Buckaroo Gathering Traditions

There is a difference between Buckaroo Gathering Traditions events and the Ranch Hand Rodeos (RHR). The Traditions events are timed but have a maximum time limit per event. RHR is just like a traditional rodeo. The fastest time wins. Traditions are judged for the quietness of removing the desired animal from the herd, roping it, and handling it by the person or team, but they still want to be under the time limit. RHR, once the time starts for the event, the faster, the better to get the desired animal roped, which usually occurs within the herd, because again, the fastest time wins.

In the Buckaroo Traditions Gathering events, the competition coordinators, Scott and Andrea Van Luven, are showing the public what it takes to do their jobs on the open range. Where there are no fences, corals, or chutes to hold the cattle. On the open range, the cow is sick, and the less stressed, the better for her. Rope her, get her down, doctored, and back up as fast as possible to avoid further complications.

This is the case with the last event of the three-day schedule of events, the three-man doctoring cows finals, which has a 12-minute time limit. The cows have ear tags with the color assigned to each team. It is much more challenging to pick out than a large number glued to the animal’s side. The BGT person who heads the animal will rope the cow and gently drive her away from the herd, passing the line that the main herd cannot cross, or the team is penalized. Once the rider and cow cross the line, the other two riders, one of which will heal the cow, preferably by two hind feet, easier on all involved. The cow must be laid down on the ground with the help of the third rider getting off their horse and working on the ground. They will put both hind feet in the healer’s rope. Then again, the person handling the ropes on the cow will take the rope off the head and put it on both front feet. The person working on the ground must get back on their horse, and the judge calls time. The clock stops, and then the cow is released.

The team with the least number of penalties and the best time wins. This year’s team doctoring champions in Winnemucca were the three-man Roman X Bar team, consisting of John Schutte, Jick Schutte, and Allen Mollott. Congratulations!