Since when does a little rain stop work at the ranch? The answer? Not often. So, why would a little rain stop the second annual Kimball Ranch Rodeo. The answer? It didn’t.

“We decided that as long as there wasn’t hail or lightning, we were going to have a rodeo,” said ranch rodeo board member Alex Engstrom.

Engstrom said they checked with Cervi Rodeo Company, the rough stock contractor, to see what his feelings were to the weather.

“He said ‘that’s rodeo’,” Engstrom said.

Apparently that was the attitude of the contestants as well. Engstrom said 14 out of the 15 registered teams showed up to compete.

We lost one team but not because of weather, Engstrom said. One of their team mates had a heart attack a day or so before the event, he said.

“They said they could use their alternate but the heart attack took the wind out of their sale,” he said,” We figured it was a pretty good excuse.”

Engstrom said the teams were made up of five competitors with one alternate. Many of the teams consisted of competitors from last year’s ranch rodeo.

We had a lot of return competitors, Engstrom said.

“A lot of guys said that they will be here next year if we do it again,” Engstrom said.

A third one is definitely going to happen, he said.

The winning team was Lessman Ranch Co. from Sidney.

The ranch rodeo board works all year long to develop the events, rules, gather sponsors and get teams. This year was no different. The board is made up of Engstrom, Lars Engstrom, Cody Wolf, Shane Dickerson, Sharon Baker, Justin Perry, Troy Haas, and Frank Stauffer.

Also helping to make the event possible are volunteers and sponsors.

“We can’t say thanks enough to all of our volunteers, contestants and sponsors,” said Engstrom, “and also a special thanks to all the spectators who braved the cold and rain to watch the rodeo.”

As has come tradition, the ranch rodeo board donates a portion of the proceeds to a local charity. Last year they donated to the Andy Shaw Memorial Fund. This year they donated to the Tammy Mohr Memorial.