With events ranging from branding to mutton busting, the 2019 Ranch Rodeo will kick off Wednesday night at the Park County Fair.

It’s not your typical rodeo — contestants perform tasks similar to what ranchers do on a daily basis while exhibiting their skills working with cattle, horses and their teammates.

Sky and Christen Grant are bringing the event back to the fair for the third straight year.

“We are looking forward to the crowd for this year’s Ranch Rodeo,” Christen Grant said, adding that they’re bringing in two extra teams and adding mutton busting to the line-up in hopes of attracting more people.

“There’s something for everybody,” she said. “It’s family oriented.”

The mutton busting event will be open to kids 10 and under (see related story below).

“We will have some bigger sheep for the 7-10 age group and smaller sheep for the 6 and under,” Christen said.

The rodeo begins at 5 p.m. Wednesday at the Horse Arena, with gates opening at 4 p.m. The 12 teams competing in this year’s rodeo will be introduced at the start of the rodeo, then the National Anthem will be sung by Sammie Cooley. A Calcutta will follow.

Mutton busting will open the event, and then the Ranch Rodeo competition will get rolling with branding, Christen said.

The dozen four-member teams will come from all over Wyoming and Montana to compete at this year’s rodeo.

The Buttons team — with two kids under 18 years old — will be back this year to showcase the up-and-coming youth in the ranch world, Christen said.

“The competitors get to show their horsemanship on their team and their teamwork and how they do it at their ranch,” she said.

Rodeo events include:

• Team branding — Each team will rope four calves, then brand them. Teams won’t use a hot iron for the event, but use a branding iron with chalk on it.

• Team sorting — Teams will sort two steers out of the herd, rope them and then mark them with chalk.

• Trailer loading — Teams will sort a steer, then load it into a trailer using ropes or any other method the competitors choose to use.

• Wild cow milking — Teams will race to rope a cow and then milk the animal.

“All four members of the team compete in all four events,” Christen said.

Ladies steer stopping will follow the wild cow milking. Each contestant must rope a steer, then dally it to make it come to a complete stop. The fastest time wins.

An awards presentation will close out the rodeo, with this year’s top horse and top hand receiving headstalls with custom buckles.

This year’s judges will be TJ Clark and Amy Landrus. The announcer will be Kevin Cooley with the Cowboys With A Mission group.

“We have many kind helpers behind the scenes that we are so thankful for as well,” Christen said.

The Grants have been putting on rodeos and roping events for 10 years, and “we couldn’t do it without our team of helpers,” Christen said.

The cost for the rodeo is $10 for adult admission and $8 for children’s tickets. To purchase tickets or for more information, visit www.parkcountyfair.com.

Concessions and the beer garden will be available. Following the Ranch Rodeo, there will be a dance outside Heart Mountain Hall.

— By Tessa Baker

Mutton busting

Young aspiring cowboys and cowgirls brave enough to ride a sheep can try out mutton busting at this year’s Ranch Rodeo. The event is free for kids 10 and under.

There are 25 spots available, and parents are asked to sign up their children as soon as possible so organizers can bring enough sheep.

Sign in will begin at 3 p.m. on Wednesday. Each child who signs up will receive a prize that has been donated by Park County Fair.

To sign up or for more information, contact Christen Grant at 307-272-1420.