Longhorn Shindig Hosted by Red Ink Ranch

Randy and Marsha Witte of the Red Ink Ranch hosted the annual pre-show picnic dinnner at their ranch.  They generously provided the meal to participants and guests the evening before the 15th Annual Heart of the Rockies Texas Longhorn show.

Riding Steers of Legendary Longhorns

Gary Cole (Legendary Longhorns, LLC) getting his steer ready to ride into the arena.

Erika Gasper, getting ready to sing the national anthem, off the back of a Texas Longhorn!

Erika Gasper, singing the National Anthem to start the show.

Longhorns are very docile animals.  So much so, that they can be halter broken to ride them.  Pretty cool, eh?!!  (L-R) Erika Gasper, Gary Cole and Kay Cole

Kay Cole, honoring the Colorado Flag in the opening ceremony

The Show on Saturday

Unsung heroes, Cody and Alexander, herding the Longhorns into the arena.

Gary Cole handled judging responsibilities for the TrailBlazer and Futurity.  Pictured here with the show's Ring Steward, Gary Lake.

Lizz Huntsberry did an outstanding job judging the open show.  Here she makes the tough decision for top show steer. Lizz is out of Hagerstown, MD

The emcees and oferrors of color commentary were John Nelson (Cloverbloom Ranch) and Jim Civis (Civis Ranch). 

Keeping track of all the awards were MSTLA Secretary, Sue Kelly (Celtic Cross Ranch)  and Treasurer, Darlene Nelson (CloverBloom Ranch).

Thanks again to the ranch hands from Cloverbloom Ranch and Searle Ranches.

Marsha Witte (Red Ink Ranch) had to be the hardest working woman in the MSTLA show! Just one of her endless duties was handling the heat in the back pens and making sure all the Longhorns entered the show in correct order.

The Awards Dinner

The steak at Latigo Grill is phenomenal!  Kenny Backstrand delivers a great steak meal each and every year!  Really incredible!

At the after supper auction, they auctioned off a cowboy bib.  Cody was goofing around and had no idea we'd get a picture taken of him wearing a bib!

The Branding Bench

One of the items that was auctioned off at the after dinner awards auction was a bench.  Each of the member attendees applied their brand onto the oak heritage bench.

How many Cowboys does it take to put on a brand? :)

John Nelson, of Cloverbloom Ranch

Stan Searle, of Searle Ranches

Gary Cole, of Legendary Longhorns

Chuck Hughes, of Cwm Ceffyl

Norm Fillmore, of Red Tail Ranch

The final bench was auctioned as a fundraiser after the show and awards dinner.  It was generously purchased by John and Darlene Nelson, Cloverbloom Ranch, out of Welllington, CO.