The legendary West Texas outfit claims the ranch rodeo title in Abilene, Texas.
Story and photos by Ross Hecox
There’s a first time for everything. The legendary Pitchfork Land & Cattle of Guthrie, Texas, has recorded its fair-share of first-time feats since it was established in 1883. However, it still hadn’t won bragging rights as the best ranch rodeo team at the prestigious Western Heritage Classic—until last weekend.
Held May 7–10 in Abilene, Texas, the popular Western exposition has celebrated cowboys and ranch life since 1985. The event includes a chuckwagon cookoff, cowboy music and poetry, a popular tack and equipment show, cowdog demonstrations, horsemanship clinics, a horse sale and the national finals of the Ranch Horse Association of America.
The premier event of the Western Heritage Classic is the ranch rodeo. Competing against other legendary ranches such as Haythorn Land & Cattle, Stuart Ranch and Tongue River Ranch, the Pitchfork crew clinched the ranch rodeo championship on the strength of winning the ranch bronc riding in the first go-round and claiming the wild cow milking title.
Pat Butler marks an 81-point score in the ranch bronc riding. His team, Pitchfork Land & Cattle of Guthrie, Texas, won the ranch rodeo for the first time.
The Haythorn Land & Cattle crew of Nebraska competes in the wild cow milking. The team finished third in the ranch rodeo and won the Top Remuda and Top Horse awards.
A young cowboy competes in the stickhorse bronc riding.
Pickup men handle a bronc during the ranch rodeo.
Tripp Townsend and TRR Lucky Playgun won the junior division of the Ranch Horse Association of American National Finals.
Riding Boons Hot Tamale, Kelsey Mosby won the senior division of the RHAA National Finals.
Buster and Sheryl McLaury present a colt-starting demonstration.
Competing in the Chuckwagon Cookoff, the Rising W crew finished first in the meat division.
Steve Friskup auctioneers during the Invitational Ranch Horse Sale. With 69 consignments, the sale averaged $5,832.
