Morgan Wheatly

The Bit Ranch took top honors for the Clarendon Outdoor Entertainment Association’s annual Ranch Rodeo during the 140th annual Saints’ Roost Celebration, June 30 and July 1.

Bit Ranch’s scores beat out 19 other local and regional teams as working cowboys put their skills to the test.  The team was made up of Tate Bennett, Teal Bennett, Trey Rusk, Bray Bennett, and Brody Bennett.

Finck Cattle Company’s team finished second with Ky Finck, Derek Finck, Cagle Joe Lewis, Carol Jack Lewis, and Caleb Rice; and the Rafter S Ranch was third with the team of Randy Crump, Brad Shadle, Elwyn McCleskey, Casey McCleskey, and Tell Good.

The Top Hand for the rodeo was awarded to Westin Griswold of the High Card Rach, and the Top Horse award was won by Casey Joe Lewis of Finck Cattle Co.

This year’s attendance for the two-day ranch rodeo was 1,191 compared to 1,351 last year. The Friday night performance was interrupted by a thunderstorm, and the stands and arena were emptied after officials told participants and spectators seek shelter due to lightning and the threat of hail.  The junior rodeo on Tuesday, July 4, was attended by 336 people.

The Junior Ranch Rodeo was won by Harkins Cattle Co. with the team of Cagan Harkins, Colby Mason, Tyler Estenson, Tierra McCorkel, and Gus Gallard. The second place team was Shoe Nail Cattle Compamy with the team of Dalton Benson, Jake Baca, Trey Mitchell, Jade Benson, and Cole Franks. RO Ranch was third in the junior rodeo with a team of Dalton Benson, Jake Baca, Trey Mitchell, Sterling Mitchell, and Cole Franks.

Top Hand winner for the Junior Ranch Rodeo was Trey Mitchell, and Colby Mason rode the Top Horse.

Junior Calf, Donkey, and Steer Riding and Mutton Bustin’ were held all three nights. Overall Mutton Bustin’ champion for the three nights was Madalyn Benson. Overall Calf Riding Champion was Jaxon McAnear, the Overall Donkey Rider was Levi Walden, and Steer Riding champion was also Levi Walden.

Nightly winners of the junior events were as follows:

June 30 – Calf Scramble – Harrison Howard, Jayton Fitch, and Braden Bond; Mutton Bustin’ Madilyn Benson; Calf Riding – Hudson Howard; Donkey Riding – Levi Walden; and Steer Riding – Levi Walden.

July 1 – Calf Scramble – Kal Brunson, Jackson Graves, Sterling Mitchell; Mutton Bustin’ – Jaxon Stoker; Calf Riding – Parker Haynes; Donkey Riding – Rye Reynolds; and Steer Riding –  Dunkan Banks.

July 4 – Calf Scramble – Rankin Profit, Sterling Mitchell, and Tyler Harper; Mutton Bustin’ – Reece Myers; Calf Riding – Jaxon McAnear; Donkey Riding – Colton Benson; and Steer Riding – Levi Waldon.

Beef winners this year were Scott Smith and Lee Smith.

COEA also held a Washer Pitching Tournament on Sunday, July 2. The first place team was Bob Evenson and Steve Nail, and the second place team was Tres Hommel and Chance McAnear.

FLOYDADA – About 90 youth from the Panhandle and South Plains districts attended the annual Xcel Energy/4-H Power Camp June 30-July 2 at the Plains Baptist Encampment near Floydada.

Among those attending was Donley County 4-H member Tanner Burch.

The goal of this camp is for the youth involved in Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service’s 4-H program to learn about leadership, electricity and team building, said Shawnte Clawson, AgriLife Extension 4-H youth development specialist in Amarillo.

The camp activities included ziplining, ropes course, kayaking, nightly dances and other recreational activities, which allowed participants to learn the basics of leadership and character development, Clawson said.

Xcel employees from Hereford, Plainview, Perryton and Lubbock taught classes and assisted with the event. The classes covered wiring and electrical safety along with energy conservation and careers in energy, said Mike Grant, Xcel community service and economic development manager in Hereford.

“We had a great time teaching about electricity and safety, two of my favorite topics,” Grant said. “We had the largest group attend the camp in over 10 years.

“Our relationship with this wonderful group allows us to reach many of our rural areas with an electric safety message that can save lives and teach young people about electricity,” he said.

Xcel named three top campers: Carter Strawn, Ochiltree County; Katherine Bezner, Dallam/Hartley; and Kynzie Hardegree, Mitchell.

Clawson said this year’s camp also included the election of each district officer team.   Those elected for District 1, the Panhandle area, were: president – Jenna Mayer, Potter County; vice president – Asher Miller, Ochiltree County; second vice president – Clay Wilson, Wheeler County; public relations officer and state 4-H council delegate at large – Alejandro Mata, Deaf Smith County; secretary – Ashby Dauer, Carson County; health and safety officer – Lydia Miller, Ochiltree County; photographer – Sedona Bailey, Potter County; treasurer – Mallory McKinney, Potter County; and two member advisers – Kaleigh Meador of Potter County and Marcee Cooke of Hemphill County.

District 2, South Plains area, elected officers were: president- Kyler Hardegree, Mitchell County; vice president – Rachel Graham, Floyd County; delegate at large – Quinton Linson, Gaines County; second vice president – Bryson High, Castro County; third vice president – Chandler Schulte, Castro County; secretary/treasurer – David Burt, Lamb County; public relations officer – Kristi McAlister, Castro County; and member adviser – Carson Millican, Gaines County.

Clawson said 4-H and Xcel Energy have collaborated for over 64 years in educating youth about leadership and energy.

“The North Region 4-H program thanks Xcel for their continued financial and educational support of its programs,” she said.

SHAWNEE – Cole Franks of Clarendon is competing this week in the 25th annual International Finals Youth Rodeo held July 9-14 at the Heart of Oklahoma Exposition Center, in Shawnee, Oklahoma.

Franks is participating in the world’s richest youth rodeo, hoping to win his share of more than $250,000 in prize money and championship saddles and buckles.

Franks will join more than 800 of the top high school rodeo athletes from around the world for the 2017 IFYR. He is vying for prizes in bareback riding and saddle bronc riding.

Contestants will compete in 10 events running simultaneously in three arenas throughout the week. Events include barrel racing, pole bending, breakaway roping, goat tying, team roping, tie-down roping, steer wrestling, bull riding, saddle bronc riding and bareback riding. The IFYR consists of two long go-rounds and a short go. All contestants compete once in each of the long go-rounds. The top 15 averages in each event will compete Friday night in the championship round short go for fame and prizes.

“The International Finals Youth Rodeo was developed to provide high school athletes with a professional level rodeo,” said Chris Dunlap, assistant director of the Heart of Oklahoma Exposition Center and International Finals Youth Rodeo. “Twenty-five years later, the IFYR is where any hopeful rodeo champion wants to be and be seen.”

The IFYR is not only home to the top high school athletes in the nation, but it is also an opportunity that allows for contestants and their families to travel, rodeo along the way and meet peers from across the country. The International Finals Youth Rodeo, held annually since 1993, is a 501 (c)3 non-profit organization that presents top high school athletes with a professional rodeo. The internationally-recognized IFYR is held annually at the Heart of Oklahoma Exposition Center in Shawnee, Oklahoma. The action-packed event includes hundreds of contestants vying to win more than $250,000 in prize money, competing in 10 events running simultaneously in three arenas over six days. In 2016, more than 920 contestants and their families traveled from 34 states and Australia to participate in the IFYR. For more information, visit IFYR.com or call (405) 275-7020.