Evans Ranch wins Nile Sanctioned Rodeo at Trafton

The Trafton Rodeo Arena was host to the Nile Sanctioned Fourth Annual Phillips County Saddle Club Ranch Rodeo last Saturday, August 27. The event was won by Glendive's Evans Ranch, which consisted of Wyatt Handy, Wes Kirkaldie, Don Evans and Clay Nagle.

The Evans Ranch had previously qualified for the Nile Rodeo in Billings on October 15, therefore the second place team at the Ranch Rodeo qualified for the Nile Rodeo.

The second place team was Malta's Olsen Grain and Livestock, a team consisting of Reid Robinson, Guy Simanton, Joe Pierce, Jeremy Pierce and Ross Salsbery.

Other award winners included Kip Hunter who won Top Horse (Reed Ranch from Idaho), Brandy Hunter who was Reserve Top Hand (Reed Ranch from Idaho), Ross Salsbery who won Top Hand (Olsen Grain & Livestock from Malta) and Jeremy Pierce who was Reserve Top Horse (Olsen Grain & Livestock from Malta).

The opening event, branding, was won by Maxwell Butte with a time of one minute, twenty-one seconds. Reid Ranch followed with a time of 1:30, Salveson Ranch took third with a time of 1:32, Olson Ranch took fourth with a time of 1:47 and Evan Ranch posted a time of 2:10.

In trailering, Orahood Ranch won the event after rounding up three cows with a time of 1:09, Evans followed rounding up three cows with a time of 2:19. Olson Grain trailered two cows at the 1:50 mark. F. Anderson Ranch had two cows in at 1:56, Reid Ranch trailered two cows at 2:04 and Salveson Ranch trailered two cows at 2:59.

In Doctoring, the Evans Ranch won with a time of 1:01, Korman Ranch had a time of 1:26, F. Anderson Ranch had a time of 1:29, Olson Grain had a time of 1:30 and Maxwell Butte had a time of 1:31.

Wild Cow Milking was won by Reid Ranch who had a time of 39 seconds. Maxwell Butte had a time of .44, Evans Ranch had a time of 1.03, Salveson Ranch had a time of 1:14, Olson Grain had a time of 1:15, Korman Ranch had a time of 1:17, Hi-Line Ranch had a time of 1:27 and Orahood Ranch had a time of 1:28.

The Ranch Bronc Riding was won by Olsen Grain who had a score of 75, F. Anderson and Orahood ranch both scored 74, Evans Ranch scored 73, Korman Ranch and Salveson scored 72 each, Reid Ranch scored 71 and Maxwell Butte scored 70.

At the event the PCN caught up with Sleeping Buffalo's Larry Simpson of the Simpson Ranch.

Simpson's team consisted of himself, his grand-children Ashen Simpson, Brennan Simpson, Zeb Olson and Clint Kipt.

Larry started riding race horses at 12 years old back when Malta had a horse racing arena.

Now, at 78, Larry still participates in Ranch rodeos.

"It's a beautiful day," he said.

His favorite event in ranch rodeo is Wild Cow Milking while roping is his favorite overall event.

"I was a milker," Larry said. "I used to be able to run a little bit."

His motivation for participating in rodeos has to do with his health.

"I just had a bad heart here about four months ago," he said. "I healed up out of that and I've been working every day lately."

He also knew he had to stay busy to stay healthy.

"I didn't want to lay there and die," he added. "I gotta get up and get some exercise."

Even after having to deal with a related infection in his left leg, Larry said he is one hundred percent.