 at the WYO Performing Arts and Education Center in downtown Sheridan. The event will begin at 10:30 a.m. The horsemanship portion of the contest will take place at the Sheridan College AgriPark at 5:30 p.m. The coronation will take place at 6:30 p.m. July 13 in the arena of the Sheridan County Fairgrounds during Sheridan WYO Rodeo.

MISS SHERIDAN WYO RODEO

KatIe Bailey Katie Bailey is the 23-year-old daughter of Joel and Anna Bailey of Sheridan. She is a 2014 graduate of Sheridan High School, where

she was involved in high school rodeo, 4-H and FFA, showing horses and steers, and livestock judging. Bailey attended Eastern Wyoming College, where she was a member of the college rodeo team and studied agriculture business. Bailey grew up participating in Cowboy Mounted Shooting, Sheridan Cowgirls Association, Sheridan Hockey and carrying flags for Sheridan WYO Rodeo. She is currently a member of the WYO Rodeo Wranglers and Sheridan Cowgirls. Bailey has experience in training polo, cutting and barrel horses for various equine barns. Bailey plans to contine her education by pursuing a career in radiology technology.

Sheridan WYO Rodeo Senior Princess

Katie Bammel

Sheridan WYO Rodeo Junior Princess

Sheridan WYO Rodeo Princess

Lainey Konetzki

Lainey Konetzki is the 16-year-old daughter of Larry and Lisa Konetzki of Sheridan. She is a junior and honor student at Sheridan High School. She is an active member of the John B. Kendrick FFA Chapter and is involved in Drama Club, Outdoor Club, the high school musicals, band, Symphony Orchestra and 4-H. In the future, Konetzki would like to attend the University of Wyoming and compete on an equestrian team.

LEFT | The 2019 Sheridan WYO Rodeo Royalty, from left, Paige Craft as junior princess; Laney Konetzki as princess; Kakie Bammel as senior princess; and Katie Bailey as the Sheridan WYO Rodeo queen, pose for a photo after their coronation at the 2018 Sheridan WYO Rodeo. Photo by Justin Sheely

Katie Bammel is the 19-year-old daughter of Debbie Purdy and Michael Bammel. Bammel is a 2018 graduate of Sheridan High School and is attending the University of Wyoming, where she competes with the UW Ranch Horse Team. Bammel has been involved in 4-H, participating in all equine events. She is a member of NRHA. Bammel’s ambition is to be an equine veterinarian, so she can help spread awareness for infectious and contagious diseases for horses.

Paige Craft

Paige Craft is the 13-yearold daughter of Dave and Jennifer Craft of Sheridan. She will be an eighth-grader at Sheridan Junior High School this fall. Craft is a member of the WYO Rodeo Wranglers and carries flags in the WYO Rodeo. Her hobbies include camping, fishing, gardening, riding horses, hanging out with friends and playing with her many pets. When Craft finishes school, she wants to be a physical therapist by day and a horse chiropractor by night.

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RODEO IN THE SNOW Sheridan WYO Winter Rodeo tradition begins

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y nearly any metric, the 2019 Sheridan WYO Winter Rodeo exceeded expectations in its first year. Sheridan Travel and Tourism Director Shawn Parker said his office planned the event on what is normally the slowest weekend of the year for Sheridan tourism, but the ultimate turnout was comparable to that of some of the city’s busiest days. Parker’s initial expectations for the event were conservative and, in retrospect, modest. While planning the event, Parker said the rodeo could generate $172,224 for the community if it could draw at least 500 overnight guests. The Winter Rodeo’s appeal appears to have blown past those expectations. Parker estimated between 2,500 and 3,500 people — many of whom were local residents — visited downtown Sheridan for the event. That included 214 individual skijoring participants. “That represents the largest sanctioned race on the Skijoring America Circuit in the first year,” Parker said. “Most of these (races) have been around five to 10 years.” Parker said he is still calculating the economic impact of the Winter Rodeo, but by his “extremely preliminary” estimate, the event generated between $250,000 and $350,000 for the community. Local business owners say they felt the Winter Rodeo’s economic impact. Mark Demple, owner of PO News and Flagstaff Cafe,

said his restaurant saw more business over the Winter Rodeo weekend than it does during its busiest days of the year. “We did more on Saturday during the skijoring than we did during (the Sheridan WYO Rodeo) Friday,” Demple said. Demple added that the WYO Rodeo week in the summer is typically the busiest time of year for Flagstaff, but business tends to be strong throughout the summer. Crowds thin considerably in the winter months. “You’re probably going to do, in February compared to the summer, half to three-quarters of what you’d do in the summertime,” Demple said. Having one of the strongest days of the year during what is typically one of his slowest months was a welcome boost, Demple added. “I think it was a great event for the community, especially in the middle of February when we aren’t doing anything,” Demple said. Parker said the unanticipated outpouring for the first Sheridan WYO Winter Rodeo may lead to some tweaks to future events to better accommodate crowds, but because of the enthusiasm the event generated, the city may have forged a new tradition. “The good news is we keep hearing ‘First annual, first annual, first annual,’” Parker said. “Which makes me think we have to do this again.” The 2020 event is set for late February.

LEFT | Cal Douglas, left, is on the verge of throwing his hat in celebration after being towed to victory by Melissa Ostrander in the snowboard class at the first-ever Sheridan WYO Winter Rodeo in February 2019.

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ON YOUR MARKS World-famous INDIAN RELAY RACES REMAIN PINNACLE EVENT

SPONSORED BY SHERIDAN SEED COMPANY, JAN PAMELA POLO RANCH, HOLY COW RANCH AND FIRST FEDERAL BANK & TRUST

rganized chaos. That contradictory phrase only fits certain situations, but the World Championship Relay Races is certainly one of them. While the announcer introduces teams as they enter the arena at the Sheridan County Fairgrounds, horses and riders pace anxiously. Spectators stand, straining their necks to see the horses and riders. Some make friendly wagers with friends. Then, a revolver fires into the air, and the race begins. The next three to five minutes are a spectacle — men dressed in Native

American garb jump onto a horse, race around the track at blazing speeds and jump off their horses to do it again two more times for a total of three laps around the track. That’s Indian relay racing. And while it looks like pandemonium from the outside, plenty of thought and effort go into crossing the finish line. “I hate to toot our horn…but we do what we say we’re going to do,” said Lonnie Wright, vice president of the Sheridan WYO Rodeo board. “We pay the prize money we say we will. Teams notice that, and that’s why we have 28-29 teams wanting to sign up.”

The WYO Rodeo offers $50,000 in cash and prizes for the winners of the World Championship Indian Relay Races, with prizes including buckles and jackets. However, the event only has room for 20 teams, a number that helps protect the safety of the participants as much as possible. Horses have been the life-blood of Native American tribes for centuries and thousands of dollars are at stake every time racers take to the track. To take home the top dollars, a team needs high-quality horses and extensive training. Aside from speed and physical makeup,

ABOVE | Richard Long Feather and his horse take off during the World Championship Indian Relay Race at the Sheridan County Fairgrounds. Photo by Mike Pruden 46

S HERIDAN WYO RODE O 2019

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racers also look at a horse’s demeanor before deciding it’s ready for the arena. A horse that is calm and gentle toward humans is a quality trait, especially during the transitions, when the rider jumps from one horse to another. Teams typically work with the horses to make sure they don’t leave too early or get skittish when a rider jumps on its back. That work — training and maintaining the horses — is a full-time job for the team. During the summer, the teams travel to races across the country, then train the horses on ranches on off weekends. Winter, too, is a crucial time. Because many of the horses purchased are from the southeastern portion of the United States, adapting to the homes on the cold plains can be difficult for many teams. But eventually, racing will be

second nature for a horse. Even when a rider falls off, a welltrained horse will continue its run around the track as if a jockey were still on its back. The organized chaos of the races is part of what makes the event so popular. “When it comes right down to it, it’s a horse race, it’s the excitement of the unknown,” Wright said. “It’s also a snapshot. Many people don’t spend time around Native Americans, so this is the event that provides some exposure, a snapshot of their culture.” Riders don traditional Native American dress, paying tribute to their families and tribes. As they ride through the track each night of the rodeo, while it looks like chaos, teams have trained for months, sometimes years, and WYO Rodeo board members work to make the races as safe as possible for all involved.

LEFT | Lynwood His Bad Horse Jr. dismounts his horse in a World Championship Indian Relay Race heat during the 2018 Sheridan WYO Rodeo at the Sheridan County Fairgrounds. | Photo by Mike Pruden

S HERIDAN WYO RODE O 2019 – B Y T H E S H ER ID A N PR ES S

KEEPING TRADITION ALIVE dancers participate in First People’s powwow

ABOVE | Cyrus Leider dances in the grand entry during the First People’s Powwow at the Historic Sheridan Inn. | Photo by Justin Sheely

everal years ago, teenager and Crow Tribe member Alberto Spotted became seriously interested in powwow dancing. At school in Wyola, Montana, Spotted learned about Crow history and tradition on a daily basis during a cultural class. “She would just make us dance,” Spotted said of his cultural studies teacher. The dancing lessons appealed to Spotted, and last year represented his third time participating in the First People’s Powwow at the Historic Sheridan Inn as part of Sheridan WYO Rodeo Week. Donning a pink top, black pants, brown moccasins, bells, a Superman necklace and various colors of feathers, Spotted celebrated Crow history and culture with hundreds of other tribe members. Powwow organizer Butch Jellis helped revitalize the powwow about 15 years ago and said 2018 had the largest turnout, with about 300 Crow members in the parade and around 250 in the powwow. “I saw hundreds of Crow along the parade route, which has grown tremendously,” Jellis said. “It never used to be that way ... You don’t have a parade if you don’t have these Crows in this parade.” The strong turnout encouraged Jellis. The 2017 powwow almost became the

last for the event due to a variety of reasons. Making the event a reality entails a year-round planning and fundraising process and can be a challenge to determine how many visitors for which to plan. “It’s tough to put the money together,” Jellis said. “It’s just a whole community effort.” Jellis enjoyed seeing Crow children grow up over the years and continue the tradition. “I’ve watched little kids who could barely tie on a saddle, and now they’re relay racers and rodeo queens and princesses,” Jellis said. He loves hearing the beat of the drum during the parade and ensuing powwow. “To watch these little kids putting their feet down with the beat of the drum or clapping and moving their hands with the beat of the drum, or bobbing their head with the beat of the drum,” Jellis said. “It’s all natural, the beat of this drum. We all have this rhythm.” To soak up some tradition featuring dancers and participants from several Native American tribes, stop by the Sheridan Inn Friday, July 12, after the parade. Downtown Sheridan Association staff will again take the lead organizing the event, which is free and open to the public.

LEFT | Crow dancer Alberto Spotted waits in line during the First People’s Powwow at the Historic Sheridan Inn. | Photo by Justin Sheely

S HERIDAN WYO RODE O 2019 – B Y T H E S H ER ID A N PR ES S

PRESERVING history

MARSDEN REBUILDS HAY RACK WAGON BY ASHLEIGH FOX

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loyd Marsden took to his basement to wait out the rain before he could put the finishing touches on his replica of a farm family staple from his childhood and even earlier. Marsden’s great-grandfather homesteaded a ranch west of Wall, South Dakota, and his father continued maintaining the land until the late ‘70s. While watching his mother’s 8-millimeter movie clips, Marsden discovered a familiar wagon in the background of one of the clips. He then set out to retrieve whatever was left of the wagon he remembered playing in and around as a child. “By the time I got to the wagon, this is what was left,” Marsden said, showing the photo of a dilapidated piece of wood. Twenty years ago, he rebuilt one of two recognized wagons from the family farm. Minimal pieces from the

hay rack wagon that also resided on the farm caught Marsden’s eye as his next rebuilding project. The tongue, wheel and axle were the only parts left of the hay rack and stood as less than ideal representations of the vehicle in its original form from which to work. “I said, ‘Well, I’ve got those pieces, I should do something with them,’” Marsden said. “I tripped over them in my shop for a long time before I got started a couple years ago gathering materials, and then last summer really started seriously building it.” Marsden started the rebuilding journey with a trip to Minnesota to acquire oak beams for the axles. He had a cousin in Ham Lake, Minnesota, with trees available to do the job. The main beams for the wagon came from Buckingham Lumber in Buffalo from the Bighorn Mountains. “Last summer while the weather was nice, I built the main frame,” Marsden said. “When the weather started getting

bad, that’s when I moved on to inside stuff and the running gear.” Marsden compiled the pieces to ensure a perfect fit before disassembling it to paint. The bold red and yellow colors of the wagon are representative of the wagon colors of that time. For the wheels, Marsden was confident he could construct all four himself, but time and honed-in expertise were not in his favor. So he outsourced the wheel-making to a fellow from Shipshewana, Indiana, and picked them up in February. Finding the rare people still constructing and focusing on building parts for historical wagons took endless Google searches and plenty of reading about wagons in thick, large books. A man from Oregon still hays 600-700 acres with a horse-drawn hay wagon and wrote a book from which Marsden gleaned information. A location north of Mitchell, South Dakota, and Canadian authors wrote books on wagons and

Lloyd Marsden stands next to the hay wagon he rebuilt. This is the second historical wagon he has rebuilt to be displayed in the Sheridan WYO Rodeo Parade. WWW.THESHERIDANPRESS.COM

“

I said, ‘Well, I’ve got those pieces, I should do something with them.’ I tripped over them in my shop for a long time before I got started a couple years ago gathering materials, and then last summer really started seriously building it.

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Lloyd Marsden

wheels, too, that helped him recreate the wagon. This particular hay wagon, while significant, will not mark Marsden’s first trip through the Sheridan WYO Rodeo atop a wagon. He has showcased a grain wagon with the help of horse teams from Renny Barbula. When rebuilding the grain wagon, Marsden’s father told him not to worry about duplicating the wagon exactly how it was when Marsden remembered when he played on it as a child. By that time, the wagon was run down and the paint nearly nonexistent from years of weathering and heavy use in farm operations. The base layers of the vehicle, too, were likely not original pieces.

“‘Your grandfather wrecked that wagon so many times and just rebuilt it,’” Marsden recalled his father saying to him once. “So I’m sure there were parts here that were repairs from when they had wrecks, so it’s hard to tell which was really original, but I tried to use as much of the original iron as I could.” The newest hay wagon running through the parade this year, though, will feature a new and pieced-together horse team from Barbula and Spencer Morris. Barbula found a team of Friesian horses to pull Marsden’s International Harvester Bettendorf grain wagon, and Barbula and Morris each have one horse from broken teams — Marsden thought black Belgians — to pull the new hay wagon. “Our plan is to get those two odd horses married together to make a team,” Marsden said. “We gotta get started now, but the weather’s been so crappy it’s hard to get anything done.” The poor weather continued into late May, causing Barbula and her teams to wait several weeks to come together. Barbula had been a senior flag runner for the Sheridan WYO Rodeo for years. After losing her horse a few years ago, Barbula has not had as active of a role in the rodeo. Marsden knew she

Color striping was not present in photos Lloyd Marsden worked from to rebuild a family hay wagon, but he used traditional colors from that time and hand-painted the striping on the vehicle.

S HERIDAN WYO RODE O 2019 – B Y T H E S H ER ID A N PR ES S

had pulling teams, and they connected to pull both wagons. Barbula purchased her first cart in the mid-1990s from a sale of Bradford Brinton’s carts and teams in Big Horn, acquiring her “cart before the horse” at the auction. “After I restored the cart, I had to train my horse to pull the cart, so that started the driving for me,” Barbula said. “Horses are happier driving in pairs or teams.” She followed by purchasing a horse pair, and she has another horse to pair up with Morris. Pairs of horses are two to a pulling set, and teams include four in a pulling set. “Because of that is how I got into pairs driving,” Barbula said. “And I’m happy that way too because you can watch both horses working together.” Marsden has used the grain wagon in several parades and family reunions, and coincidentally in theme with this year’s “Saddle Up for the Sheridan WYO Rodeo,” he anticipates positive response to the hay wagon to preserve his family’s history. “We’re haulin’ hay to the horses, so you can saddle up,” Marsden laughed.

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EVENTS 1

he annual Sheridan WYO Rodeo showcases four days of Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association action. Here is a breakdown of the events in which fans will see some of the top cowboys and cowgirls from around the country compete for a share of prizes.

Photos by Justin Sheely 58

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RULES AND DESCRIPTIONS BAREBACK RIDING

STEER WRESTLING

SPONSORED BY HAMMER CHEVROLET

Bareback riding is one of rodeo’s roughest and most demanding events. The cowboy must attempt to remain on the back of a bucking bronco while grasping the leather rigging with only one hand. The rider is disqualified if he touches anything with his free hand. If the cowboy fights through the eight-second ride, he is scored on his spurring technique, bucking strength of the horse and the form and skill used in completing the ride.

TEAM ROPING

SPONSORED BY HEARTLAND KUBOTA AND SHERIDAN ORTHOPAEDIC ASSOCIATES

This is rodeo’s premier team sport — an event where teamwork is an absolute necessity. Two cowboys — a header and a heeler — must work in tandem to rope a running steer. The header, as the name implies, is responsible for roping the steer around the horns, neck or a combination of the two to turn the animal into position for the heeler. It is the heeler’s duty to rope both hind legs of the steer. If only one leg is caught, a five-second penalty is assessed. If the header does not allow the steer to get the allotted head start, the team is assessed a 10-second penalty.

STEER ROPING

saddle bronc riding

SPONSORED BY HAMMER CHEVROLET

In barrel racing, a cowgirl and her horse race against the clock. Horse and rider enter the arena at full speed, race around three barrels positioned in a clover pattern, then race back to the finish line. The fastest time wins, and times are recorded to 1/100 of a second. Racers are penalized five seconds for each barrel knocked over during the run.

Arguably rodeo’s most popular event, bull riding is a rather straightforward competition that pits a cowboy against an angry 1,500-pound bull. The rider sits astride the bull in a chute, and when the chute opens he must remain atop the bull for eight seconds by holding a rope looped around the animal’s midsection. As in bronc riding, the cowboy must not touch the bull with his free hand, and if he lasts eight seconds he will be judged on technique, skilland bucking strength of the animal.

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SLACKING A LITTLE Rodeo action starts each morning WITH RODEO SLACK at fairgrounds

n an effort to better serve the cowboys and cowgirls competing at Sheridan WYO Rodeo, a few small changes have been put into place for this year’s slack. Crowds flock to the evening performances, but much of the action happens before the sun starts to set behind the Bighorn Mountains. Beginning Tuesday morning, contestants compete in rodeo slack events such as barrel racing, team roping, tie-down roping and steer wrestling. Approximately 25 contenders compete in each event to determine their placing for the day. “Our slack has changed this year as a result of the requests we have received to better serve our contestants,” said Zane Garstad, arena director for Sheridan WYO Rodeo. “By implementing these changes, we hope to increase the number and quality of our contestant pool.” The changes include moving barrel racing slack to Tuesday evening, which will mean ground conditions will be similar to those during the evening performances, therefore providing a more even playing field.

Other changes include bumping back the start time of slack on Thursday to 11 a.m. This change was made to accommodate contestants so they can compete at another rodeo’s slack in the morning, then make the trek to Sheridan. This change was made at

the request of the PRCA on behalf of the other rodeo and contestants. For true fans, slack is pure rodeo action and excitement. The slack events are free and open to the public, all taking place at Sheridan County Fairgrounds.

ABOVE | Cody Lee competes in steer roping at the Sheridan WYO Rodeo. Photo by Bud Denega

BEHIND THE SCENES Maintenance crew, other volunteers work long hours to ensure rodeo’s success

hile most people take time off work and enjoy themselves during Sheridan WYO Rodeo, the week entails around-the-clock labor for others. Members of the Sheridan County Fairgrounds maintenance crew work 15 to 20 hours every day of the week, starting most days before the sun rises and ending well after it sets. They aren’t the only ones — vol-

unteers, too, contribute to the week’s success. A four-man maintenance crew handles the unseen aspects of the event, including dirt care and grounds cleanup. Summer is easily the busiest season of their job, and Sheridan WYO Rodeo provides the most labor-intensive week. Maintenance members prepare for about a week before the event and kick it into high gear the Saturday

S HERIDAN WYO RODE O 2019 – B Y T H E S H ER ID A N PR ES S

before rodeo begins. The days are well-structured, so the employees know what to do; it just takes a lot of time. “Besides just random things, it’s basically all to a T,” maintenance crew member Evan Spahn said. “Exactly when they say it’s going to happen, that’s when we do it.” Spahn and his coworkers arrive around 5 or 6 a.m. every day and prepare for morning slack events by

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Some volunteers help for a few hours or a few days, others have more involved duties. Just like time commitment levels vary, so do the number of years each volunteer has helped with the event. No matter the number of hours, Sheridan WYO Rodeo board members emphasize time and time again that Sheridan WYO Rodeo wouldn’t succeed without volunteers.

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Nick Siddle

S HERIDAN WYO RODE O 2019 – B Y T H E S H ER ID A N PR ES S

using a water truck — which carries about 1,500 gallons — to soften the dirt in the arena. When slack concludes in the early afternoon, the crew gets the arena ready for the evening rodeo events. That entails more watering, plowing, raking, digging and otherwise moving the dirt around as needed. The crew members constantly keep an eye on the weather as well, which greatly impacts their jobs. The worst case scenario is consistent rain, which renders the arena nearly useless. Other responsibilities include cleaning the parking and trailer lots. The crew also takes care of nearly 300 animals stalls. Shoveling and raking stalls is universally agreed to be the worst part of the job, especially for those crew members with allergies. Maintenance crew member Dakota Smith said five to six tons of stall waste — straw, hay and manure — are disposed during rodeo week. When not watering, cleaning, plowing or shoveling, the members are on standby, helping with odd jobs

and working on anything that needs to be repaired. Lunch and dinner are provided most days, and they can take a short afternoon break if necessary. Beyond the grounds crew, the entire week of rodeo centers on the efforts of volunteers. From the Boot Kickoff at Whitney Commons to the tailgate party at the Big Horn Equestrian Center, none of Sheridan WYO Rodeo would be possible without the time and effort volunteers contribute. Organizations involved in the week include the Sheridan County Chamber of Commerce, Kiwanis Club, Boy Scouts, the rodeo board and many others. SPURS volunteers can be seen throughout rodeo week hanging banners on Main Street, carrying flags in the arena, operating chutes and more. Each year, approximately 150 people help with the WYO Rodeo. While some may feel underqualified, WYO Rodeo Board President Nick Siddle said there’s a little something for everyone.

SPONSORED BY HAMMER CHEVROLET

BAREBACK RIDING

n bareback, riders suffer more abuse, injury and long-term damage than other rodeo events. Bareback has been compared to riding a jackhammer with one hand. A bareback rider uses a riggin’ made of leather, resembling a suitcase handle on a strap. The riggin’ is placed atop the horse’s withers and secured with a cinch. As the bronc bucks, the rider pulls his knees up, rolling his spurs up the horse’s shoulders. As the horse descends, the rider straightens his legs. MARK OUT: The rider must have both heels touching the animal above its shoulders. On the first jump from the chute, the riders must mark their horse out. If he fails to mark his horse out, he receives a no score.

2018 RESULTS

ABOVE | Buck Lunak of Cut Bank, Montana, competes in bareback riding during the 2018 Sheridan WYO Rodeo. | Photo by Justin Sheely

S HERIDAN WYO RODE O 2019 – B Y T H E S H ER ID A N PR ES S

1 1 3 3 5 6 6 6

Clayton Biglow; 88; $4,864 Wyatt Denny; 88; $4,864 Clayton Biglow; 84; $2,569 Wyatt Denny; 84; $2,569 Devan Reilly; 83.5; $1,285 Zack Brown; 83; $734 Connor Hamilton; 83; $734 Cody Kiser; 83; $734

STEER WRESTLING

SPONSORED BY HAMMER CHEVROLET

any bull riders use a sticky substance called rosin, to increase the grip of their ropes. Unlike the horse events, there is no mark out rule. If the bull rider touches the bull or himself with his free hand, he will receive a no score. A bull rider uses a flat-braided rope that is wrapped around the bull’s chest. The rider wraps the rope around his hand, sometimes weaving it through his fingers for a more secure grip.

2018 RESULTS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Trevor Kastner; 89; $4,568 Cole Melancon; 88.5; $3,502 Chase Dougherty; 87.5; $2,589 Joseph McConnel; 85; $1,675 Garrett Smith; 84.5; $1,066 Dylan Hice Vick; 83.5; $761 Brody Yeary; 83; $609 Elliot Jacoby; 82.5; $457

LEFT | Bull rider Chase Dougherty of Canby, Oregon, competes during Sheridan WYO Rodeo. Photo by Justin Sheely

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BUCKLE UP FOR WILD PONY RACES SPONSORED BY THE POWDER HORN

heridan County boasts many young aspiring cowboys and cowgirls. They fill the stands at the Sheridan WYO Rodeo and, for the last few years, they’ve also had the chance to test their skills in the arena. While the competitors look cute, they have to be tough. No more than 12 years old and weighing in at no more than 100 pounds, the wild pony race contestants face wild, mature animals. Each team features three members — an anchor, a mugger and a rider. The event goes like this: Team and pony break out of the chute and into the arena. The goal is to get one of

the kids (the rider) onto the pony’s back for at least two jumps. Sometimes it goes well, but other years the competitors have to scramble to keep control of their pony. Teammates must work together. The anchor holds the rope attached to the pony while the mugger helps still the pony long enough to get the rider on board. The event will take place each night at the Sheridan WYO Rodeo as a half time of sorts. Contestants from prior years have set the bar high, so buckle up for some intense (and adorable) rodeo action.

ABOVE | Cael Hamrich, left, and Brinton Brownell try to mount a pony in the Wild Pony Races during Sheridan WYO Rodeo. Photo by Justin Sheely

S HERIDAN WYO RODE O 2019 – B Y T H E S H ER ID A N PR ES S

ENGAGEMENT 82

S HERIDAN WYO RODE O 2019 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; B Y T H E S H ER ID A N PR ES S

Kids Calf Scramble debuts in SHERIDAN WYO Rodeo this year BY MARISSA BRENNEMAN

efore the main events can begin, the Sheridan WYO Rodeo features a pre-rodeo game to draw in a youth audience. This year, before the commencement of the actual rodeo, children will be able to participate in the Kids Calf Scramble. The new pre-rodeo event is unlike other youth events the people of Sheridan and tourists have seen before. The Kids Calf Scramble will replace the Commanding General’s Mounted Color Guard that the rodeo featured last year. The Kids Calf Scramble has been likened to flag football, except with cows. About half an hour before the rodeo begins, kids 10 years old and younger are invited into the arena for the light-hearted competition. There is no limit to the number of kids that can participate in the event. The game begins with a number of calves in the arena. Each baby cow will have a flag of sorts attached to its tail. Upon the signal from the event supervisor, the calves will be released and all the children participating in the event can chase them down. The goal is to apprehend the flags from each of the cows. Every child who captures a flag will receive a prize. Nick Siddle, president of the rodeo board, picked up the idea for this event from his lengthy experience with rodeo events around Wyoming. “When I was a kid, there were nightly rodeos in Cody, Wyoming. This is something Sheridan hasn’t seen, but definitely something I saw there in Cody,” Siddle said. “It gives the kids something to be excited about and something to talk about. Kids love to be a part of things.”

Involving children in the rodeo is something that the rodeo board wants to focus on this year. While the youngsters might only be thinking about snatching that flag and winning a prize, they are simultaneously “building positive memories associated with the rodeo,” Siddle said. One local child has already been doing just that for many years now. Cord Harman, 8-year-old son of Sheridan High School teacher Beth Harman, has been involved with rodeo since he was just a toddler.

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I’m just starting to rope. I can’t wait until I can tie-down calf rope. I don’t know what [the Kids Calf Scramble] is but I would try it.

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SPONSORED BY ROCKY MOUNTAIN PROPANE ASSOCIATION

Cord Harman

“I like rodeoing with my family and training my horse. Training my horse is my favorite part,” Cord Harman said. “You really have to work and train your horse and practice a lot to do it right.” Harman has competed in goat tying, calf riding, pole bending, ranch team sorting and barrel racing in his young career. “I’m just starting to rope. I can’t wait until I can tie-down calf rope,” Cord Harman said. “I don’t know what [the Kids Calf Scramble] is but I would try it.” Another goal for this event is to have families arrive early to the rodeo

and build energy in the crowd. Senior Sheridan WYO Rodeo Princess Katie Bammel will be at the rodeo helping with the contestants and giving out prizes. “I am excited for this event. There should be a huge turnout and tons of energy between the kids, handlers and the audience,” Bammel said. “This event will provoke the energy and excitement in the crowd. As we say the Cowboy Prayer at the start of the rodeo, there will be more heart and soul going into those verses due to the energy those kids started during the calf scramble.” Bammel implies that children tend to build stronger connections with the rodeo when they are immersed in it. “It’s important for kids to be involved in the rodeo due to the rodeo being the lifestyle of the West,” Bammel said. “After doing this, the kids will always have rodeo in their blood, and they will be able to pass this important cultural tradition down to their kids.” Cord Harman’s older sister, Quinn Harman, has a similar outlook. Quinn Harman, who is 12 years old, has been a part of rodeo since she could ride. “I love horses, and I like being able to push myself to do better every time I get on a horse. And I like the friends I make. They are like me and love rodeo,” Quinn Harman said. “It is the best sport. You are friends with your competition, and not many sports are like that.” The Sheridan WYO Rodeo board anticipates the Kids Calf Scramble will accomplish all of these goals and provide a fun pre-rodeo game for the children involved.

LEFT | A young Wild Pony Races contestant watches from the chutes before the event. | Photo by Ashleigh Fox WWW.THESHERIDANPRESS.COM

ON THE

AGAIN

ROAD BY BUD DENEGA

eth Hardwick participated in so many rodeos last year that he lost count. “I was on the bubble of making the National Finals Rodeo, so I had to go to everything possible,” Hardwick said. If Hardwick had to guess, he’d say he competed in around 100 rodeos, which put more than 50,000 miles on his vehicle. That’s a lot of miles, a lot of hotel rooms, a lot of sleeping in cars and a lot of states and Canadian provinces to check off the list. Hardwick isn’t alone in this rodeo journey. This is the life of most cowboys. If grabbing hold of a bucking horse or an agitated bull wasn’t tiresome or grueling enough, the miles cowboys log likely are. Each competitor does it a little differently, as is the case for a couple Sheridan County cowboys. Hardwick, from Ranchester, Wyoming, owns a Chevrolet Express Van with which he travels. Hardwick has customized the interior of his van to fit a bed elevated by stilts, so he can store his equipment underneath. During rodeo season, Hardwick drives his van south and meets up with his travel partner and fellow bareback rider, Orin Larsen, who lives in western Nebraska. The two enter rodeos as buddies, meaning they’ll compete on the same day, as they travel from one rodeo to the next. The professional rodeo life — which Hardwick has enjoyed for the last nine years — has afforded him the opportunity to see a large portion of the United States, particularly west of the Mississippi River. “We see quite a bit of country,” Hardwick said. “There’s a lot of times where you don’t have time to play tourist and see the cool stuff because we are just in and out of town. But we do get to travel and see a lot. A lot of people never get to do that, so that’s a fun, cool thing I guess.” Hardwick sets his rodeo schedule in coordination with Larsen. The two attempt to attend many of the large-purse rodeos in an

S HERIDAN WYO RODE O 2019 – B Y T H E S H ER ID A N PR ES S

ABOVE | As a bareback rider, Seth Hardwick can travel light. One large bag holds all of his saftey gear, rigging, chaps and vest. RIGHT | Seth Hardwick stands facing his rig.

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Devan Reilly

EXAMPLE rodeo trip: FLIGHT

Gillette to Denver; Denver to Las Vegas

RODEO Helldorado ABOVE | Devan Reilly dons custom Sheridan WYO Rodeo chaps. Photo by Bud Denega

effort to make the most money. Both cowboys also have a list of their favorite rodeos they try to attend, including rodeos where the two have performed well in the past and ones that are simply fun to compete in, whether they did well or not. “We kind of have a set schedule, a routine,” Hardwick said. “We find ourselves going to the same rodeos every year. We have the the same pattern now that we are old and wise and have it figured out.” While some of the travel costs come out of Hardwick’s pocket, a portion is paid for by Team Wyoming. Hardwick and a few other cowboys from the Equality State, which includes Cheyenne’s Brody Cress, have a patch stitched into their vest, and whenever they have the chance, they promote their home state. In return, Team Wyoming helps the cowboys out with a stipend for hotel rooms, meals, plane tickets and more. Cress approached Team Wyoming in regards to a sponsorship after he made the NFR, and his success on the rodeo circuit has also garnered him local sponsorships from Visit Cheyenne and Cheyenne Frontier Days. “I really like having a few sponsorships from around Wyoming,” Cress said. “… They know you’ll do something for them, and they’ll do something for you.” Devan Reilly also has financial help with his rodeo endeavors. The Sheridan native is sponsored by Sheridan WYO Rodeo, which 86

helps him with travel costs. Reilly is a little different from Hardwick in the way he travels. Reilly’s travel partner is Cody Kiser — who was Bradley Cooper’s stunt double in the movie American Sniper — of Carson City, Nevada. Reilly either flies or drives his car from Sheridan to Carson City to travel with Kiser, who owns a van. The vehicle is customized, much like Hardwick’s, with a bed in the back, so as one cowboy drives, the other can rest in the back if he chooses. Reilly has had numerous travel partners over the years and is very happy with the friendship he and Kiser have forged. “It’s almost in a way like trying to figure out a relationship,” Reilly said. “Some people get along and some people don’t. Some people have different habits, some that you can’t put up. You’re just trying to find that person that has the same goals as you, the same routine.” Reilly participated in 80-90 rodeos last season. He spent a lot of time sleeping at truck stops, sharing hotel rooms and seeing towns he never had before. The rodeo cowboy life certainly isn’t for everyone. It’s a lot of time away from home, a lot of miles behind the wheel of a car and rough on one’s body in one way or another. But it does have its perks. Cowboys make lifetime friendships and important connections all while traveling the continent.

S HERIDAN WYO RODE O 2019 – B Y T H E S H ER ID A N PR ES S

DRIVE

Las Vegas to Carson City, Nevada (stayed overnight at travel partner Cody Kiser’s house)

DRIVE

Carson City to Redding, California

RODEO Redding Extreme Bulls

DRIVE

Redding to south of Sacramento, California (stayed overnight at a hotel)

DRIVE

South of Sacramento to Ramona, California

RODEO Ramona Rodeo

DRIVE

Ramona to Hayward, California (slept in car upon arriving in Hayward)

RODEO Rowell Ranch Rodeo

DRIVE Hayward to Carson City (stayed overnight at Kiser’s house)

DRIVE

Carson City to Reno, Nevada

FLIGHT Reno to Denver, Denver to Gillette

THE PARTICIPANTS PROFESSIONAL PICK-UP MEN GILBERT, MARRIOT AND WARD

ew jobs have more importance but less recognition than the pick-up men that help keep cowboys safe during rodeos across the country. As cowboys get bucked from broncs and bulls, pick-up men ride in to rescue the cowboys. They move in alongside the kicking livestock to provide a soft landing for the two-legged athletes. While the title of pick-up man sounds like a casting role in a romantic comedy, Dalton Ward, Bobby Marriott and Duane Gilbert take their roles much more seriously. For years — at least 20 — Bobby Marriott and Billy Ward held their ground as the WYO’s go-to pick-up men. But when Ward retired in 2014, the board filled the slot with Dalton Ward and Gilbert. “The pick-up men are critical