...the Alps of Texas!
The 2010 Big Bend Ranch Rodeo is just around the corner and we anticipate this year's event to be bigger and better than ever. Ranch rodeo events are growing in number every year from coast to coast, from Canada to Australia. The largest increase, however, is in the number of ranch rodeo spectators. These audiences are made up of people from all walks of life: cowboys and their families, land owners, bank presidents, lawyers, accountants, doctors, and secretaries who love the spirit of the American West. This August we celebrate the one factor of industry that feeds our soul - ranching. The Ranch Rodeo of the Big Bend would like to celebrate our cowboy heritage and we invite you to celebrate with us.
The purpose of the WRCA is to preserve the lifestyle of working ranch cowboys and to provide those cowboys and their families with financial assistance in times of hardship. The purpose of a WRCA sanctioned ranch rodeo is to provide those cowboys an opportunity to educate the public about the everyday work of a working ranch. The goal of the BBRR is to support the WRCA, to promote the far West Texas region by sending a representative to the championships, and provide Sul Ross State University with scholarship monies for agriculture and rodeo students.
The Big Bend Ranch Rodeo (BBRR) committee has already been hard at work making preparations for next August's event. The rodeo has two night performances consisting of team penning, wild cow milking, team branding, team doctoring, bronc riding, and a bedroll race. Competing teams earn points for each event in which they place. The top point-earning teams land an entry spot at the Working Ranch Cowboy Association's (WRCA) World Championship Ranch Rodeo in Amarillo, Texas.
In addition to the two evening rodeo performances, there is the Saturday morning Ranch Horse Association of America (RHAA) competition. This event showcases a horse's athleticism and ability to work a cow as well as the tender relationship between horse and rider. Winners of this competition will be awarded the opportunity to compete at the RHAA finals in Abilene, Texas.
Also on Saturday, approximately 10 wagons compete for top dollar and prizes in areas of Best Meal, Best Bread, Best Cobbler, Best Bean and Most Authentic Wagon. This is the second year for our chuck wagon cook-off and it adds much zest to an already flavorful weekend.
To those of you who generously supported us last year, we say thank you. Because of you, several students received scholarships to Sul Ross State University and are pursuing an agriculture-based future. Because of you, the Rig Bend Ranch Rodeo is bigger each year, drawing more people to see your ad in the program. We ask you to join us again and ride along as the Big Bend Ranch Rodeo grows.
Supporting the 2006 Big Bend Ranch Rodeo is an opportunity for you and/or your business to be identified, both with the ranching heritage and as a Sul Ross supporter. We invite you all to spend the weekend being entertained by the best cowboys in the area and, at the same time, supporting some very worthwhile causes.
