Douglas Lake Ranch made it a clean sweep at the 22nd Annual O’Keefe Ranch Hand Rodeo, taking the top three places at the two-day competition held August 2 and 3 outside Vernon.

A total of 10 teams representing every major ranching community in the province took part.

The DL Portland division trio of cow boss Stan Jacobs, Curt Martindale and Gib Snider finished first, while second place went to Douglas Lake’s Chapperon division, represented by Sam Woodman, Cam Jacobs and Kaylan Eek, and third place to the DL Home Ranch team of Charlie Peasley, Travis Freiman and Adian Cox.

Martindale was also chosen the Top Hand at the O’Keefe event, as voted on by his peers.

Curt Martindale was chosen Top Hand at the one-day event.

Curt Martindale was chosen Top Hand at the one-day event.

The Nicola Ranch team of Mark Elliott, Colby Stewart and Robin Coutlee also did well at the O’Keefe rodeo with Elliott and his horse, Playboy, winning the Working Ranch Horse competition.

Elliott and Playboy excelled in the long list of challenges that included reining, bridling, livestock handling and a log drag. Judging the event was former Quilchena Ranch cowboy and respected horse trainer Miles Kingdon.

The five other events at this year’s O’Keefe Ranch Hand Rodeo were team penning, one-man doctoring, branding, trailer loading and the wild horse race.

The Nicola Valley was also represented at the O’Keefe competition by local cowgirl Haley Rutherford, who teamed up with Ricky Sealhof and Raquel Russell to make an all-girls team.

The Douglas Lake Portland division team of Gib Snider, Stan Jacobs and Curt Martindale was the overall winner of the 22nd Annual O’Keefe Ranch Hand Rodeo on August 3. Douglas Lake swept the top three places with the Chapperon division finishing second and the Home Ranch taking third.

The Douglas Lake Portland division team of Gib Snider, Stan Jacobs and Curt Martindale was the overall winner of the 22nd Annual O’Keefe Ranch Hand Rodeo on August 3. Douglas Lake swept the top three places with the Chapperon division finishing second and the Home Ranch taking third.

Ranch rodeos demonstrate the true skills of the working cowboy and cowgirl, and the incredible working relationship of horse and rider that has been a part of ranching in North America for close to two hundred years.

Rob Dinwoodie, one of the O’Keefe Ranch Hand Rodeo organizers, had high praise for the Douglas Lake Ranch’s involvement in this year’s event.

“They supplied the livestock (40 head of 800-pound steers) for the competition. They’re such a fine group of people, and such supporters of the ranch rodeo concept,” Dinwoodie said. “I think that there’s a real appetite for the ranch rodeo idea these days and the fact that we do have a living West.”

The ranch hand rodeo is just one part of a three-day cowboy festival at the O’Keefe ranch that includes a dinner, barn dance, stage coach rides and displays of fine art and collectibles.

Nicola Valley Ranch Hand Rodeo set for Sept. 13

After a one-year hiatus, the Nicola Valley will once again play host to its own ranch hand rodeo. The one-day event is scheduled for Saturday, September 13, beginning at 9 a.m. at the Collettville rodeo grounds.

Douglas Lake Ranch’s Curt Martindale, who is organizing this year’s event along with Mark Elliott from Nicola Ranch, expects upwards of 10 teams from around the province to take part.

“There’ll be sorting, branding, doctoring wild cow milking, bronc riding and ranch horse competitions,” Martindale said.

“We’ll also be having a concession and a beer garden,” he said.

Admission to the ranch hand rodeo is free.