The Routt County CattleWomen hosted the All-Women’s Ranch Rodeo on July 12 at The Home Ranch in Clark.

The event, which the CattleWomen intend to hold annually, drew talented and handy women from local ranches as well as participants from surrounding states, including South Dakota, Wyoming and Nebraska.

In addition, the local community showed incredible support with over 500 spectators coming to watch the competition, eat delicious food and explore the silent auction. 

The mission of the event was to host a rodeo where women could showcase their ranching and riding skills in a fun, competitive environment and raise money for the RCCW local scholarship program.

Very quickly, the event gained widespread attention, team entries filled, RCCW members gathered over 30 auction items, and the local community showed up in full force. The silent auction offered everything from fine art to a ton of hay, drawing a wide variety of bidders.

The ranch rodeo competition consisted of teams of four women starting with horses loaded in a trailer, and all members in the pickup. Time began when they got out of the truck, mounted their horses, and began the cattlework. In the arena were four animals (three roping steers and a calf).

In any order, the women would sort the calf off the group into a pen, tag it with a branding iron, load one of the steers (pre-specified with a number for each team), and remove the ribbon from a steer’s tail. Once all the tasks were completed, time stopped when all members of the team, their horses, and ropes, settled at the end of the arena.

While not every team completed the tasks within the six-minute time limit, several teams were successful, and one team had an exceptionally fast time of 2:17. It was exciting for all participants and spectators, and a great demonstration of horse- and stock-(wo)manship.

During intermission, the crowd was treated to the “Mythology Mr. Mom Contest.” Male contestants raced to diaper a baby doll, strap it into a carrier, drive a nail into a stump, fold a pillowcase, and deliver a glass of wine to a waiting lady. The winning time was 32 seconds, earning bragging rights, whiskey and swag.

The day was an outstanding success that highlighted talented women and our incredible community. The event raised nearly $20,000 for RCCW’s scholarship fund. Since its founding, the Routt County CattleWomen have awarded over $200,000 to local students.

Routt County CattleWomen would like to extend our deepest gratitude to the community, participants, donors, and The Home Ranch for helping make our first year successful. We are already looking forward to next year!

Hayleigh Aurin is the RCCW vice president and Ranch Rodeo chair; Hallie Myhre is RCCW secretary and Ranch Rodeo vice chair.