The Bar U Ranch National Historic Site of Canada, with the participation of the Friends of the Bar U Historic Ranch Association, staged its ninth annual Old Time Ranch Rodeo, an event that literally made history as the site’s most widely attended day ever.
Over 1,000 appreciative fans watched as the Rocking P Ranch team, of Nanton, AB, comprised of members Mac Blades, Justin Blades, Blake Schlosser and Logan Bird, took top prize, though the win was anything but easy.
Everything came down to the wire when the Rocking P and Willows Ranch teams finished head to head, with points earned in the Team Doctoring event serving as tie-breaker.
In total, 13 ranch teams competed in five events, including a Broke Horse Race, Team Sorting, Team Branding and Wild Cow Milking, with hard working cowboys battling through the afternoon for coveted Bar U silver belt buckles, and, even more important rights: bragging rights.
Second place went to last year’s champions, the Willows Ranch, of Winfield, AB, with third spot going to the Broken Diamond Ranch, of High River, AB.
The Top Hand Award, a hand-made silver bit made by Ralph Nelson, of Nanton, AB, went to Bill McNab of McNab Ranches, of Fort McLeod, AB.
A tradition long in the making, the Ranch Rodeo dates back to the earliest days of Bar U history, when cattle ranged by the tens of thousands and men on horseback, working for a dollar a day, were their keepers. This year marks the 125th anniversary of the Bar U Ranch.
