Kari Gibb/MDN Bruner Angus Ranch team members from Rugby raise their hands to stop the clock on their Steer Mugging efforts on Thursday, July 25, as competitors in the Ranch Rodeo events

Seventeen teams from across North Dakota, South Dakota and just across the border in Canada took part in the two day running of the 2024 North Dakota State Fair (NDSF) Ranch Rodeo competition at the Minot State Fairgrounds.

Seven teams competed on both nights one and two while five teams competed on night one and another five competed on night two. The best time in an event would garner 12 points, second best 11 points, third best 10 points and so on down the line to one point if the time was a qualifying time.

Local working cowpokes from the Bruner Angus Ranch team out of Rugby were the top points earners on both Wednesday, July 24, and Thursday, July 25, for some prize money and bragging rights for the year.

Eddie Swartzentruber, Bill Kuntz, Will Kuntz and Weston Kuntz put on a show. The team won three out of five events on night one for 53 points and four out of five events on night two for 57 points with improved times in four of the five events and missed making improvements on the fifth event by less than one second.

In both nights, the SSSS Ranches team placed atop the results category as well by matching the top team on night one with 53 points and holding onto the second slot on night two with 45 points. Eric Buyer, Kaylee Buyer, Chad Carlson, Hayden Bigney and Cassidy Cairns from Carnduff, Saskatchewan, enjoyed the trip south for the event.

Slash 77 Bargmann Ranch with team members Sandy Bargmann, Wes Jenson, Derrick Kessler and Jay Riser from Hannover claimed third on night one with 45 points and fifth on night two with 36 points. The team had the top mark in the Wild Cow Milking event on night two with a time of 30.88 seconds compared to 49.77 the day before on night one.

The BSC Mystics from Pollock, South Dakota, earned third on night two with 42 points.

The Ranch Rodeo does not have men’s or women’s divisions. Any and all cowpokes compete together regardless of restroom choice. One team that fielded only women was the J-H Ranch team. Kylie Hildre, Dee’Laney Sheets, Clancy Hornberger and Kalsey Kronberg all compete out of Velva. Several teams had mixed members but the J-H Ranch gals worked without any of the boys.

The J-H Ranch team placed seventh overall with fourth place times in the Steer Mugging (53.12) and Trailer Relay (1:16.47) for 32 total points. The same score would have put them into the same spot on night one as well.

Night One Results

1. Bruner Angus Ranch, 53

2. SSSS Ranches, 53

3. Slash 77 Barmann Ranch, 45

4. Retzlaff Seed & Supply, 40

5. Oliver County Cowboys, 34

6. Bearded Moose, 32

7. Real Payne Fencing, 32

8. Lazy J Ranch, 30

9. Men In Blue, 23

10. Last Round Up Ranch, 22

11. East River Cowboys, 15

12. PW Trucking, 8

Night Two Results

1. Bruner Angus Ranch, 57

2. SSSS Ranches, 45

3. BSC Mystics, 42

4. Mouse River Cowboys, 39

5. Slash 77 Barmann Ranch, 36

6. Oliver County Cowboys, 33

7. H-H Ranch, 32

8. Day Thugs, 31

9. Dakota Cowboys, 27

10. Men In Blue, 26

11. PW Trucking, 12

12. Last Round Up Ranch, 10