As a professional photographer there is not much I have not photographed in my fourteen years, but Ranch Rodeo is one of those things. Which is crazy when when you take into account I as a rodeo photographer for 10 years!
So what is Ranch Rodeo and how is it different from Rodeo?
Ranch Rodeo is a traditional rodeo where teams of ranch hands compete in events that mimic their daily work.Ranch rodeos differ from professional rodeos in that the contestants are not professional rodeo cowboys, and the events are more similar to ranch tasks.
Here are some examples of events that might take place at a ranch rodeo:
Calf branding
Steer mugging
Wild cow milking
Team roping
Team penning
Rough stock (bucking) events
Horse racing
Ranch rodeos are often held annually for fun and bragging rights. Contestants compete in teams representing their ranch, using the same equipment and tack they would use for ranch work.
I was a professional rodeo photographer so I photographed the events related to professional rodeo- bull riding, bronc riding, team roping, calf roping, steer wrestling, barrel racing, etc. There is a difference as ranch rodeo is not full of professionals but rather “working” cowboys and it showed there was more laughing and comradery than any rodeo I attended in my decade as a professional rodeo photographer.
This Ranch Rodeo Had Four Events: Trailer Loading, Sorting, Doctoring and Branding.
Check out a few of my favorite images below!
