Jeff Kaley
Waurika News-Democrat
WAURIKA —
Ranch rodeos in Oklahoma date back to before statehood. For over a century, ranch rodeos have been a way to focus on the work routines cowboys actually experience.
Passing along the history of a working cowboy’s everyday duties was one reason the Waurika Chamber of Commerce initiated its ranch rodeo in 2006. Organizers felt it was important to maintain the tradition of actual cowboy life with events such as riding, roping, branding, horse breaking and the like.
Friday and Saturday, the fifth Waurika Ranch Rodeo will bring together a dozen teams from Oklahoma, Texas and Kansas, who will be hoping to emerge as champions at the end of the two 8 p.m. performances at Rex Dunn’s Coyote Hills Arena.
But the grownups won’t be the only cowboys and cowgirls competing. For the first time, Pokey the Clown is bringing his Junior Ranch Rodeo to Waurika. The competition will be held during the day Saturday at Coyote Hills, at a time that will be announced during Friday’s performance.
Pokey, whose real name is Doug Smith, has iconic status in the West Texas rodeo community. The Panhandle resident has been entertaining and raising funds for years, and created the Junior Ranch Rodeo 13 years ago.
During the stop at the Waurika rodeo, Pokey will be “working the crowd” during the Friday and Saturday night performances of the main rodeo.
On Saturday, the Junior Ranch Rodeo features events designed for children from 4-16 years old. The competition teaches the youngsters the ways of working ranch hands as well as team work. It also provides family entertainment for participants and spectators.
Events include calf branding, a pony express race, wild cow milking and wild cow doctoring. Instead of livestock, the participants use stick horses and wooden cattle that represent the stock.
In the pony express race, team members “ride” a stick horse around four barrels, then hand off saddlebags to the next team member in line. The clock stops when the last member rounds the fourth barrel and drops the saddlebags into a bucket.
Wild cow milking begins when team members take positions at the starting line. The team captain rides a stick horse down the arena, leading his teammates to the cow that is mounted on skids. One child steps onto the skids at the back of the cow while the captain, on a stick horse, grabs the rope on the cow and the other two team members help pull the cow back to the milking line.
The child on the back, who has been holding the tail while being dragged across the arena, steps off the skids, picks up the milk bottle from a pail, and “milks” the cow. Once there is liquid in the bottle, the hand races across the finish line to stop the time, and the official verifies there is milk in the bottle.
The wild cow doctoring works much the same way, except the teammate on the back of the cow picks up a marker and marks tape on the side of the neck to stop the time.
In the calf branding, a team member stands in the branding circle with his branding iron. The captain, riding a stick horse, and the other two members line up at the start next to the brander. Two calves stand at the end of the arena, and the captain and the other two members race to fetch a calf.
One member goes to the back of the calf to make sure it is standing, and then the captain and the third member drag the calf to the branding circle. Once inside, the calf is flanked and the brander “brands” the calf. Then the calf is put back on his “feet.”
The team then goes after the second calf and completes the same process. Time stops when the second calf is branded and the iron has been returned to the “fire.”
There are three age groups: Pee Wee, for ages 4-7; Junior, for ages 8-11; and, Senior, for ages 12-16. Each team is comprised of four members and ages are calculated by the age of the child on Jan. 1. One adult coach per team is allowed.
The competition stresses team work, finishing a task despite obstacles and having fun. However, the winners also qualify to advance to the Junior Ranch Rodeo World Championship.
