Everyday ranch work takes on a twist when you’re doing it in front of 1,000 spectators.
The McMahon Ranch team from Inwood, Man., has competed in ranch rodeo for 10 years but admitted to a few jitters before the first night of competition at Canadian Western Agribition.
“You just have to ‘cowboy up,’ ” said Gerry McMahon, 23, youngest of the three brothers who compete alongside their dad, John.
He said knowing each other so well is an advantage, but it can also work the other way.
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“When we’re on, we’re on and when we’re off, we’re off,” Gerry said.
The team finished fifth out of the six invited to the first annual event. The Udal Ranch team from Maple Creek, Sask., won the overall rodeo, as well as the individual events of doctoring, branding and wild cow milking.
Jordie Regier from 96 Ranch at Leader, Sask., won the bronc riding and Soderglen Ranches from Airdrie, Alta., topped the trailering event both nights.
The other competitors were Nickle Ranches from Bittern Lake, Alta., and Naylen Land and Cattle from Kola, Man.
Danny Udal said his team gets together a few times a year, usually in their hometown and in Edmonton, which introduced ranch rodeo four years ago.
“There is a lot of luck involved in it,” Udal said. “Sometimes things just won’t go right.”
One of his team members broke a leg in Edmonton and was unable to compete in Regina.
John McMahon caught his foot in his rope during the second night of Agribition competition but wasn’t injured.
The rodeo appeared to be a crowd pleaser and both Udal and John McMahon said its popularity is sure to grow as people realize they are watching things that happen on ranches all the time.
For the McMahons, competing is an opportunity to have fun together. They all work both on and off the farm.
Leon, 30, is a pasture rider. Dennis, 28, works at Fleury Feeds, and Gerry is in sales. John has worked for the Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration pasture program for 28 years and is also an auctioneer.
“The farm is work,” Gerry said. “Out here is fun.”
At the rodeo, Leon is the designated bronc rider while Dennis had the honour of milking the wild cow after John roped it and his brothers wrestled it to a stop.
The milking event is certainly the crowd pleaser and while it might seem a little unusual the ranchers said there are occasions when they have to deal with cows reluctant to let their calves suck.
“The crowd loves it and the teams love it, providing the stock is good,” said Gerry McMahon.
