One-hundred working cowboys from 25 historic western ranches will compete with one another against-the-clock in ranch rodeo events at the fourth Ride for The Brand Ranch Rodeo Saturday, July 1 at the Norris-Penrose Event Center.The Longhorn Cattle Drive will kick off the rodeo on Friday, June 30 at high noon. The prize winning herd of Texas Longhorns will make its way south on Tejon Street from Cache La Poudre Avenue to the Pioneers Museum. Driving the cattle, which are from the Searle Ranch, are Stan Searle, president of the Texas Longhorn Heritage Foundation, Waddie Mitchell, well-known cowboy poet and rancher from Nevada and cowboys from the visiting ranches.Following the cattle drive, the Smokebrush Gallery at 218 W. Colorado Ave. will host a reception, from 2 to 7 p.m., for “Revealing Character and Other Cowboy Tintypes,” an award-winning exhibit of cowboy photographs by Robb Kendrick of Blanco, Texas. The Smokebrush Foundation, a Rodeo sponsor/partner, invites fans to join Waddie Mitchell and the visiting cowboys.At 6 p.m. on Friday, a free ranch horse competition and preview will showcase 40 top-quality horses that will be sold at the Ride for the Brand Cowhorse Classic Sale Saturday morning at 10 a.m. Riders will demonstrate at the Norris-Penrose Event Center the intricate technical maneuvers needed by a good working horse.Following the Cowhorse sale on July 1 is a western auction at noon in the new event center at Norris-Penrose. Both events are free and open to the public.At 6 p.m., Waddie Mitchell will lead off the festivities. Evening events include wild cow milking, trailer loading, double mugging and ranch bronc riding. The winning teams will be awarded Ride for The Brand silver buckles and cash prizes. Awards will also be given to top horse and top hand. Top teams participate in the Working Ranch Cowboys Association finals in Amarillo in November.Flash Cadillac will return to the stage at the rodeo. Enjoy classic rock ‘n roll with dancing in the dirt on the arena floor immediately following the rodeo. The dance is included in the ticket.For more information, visit www.RideForTheBrandRodeo.com. Tickets are from $5 to $25 at can be purchased at all Tickets West locations – call 1-866-464-2626, 520-SHOW for locations, or visit TicketsWest.com. Tickets are also available at Western Warehouse stores and the ProRodeo Hall of Fame.
