"Pokey the Clown's'
WRCA World Championship
Junior Ranch Rodeo 2011
Young’uns up! September 24, 2011
Second Year for Jr Ranch Rodeo
During the Western Heritage Roundup on Saturday, September 25, grownups won’t be the only cowboys and cowgirls competing. For the second year, Pokey the Clown is bringing his Junior Ranch Rodeo to Bowie, Texas. The competition will be held during the day at the Bowie Rodeo arena, at 10:00 am with registration at 9:30 am.
Pokey, whose real name is Doug Smith, has iconic status in the West Texas rodeo community. The Panhandle resident has been entertaining and raising funds for years, and created the Junior Ranch Rodeo 14 years ago. This year, he will help to raise funds for the abused and neglected children of Montague County.
During the stop at the Western Heritage Roundup, Pokey will be “working the crowd” during Saturday’s Cowboy Christian Symposium, Chuck Wagon Cooking, ‘Deep in the Heart of Texas’ Ranch Rodeo, Kids Tractor Peddle Pulls and amidst the western vendors and exhibits.
On Saturday, the Junior Ranch Rodeo features events designed for children from 4-16 years old. The competition teaches the youngsters the ways of working ranch hands as well as team work. It also provides family entertainment for participants and spectators.
Events include calf branding, a pony express race, wild cow milking and wild cow doctoring. Instead of livestock, the participants use stick horses and wooden cattle that represent the stock.
In the pony express race, team members “ride” a stick horse around four barrels, then hand off saddlebags to the next team member in line. The clock stops when the last member rounds the fourth barrel and drops the saddlebags into a bucket.
Wild cow milking begins when team members take positions at the starting line. The team captain rides a stick horse down the arena, leading his teammates to the cow that is mounted on skids. One child steps onto the skids at the back of the cow while the captain, on a stick horse, grabs the rope on the cow and the other two team members help pull the cow back to the milking line.
The child on the back, who has been holding the tail while being dragged across the arena, steps off the skids, picks up the milk bottle from a pail, and “milks” the cow. Once there is liquid in the bottle, the hand races across the finish line to stop the time, and the official verifies there is milk in the bottle.
The wild cow doctoring works much the same way, except the teammate on the back of the cow picks up a marker and marks tape on the side of the neck to stop the time.
In the calf branding, a team member stands in the branding circle with his branding iron. The captain, riding a stick horse, and the other two members line up at the start next to the brander. Two calves stand at the end of the arena, and the captain and the other two members race to fetch a calf.
One member goes to the back of the calf to make sure it is standing, and then the captain and the third member drag the calf to the branding circle. Once inside, the calf is flanked and the brander “brands” the calf. Then the calf is put back on his “feet.”
The team then goes after the second calf and completes the same process. Time stops when the second calf is branded and the iron has been returned to the “fire.”
There are three age groups: Pee Wee, for ages 4-7; Junior, for ages 8-11; and, Senior, for ages 12-16. Each team is comprised of four members and ages are calculated by the age of the child on Jan. 1. One adult coach per team is allowed.
The competition stresses team work, finishing a task despite obstacles and having fun. However, the winners also qualify to advance to the Junior Ranch Rodeo World Championship.
For general information contact the Bowie Chamber of Commerce at 940-872-1173. For questions about the Junior Ranch Rodeo with Pokey the Clown call 940-872-8450.
