Description

The hats and shirts scream cowboy in a sea of red mud and battling cow during the Ride for the Brand Ranch Rodeo in Colorado Springs. ©Mark D Phillips

In March of 1995, a group of people from across the western United States created the Working Ranch Cowboys Association. WRCA produces the World Championship Ranch Rodeo as a means to showcase the skills of the working ranch cowboy and to raise funds for the WRCA Foundation.

The Ride for the Brand Ranch Rodeo at the Norris Penrose Event Center had teams of real working cowboys compete in Ranch Bronc Riding, Wild Cow Milking, Stray Gathering, and the fan favorite – Trailer Loading. And when the rodeo was over, everyone gathered to Dance in the Dirt with great live music.

Hats, Cowboys… RODEO by Mark D Phillips, 8″ x 12″ printed on aluminum

If you like the American West, you should read my piece, “Across the Universe… Colorado to Utah and a Ring in the Sky,” on southbrooklyn.com, my publishing site for photography, travel, Brooklyn, and Skiing.