by Naomi Loomis,
WSRRA Association Representative
Western States Ranch Rodeo Association’s ninth season is drawing to an end with the WSRRA National Finals coming up November 1 thru 4, in Winnemucca, Nevada. Over 40 open teams, 20 women’s teams, the top 15 ranch bronc riders and the top 15 women’s steer stoppers will make their way to Nevada. Something new this year will be a junior/senior team division, and barrel racing in the pavilion next to the main arena building.
First time qualifier for the 2018 WSRRA National Finals rodeo is B & E Cattle Company from Colorado. I caught up with their team caption, Eric Schneider. He is the owner of B&E Cattle Company, and works for Animal Health International delivering feed additives to feedlots and dairies in Colorado, Wyoming and Nebraska. Eric’s team members are Josh Love, who is the general manager for Heel-O-Matic training systems; D.J Tecklenburg ,who is the owner of Tecklenburg Performance horses, and also works for CMC Livestock; and Jordan Mildenberger ,who also works for Animal Health International doing the same job as Eric. Jordan also shoes horses.
Eric says, “We qualified for the WSRRA National Finals at the Eastern Colorado Roundup in Akron, Colorado, and also at Larimer County Stock Growers 4U ranch rodeo in Wellington, Colorado.” This was the first year that Eric and his team have competed in the WSRRA.
Eric talks about being a team captain, “As team captain I am the one that enters us at the rodeos. Not sure how I got nominated to be captain. I think it’s just the way it worked out.” Part of being on a ranch rodeo team takes everyone sharing duties, ideas and a little luck. “We all have a voice on our team,” Eric says. “I don’t really have to unify the team. We have all been good friends for some time now and know each other well enough. If any of us have an issue we just get it out on the table,” Eric states.
Being a captain also requires you to attend captains meeting prior to the ranch rodeo. “When I go to any captains meeting, I always talk with my team first and find out if there are any concerns that I need to bring up. At meetings I just ask the questions to make sure we understand the way the rodeo is being run and make clear we know the rules,” says Eric.
Being a team captain requires organization and Eric is the one who has to make phone calls to the team to find out if everyone can make the rodeo or not. Being a team captain also comes with rewards. “I would say the most rewarding part is just doing what we love to do with the team we have,” Eric says. A team captain must also be a good listener. Eric explains, “I think a team captain is someone that not only goes to meetings, but who also listens to what his/her whole team has to say. It is also someone that sticks up for their team even in the bad times.”
This is the first year that B & E Cattle Company has competed at the WSRRA National Finals. Eric talks about heading to Nevada and competing in the WSRRA, “I think if it’s a WSRRA rodeo, or any of the other ranch rodeos that we go to every year, you have to have team spirit. All of us are out there giving 100% to reach the goal of a win. After we are done in the arena, we go back to the trailer and talk about what we did right ,and what we can do better for the next one.”
“This being our first year in the WSRRA, we have met so many great people. The ranch rodeo producers have gone above and beyond what we could expect. As a team, B & E Cattle Company looks forward to great competition at the National Finals. Looking ahead, we are excited to compete at WSRRA rodeos next year”
On behalf of the WSRRA, good luck at this year finals.
