2022 Western States Ranch Rodeo Association National Finals

By Naomi Loomis, WSRRA Vice President

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The Western States Ranch Rodeo Association National Finals was held November 2 - November 5 at the Winnemucca Events Complex in Winnemucca, Nevada. In 2022, the WSRRA was purchased by Go West Productions, LLC whose new owners include Ric Maesterjuan, Naomi Loomis, Barbara Myers, Kevin Cooley and Brandon Nuffer. We continued the ranch rodeo with traditions of the WSRRA as well as started some new ones. We will continue to keep the cowboy way of life alive through our WSRRA cowboy and cowgirl members. We would like to thank all of our support through the transition of the WSRRA and throughout our 2022 finals. We would like to congratulate all of our qualified contestants as well as the winners of this year’s finals.  The Western States Ranch Rodeo Association (WSRRA) continues to experience solid support in sixteen states with teams coming from as far away as Nebraska, South Dakota, Montana, and Wyoming. 

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Throughout 2022, WSRRA sanctioned more than 21 open ranch rodeos, 12 women’s ranch rodeos, 9 women's steer stoppings and over 56 ranch bronc riding events. The top two open and women’s teams from each of the ranch rodeos, and the top 20 women’s steer stoppers, and top 20 ranch bronc riders competed for cash and prizes at the National Finals. Prizes included Gist buckles, Skyline Silver Buckles, John Mincer Silversmith buckles, Yeti coolers, Twisted X boots, Outlaw Saddles & Silver buckles, Joe Benner halters, and much more.

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For the fourth year in a row, the WSRRA added a Jr/Sr Division Jackpot. This division required two seniors 17 or over and two juniors aged 12-16 to compete in six events. Seven teams competed in team branding, tie down steer, sort and rope, trailer loading and team roping. This added event was one of our highlights of this year’s national finals.

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Adding to our performances for the first time was our junior ranch bronc riding jackpot sponsored by Tri State Rodeo Company – High Desert Rough Stock. These young men and women showed our crowd what grit and cowboy ness truly are. It was a highlight of our 2022 WSRRA Ranch Rodeo Finals. JC Harmon heads up these young rough riders. “I believe in building and mentoring riders for the future,” states JC.  The 2022 Junior riders included Grace Young, Talon Walker, Ryan Thompson, Spade Hackler, Michael Waller, CY Black. The 2022 Senior riders included Galvin Young, Taylor Pierson, Bill Alldritt, Carson Angell, Ashton Prior, Ty Roland, Trevin Fleetwood. Congratulations to our all our young ranch bronc riders.  Senior Ranch Bronc Jackpot Results: Ty Roland - 78.5 Champion, Taylor Pierson – 76, Gavin Young -     73.5, Trevin Fleetwood - 70.5, Bill Alldritt – 69. Junior Ranch Bronc Jackpot Results Spade Hackler 83.5 – Champion, Grace Young – 81, Talon Walker - 81, Michael Waller - 78, Ryan Thompson - 76.

 

The 2022 WSRRA Cowboy Crisis Silent and Live Auction recipients included Tiffany Schwenke, Nate Easterday and Shane Flanigan. Tiffany is a 5th generation Wyoming Rancher that has been a WSRRA ranch rodeo producer as well as a contestant. She recently discovered a mass below one of her kidneys and is doctoring for answers about it. Nate was born and raised in Jordan Valley, Oregon and comes from a ranching family of many generations. He was diagnosed with testicular cancer. Shane is from Southern Utah and has been a WSRRA Finals judges, representative as well as a ranch rodeo producer. Shane has been diagnosed was a rare, incurable, auto immune disease called Myasthenia Gravis. He is currently undergoing infusions to combat the effects of this disease.  The silent auction was successful, and we would like to thank all of our donors as well as our bidders.

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The Nationals Finals kicked off Thursday with the women's long go open, junior, women's Team long go Team Branding, Team Roping, Tie-Down women’s and Juniors, Trailer Loading – women’s, Load and Tie.  This year the Cowboy Channel Plus provided a live stream of the rodeo. A huge variety of vendors participated in the Vendor Trade Show and the WSRRA Cowboy Crisis silent auction began. As the sun settled down, we held performance number 1 of the 2022 WSRRA finals. Our grand entry filled our arena with all our contestants as well as a presentation of the new owners. This performance included cowboys and cowgirls competing in Round one of the WSRRA Ranch Bronc Riding and Women’s WSRRA Steer Stopping as well as Women tie-down, open, women’s and jr/sr team roping and trailer loading, as well as load and tie for ten of our open teams. We also presented our Annual Nelo Mori Heritage of Ranching award to the McAbee Ranch. We ended our night with a kids boot race.

Friday the arena was filled with long-go performance from all our contestants in events sort and rope doctoring, team roping open, Tie-Down women’s and juniors, trailer Loading - women’s and Junior and load and tie – open.  The day was filled with shopping and laughter. For the second night in a row, we held Round two of the WSRRA Ranch Broncs and Women’s WSRRA Steer Stopping as well as the Junior Youth Ranch Bronc showed off their talents. We also watched women’s tie-down, team roping, trailer loading and load and tie. We also announced our Producer of the Year – Mosbuckers Rodeo. The WSRRA Scholarship fund also held a live auction of custom-made spurs donated and made by John Mincer Silversmiths.  Friday night ended with the year-end and long go awards at The Winners at Winners WSRRA awards party.

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Saturday morning, November 5, started with Cowboy Church with Kevin Cooley and Wade Black. We followed that with the Family Branding Jackpot event. This final performance was full of Wild West action and western traditions.  As the panels went down, we started the WSRRA Short - Go Performance, with the top ten open teams, the top 6 women's teams as well as Round three of the ranch bronc riding and the women’s steer stopping. The senior youth jackpot ranch bronc riders also made their debut.  The Cowboy Crisis funds also held a live auction of a branded long horn skull donated by Fay Ranches, LLC. We also held another round of the kids boot race. As the arena dust settled, we presented awards to our champions.

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Congratulations to all the contestants, not just the winners. First time visitors to the event were totally impressed with the quality of the competition and the stock. A huge thank you to all the office help, chute help, announcers, judges, the TV crew, vendors, and stock contractors.

The WSRRA wouldn’t be around without the help of our sponsors and major supporters which include: our presenting sponsors Winnemucca WVCA Board, Yeti, 8 Seconds Whisky, Obendorf Farms – Jaca Ranch, Twisted X, Big Bend Trailers, Ram Rodeo, Vetericyn, Fay Ranches, Tommy Lee Livestock, Les Schwab Tires, Gist Silversmiths, Rob Nuffer, Skyline Silver, Protect the Harvest, Santa Cruz Animal Health, Mincer Silversmiths, Outlaw Saddles & Silver Buckles, Scottsbluff Screenprinting, Alliance FFA Chapter, Cowboy Choice Feeds, Winnemucca – Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, The Griddle, Desert Trails Vet Clinic, Desert Disposal, Big G Construction, Delamar Integra Mine, Merck Animal Health, Performix, Anipro, Cinch, Boot Barn, CB Brown’s True Value, Cody’s Cowboy Hats, Burch Rodeo, Mike Cervi Championship Rodeo, Outlaw Saddles & Silver Buckles, Rodeo News, Nevada Rancher, Working Ranch, Great Basin Sun and our host hotels, Winnemucca Inn, Motel T and Winners Inn Casino.