CNJ staff photo: Kevin Wilson The Express Ranch team works to tie their cow during the mugging competition in the Saturday qualifying event for the Resistol All-Around Ranch Rodeo at the Curry County Events Center. The four-day event drew about 4,000 people.
CNJ staff
It’s still up in the air whether Clovis will again host the Resistol All-Around Ranch Rodeo. But officials said the 2011 show was worth having, in either case.
The fifth-year rodeo, which had been in Waco, Texas, for the last three years before coming to the Curry County Events Center last weekend, drew an estimated 4,000 people through the four days.
Kevin Jolley, manager of the Curry County Events Center, said he was still working on a more accurate count. But he did know that the Saturday qualifier had the highest attendance, and Sunday’s short go was the lowest.
“I thought it was pretty good. We knew Mother’s Day was going to be a tough day (for attendance).”
The event also drew 200 out-of-town competitors, along with family members and other staff, through the 40 five-member ranch teams.
Teams receive points for bucking bronco, mugging and wild cow milking. The top eight teams receive cash awards, with the top team taking home $50,000.
The Arndt & Bailey Ranches team of Emporia, Kans. (Arndt) and Tampa, Fla. (Bailey) claimed the top prize. It was their first win in the rodeo’s five-year history.
Jolley isn’t sure if the rodeo will be back next year in Clovis.
“This was a one-year deal,” he said. “We’ll discuss it again. We talked about it a little bit today.”
The weekend also included the fourth annual “Duke of the Dutch Ovens” Chuck Wagon Cook-Off and a classic car show at the fairgrounds.
