‘Cowboys Helping Kids’ Drummond Land & Cattle, 2010 Range Round-Up Champions

OKLAHOMA CITY — For 26 years, the Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association has partnered with Ford as the presenting sponsor of the Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association Range Round-Up. In that time, more than $395,000 has been raised to help children.
“Some call the event, ‘Cowboys Helping Kids’.” For the past 13 years, the selected charity has been the Children’s Miracle Network, supporting Children’s Medical Research Institute,” said Rusty Martin, OCA Range Round-Up Chairman. “We are proud of this event,” Martin continued, “And we appreciate the ranches, sponsors, fans, and volunteers who help us with this important mission.”
The Range Round-Up invited 12 teams consisting of 17 ranches of “real ranch” cowboys to take bumps and bruises for audience entertainment and very little recognition.
Drummond Land and Cattle Company of Pawhuska, Okla. won the Championship title at the 26th Anniversary OCA Range Round-Up. These cowboys secured their winning position by placing first in the Wild Cow Milking and Team Penning events. Team members included: Tim Drummond, Ladd Drummond, Lynn Thompson, Josh Sellers and Tim Kill.
A 25-year participant and five-time champion, Drummond Land and Cattle is no stranger to the Range Round-Up or to the cattle business. The Drummond family began ranching in the early 1900‟s and has become a way of life for more than four generations of Drummonds. The Drummonds are thankful for the opportunity to be stewards of the land and earn a living off of it. The Ranch runs several thousand stocker cattle and about 2000 cows.
The cowboys of Lazy Rafter Slash and Whitmire Ranches only slightly trailed the Champion team by placing in the top three in: Saddle Bronc Riding, Team Doctoring, Team Branding and the Wild Horse Race.
Among several other connections, Lazy Rafter Slash and Whitmire Ranches both have deep roots in Lenapah, Okla. Lazy Rafter Slash run a custom preconditioning operation, stocker cattle and raising ranch horses. The Whitmire Ranch runs about 1,700 cow/calf pairs and 600 replacement females, supported by over 17,000 acres in Oklahoma and Kansas.
Finishing in third place was the Pitchfork and Barrett Ranches of Waurika and Ryan, Okla. A second-year participant, this ranch team placed in the top three in two events. The Pitchfork Ranch, a 127-year-old ranch of more than 10,000 acres includes a cow/calf operation and more than 2000 yearlings. The Barrett Ranch, a third generation ranch, also has rich history dating by to 1896. Rash Barrett III now owns and operates the family ranch.
At the conclusion of two performances, Range Round-Up event standings were as follows: Saddle Bronc Riding: 1st place, Kelly/Sooner J Ranches; 2nd place, Sugarloaf Ranch; 3rd place Lazy Rafter Slash/ Whitmire Ranches. Team Doctoring: 1st place, Lazy Rafter Slash/ Whitmire Ranch; 2nd place, Gray G Bar Ranch; 3rd place, Hall/Daube Ranches. Wild Cow Milking: 1st place, Drummond Land and Cattle Co.; 2nd place, Pitchfork/Barrett Ranches; 3rd place, Gray G Bar Ranch. Team Branding: 1st place, Lazy Rafter Slash/Whitmire Ranches; 2nd place, Pitchfork/Barrett Ranches; 3rd place, Gray G Bar Ranch. Team Penning: 1st place, Drummond Land and Cattle Co.; 2nd place, Gray G Bar Ranch; 3rd place, Sugarloaf Ranch. Wild Horse Race: 1st place, Broken O’s Ranch; 2nd place, Lazy Rafter Slash/ Whitmire; 3rd place, Hall/Daube Ranch.
The Tough Hand Award winners, Pat Butler of the Stuart Ranch and E.J. Gagan of the Lazy Rafter Slash and Whitmire Ranches, will receive a custom made buckle. The Top Horse was ridden by Ron Redford of the Broken O’s Ranches. Ron Redford was also selected by the judges to receive the Top Hand Award and a custom-made saddle for his efforts.
During the OCA Range Round-Up weekend, a Working Ranch Horse competition was held on Saturday morning. The top working ranch horse was owned and ridden by James Gholson, Pitchfork Ranch.
“We are very proud of this event and thank Ford for their continued support of our Association and Range Round-Up,” Martin said.
The OCA exists to support and defend the state and nation’s beef cattle industry. The OCA officers, board of directors and membership encourages you to join us in our advocacy efforts to ensure less government intervention, lower taxes and a better bottom line. For more information about OCA membership or activities call 405-235-4391 or visit www.okcattlemen.org.