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In the early 1990s, Joe Wolter of Grass Valley, California, came to Montana and started putting on ranch roping clinics. He caught the cowboys' attention with the variety of loops he taught, many of which had their origins with the Spanish vaqueros. Joe basically taught how to rope either end of an animal from any position as well as the proper, safe and easy handling of livestock. Joe spoke often of the ranch roping contests held in California, Nevada and Oregon.
(To see Ranch Roping photos taken by Mary Williams Hyde at Paisley, Oregon; Alturas, California; McDermitt, Nevada; Yamsi Ranch and Burns, Oregon. Click here!)
This prompted the first ranch roping contest in Montana to be held in Red Lodge in July 1998. Judged by Joe, this roping was a timed, three-man calf branding with bonuses for fancy loops thrown. Later that fall, a three-man calf doctoring contest was held in Three Forks.
In the spring of 1999, numerous interested parties were contacted by Chas Weldon, and the Northern Range Ranch Roping Series (NRRRS) was born. That year there were 7 timed contests - some brandings and others, doctorings. As the ropings progressed, the rules evolved to include safety issues, cattle handling and horsemanship. The Carriage House Ranch in Big Timber was the site of the first NRRRS Finals. Major sponsors that year were King Ropes, Lextron Animal Health, Weldon Halters and Stockman Bank.
The year 2000 turned up 8 ropings and a major change in the philosophy of the series. To fit our goals of low-stress cattle handling, a move was made from timed contests to point contests. Points are earned for fancy or difficult catches and proper handling of cattle. That year, Western Ranch Supply, Stockman Bank and Double Diamond Halters gave great support to the series.
In 2001, 9 ropings filled the schedule, including three ropings in Wyoming. Stepping to the plate as sponsors were Stockman Bank, Double Diamond Halters and Western Ranch Supply.
The 2002 season featured 13 ropings. The finals - like the previous two years- were hosted by the NILE and held in the Super Barn at Metra Park in Billings. Sponsors that year were Stockman Bank, 1st Interstate Banks of Hardin and Billings, 1st Interstate Foundation, Champion Cinch, Western Ranch Supply and Agri-News/Camp Runamuck.
The NRRRS continues to build interest from people throughout the United States and Canada.
Mission Statement
The goal of the NRRRS is to promote a form of roping that encourages low stress roping with proper horsemanship and stockmanship, employing a variety of functional and, sometimes, fancy loops. To this end, the NRRRS sponsors ranch roping clinics and events to teach and promote this style of roping.
