Ranch Rodeo Roundup

A spectator stands outside waiting for the rain to pass. This year, no one minded that it rained on the parade – or the rodeo.

Cowboy with rope in hand. The ranch rodeo events took place on Friday night. Teams of working cowboys and cowgirls got to show off their wrangling skills for the crowd.

Hachet Ranch team ropers wait for their turn in the Calf Branding event.

Cowboys and cowgirls gather for the opening of ranch rodeo.

4-H parade and royalty grand entry.

4-H parade and royalty grand entry.

Jaycee Nevius proudly displays the flag during the national anthem.

4-H parade and royalty grand entry.

4-H parade and royalty grand entry.

Calf roping and sorting event riders line up for the auction bidding.

4-H parade and royalty grand entry.

4-H girls show their animals in the opening of the 4-H parade and royalty grand entry on Friday evening. Rosalyne Cope was awarded the Sheep Grand Championship. Quinn Berkley was Reserve Grand Champion.

4-H parade and royalty grand entry.

4-H parade and royalty grand entry.

Cutest chicken in the 4-H parade. Over 20 breeds of chickens were represented in the 4-H show between the Large Breed and Bantam classes. Jeffrey Johns-Roberts bore the bell away in this competition, winning Poultry Grand Champion and Reserve Championships in both the Fancy and  Meat Poultry categories.

4-H girls with their animals in the opening of the 4-H parade and royalty grand entry on Friday evening.

4-H parade and royalty grand entry.

4-H parade and royalty grand entry.

4-H parade and royalty grand entry.

4-H parade and royalty grand entry. This year the 4-H show was enlivened by a Robotics competition.

4-H parade and royalty grand entry.

Pumpkin the Grand Champion Steer led by Madelyne Cope. Evelyne Cope raised the steer, which weighed in at 1,292 pounds and fetched $8,000 from highest bidder Town and Country at the market auction. Sister Rosalyne raised the Grand Champion Sheep, which sold for $3,700 to Sangre de Cristo Electric.

4-H parade and royalty grand entry.

Madelyne Cope attempts to catch Pumpkin, the Grand Champion Show-off Steer, for her younger sister.

Pumpkin was so proud of his title, Grand Champion of Steers, that he busted loose to prance about for the 4-H parade.

Rusty Granzella, Republican candidate for Chaffee County commissioner, serves dinner at the commissioners’ crawfish boil and rocky mountain  bull fry.

Kimberly Parker, Democratic candidate for Chaffee County commissioner, serves dinner at the commissioners’ crawfish boil and rocky mountain bull fry.

Mutton busted.

The next generation watches the ranch rodeo.

Sydney Rohrich clings fiercely to her lamb. Rohrich finished in second place for the preliminary mutton busting event.

Hang on mutton buster.

Sydney Rohrich is ready to ride.

A spectator stands outside, waiting for the rain to pass.

Reserve Grand Champion hog Spyro is pampered by her owner Chase Shellabarger. Shellabarger is a member of Imagine That 4-H.

Keygan Rohrich proudly displays his 4-H ribbons. This is Rohrich’s third year showing his animals at the fair.

A display of grand champion and reserve grand champion ribbons awarded to Rufus and Spyro.

Chase Shellabarger walks Spyro to the shower area.

Rufus the grand champion hog, raised by Chase Shellabarger,  weighed in at 235 pounds and sold for $5,450 to Scanga Meat.

4-H ribbons proudly displayed.

Cream Puff and her friends wait for the big mutton busting event of the evening.