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Rodeos take center stage on reservations

IMMOKALEE — Cowboys and cowgirls came from as far away as Tennessee to compete in the John Jimmie Memorial Ranch Rodeo March 8 and 9 in Immokalee. Crowds filled the stands both nights to watch the action.

A ranch rodeo is a far cry from a typical rodeo; there are no bulls or barrels at all. Instead, competitors show off the skills they have mastered and use on ranches every day. Events included simulations of calf branding, stray gathering, team doctoring, team sorting and actual bronc riding.

Cat Tommie tries to rope the leg of a steer as Justin Gopher, who roped the head, keeps his rope taught on the animal’s horns at the John Jimmie Memorial Ranch Rodeo. (Photo Beverly Bidney)

Twenty-one teams competed for a piece of the $25,000 purse, the richest ranch rodeo in Florida. All five team members, four men and one woman, worked on the events to put up the highest scores. Bronc riding was the exception with just one team member competing.

“This is a good thing to do for the Tribe and the Immokalee community,” said Big Cypress Councilman Mondo Tiger. “The last one we had here was in the 1990s. This community needs more activities and events.”

Miss Florida Seminole Cheyenne Kippenberger, Immokalee Council Project Manager Raymond Garza and Big Cypress Councilman Mondo Tiger stand for the national anthem that opened the John Jimmie Memorial Ranch Rodeo in Immokalee on March 8. (Photo Beverly Bidney)

The 2J Ranch team could have been called Team Jumper; Josh, Naha, Andre, Blevyns and Ahnie Jumper made up the team. Bar Triple C included Tribal members Justin Gopher and Cat Tommie.

The event was organized with the help of Clint Raulerson, a fourth generation Southwest Florida cowboy, who thanked Tiger, Immokalee council project manager Ray Garza and everyone else who lent a hand to make the rodeo happen on his Facebook page.

The overall winner of the ranch rodeo was the team from Trinity Ranch/Bob’s Barricades, consisting of CJ Carter, Dalton Boney, Ty Brand Bennet, Frankie Syfrett and Jed Gray. Second place went to Bit Land and Cattle and the team from Superior Livestock took third place.

Morgan Yates flies the Seminole flag as she rides around the ring March 8 to open the John Jimmie Memorial Ranch Rodeo in Immokalee. (Photo Beverly Bidney)

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The John Jimmie Memorial was part of a busy stretch of rodeos on Seminole reservations in February and March.

The Eastern Indian Rodeo Association kicked off its 2019 season with the Betty Mae Jumper Memorial Rodeo on a new setup on the Hollywood Reservation. The EIRA kids rodeo was mostly rained out, but by the weather cooperated by evening. Betty Mae’s son Moses Jumper Jr. handled commentary duties for the night rodeo, which included a video tribute to Betty Mae on a large screen. The facility was built in the southeast corner of Seminole Estates.

Morgan Yates flies the Seminole flag as she rides around the ring March 8 to open the John Jimmie Memorial Ranch Rodeo in Immokalee. (Photo Beverly Bidney)

Some of the same competitors returned to Hollywood the following weekend for the Bill Osceola Memorial Rodeo, which served as an Indian National Finals Rodeo Tour stop. Jacoby Johns, of the Brighton Reservation, won bareback riding. Other winners included Shelby Osceola (lady’s breakaway roping), Britt Givens (senior breakaway roping, senior team roping), Dontre Goff (calf roping), Canaan Jumper (junior breakaway roping), Aaron Tsinigine (team roping), Ty Romo (team roping), Spider Ramone (senior team roping), Sallye Williams (lady’s barrel racing), JoJo Fischer (junior barrel racing) and Caden Bunch (junior bull riding). Bunch and Jaylen Baker tied for first in bull riding.

Morgan Yates flies the Seminole flag as she rides around the ring March 8 to open the John Jimmie Memorial Ranch Rodeo in Immokalee. (Photo Kevin Johnson)

Brighton’s Fred Smith Rodeo Arena welcomed the pros from the PRCA for the rodeo portion of the Brighton Field Day from Feb. 15-17.Tim Pharr, of Georgia, finished first in tie-down roping and captured All-around cowboy honors.

Senior Editor Kevin Johnson contributed to this story.

The Lakota Women Warriors Color Guard present the flags at the PRCA rodeo at Fred Smith Rodeo Arena as part of the opening ceremony Feb. 15 at the Brighton Field Day and Rodeo. (Photo Beverly Bidney)
EIRA Rodeo Queen Madisyn Osceola, EIRA Rodeo Princess Ashlynn Collins, Miss Florida Seminole Cheyenne Kippenberger and Miss Indian World Taylor Susan greet the crowd at the opening ceremony of the PRCA rodeo in Brighton Feb. 15. (Photo Beverly Bidney)
Norman Osceola stays aboard a wild ride during the Betty Mae Jumper Memorial Rodeo on Feb. 2 in Hollywood. (Photo Kevin Johnson)
Jesse Troyer manages to stay on the bronc during the bareback riding competition at the PRCA rodeo in Brighton. (Photo Beverly Bidney)
EIRA vice president Mackenzie Bowers rides the American flag around the Fred Smith Rodeo Arena during the opening ceremonies of the PRCA rodeo. (Photo Beverly Bidney)
The wild world of relay races came to Brighton for Field Day on Feb. 16. (Photo Kevin Johnson)
The wild world of relay races came to Brighton for Field Day on Feb. 16. (Photo Derrick Tiger)

 

Beverly Bidney
Beverly Bidney has been a reporter and photographer for The Seminole Tribune since 2012. During her career, she has worked at various newspapers around the country including the Muskogee Phoenix in Oklahoma, Miami Herald, Associated Press, USA Today and other publications nationwide. A NAJA award winning journalist, she has covered just about everything over the years and is an advocate for a strong press. Contact her at beverlybidney@semtribe.com.

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