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ONLINE EXCLUSIVE: Team Roping Benefits the Community – Oklahoma Farm & Ranch
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ONLINE EXCLUSIVE: Team Roping Benefits the Community

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Bill Fincher (left), Harold Allen, Sherle Lockwood and Bob Earl Stewart cooking burgers. Photo by Judy Wade.

By Judy Wade

The 11th annual Ringling Community Benefit Team Roping kicked off at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 4 in arena two at Hardy Murphy Coliseum in Ardmore, Okla.

“In the first 10 years, we raised between $250,000 and $300,000 that has been given back to the community,” according to Lyndal Van Buskirk. The team roping has moved from its original home at the Mountain Home arena north of Ringling, Okla., to the Ardmore facility the past two years because of rain.

Its inaugural year, 2005, was to assist a young woman in Ringling who had been diagnosed with cancer. The roping has continued to grow and last year provided over $29,000 to a number of organizations and individuals in the area. Some of those benefiting include Ringling, Orr, Claypool, Loco and Courtney Volunteer Fire Departments, The Senior Citizens’ Center, Ringling FFA, the Food Bank, youngsters needing winter coats and school supplies and individuals with health problems or whose homes have burned. Recipients vary from year to year, depending on need.

This team roping is popular with contestants because of the good prize money (70 percent of the entry fees is paid back to winners), two horse trailers that go to the high point individuals of each roping and numerous other prizes.

Businesses pay a fee to have their advertisement on the trailers, and area ranchers can have their brands placed on it. This year one trailer honored Red and Boone McCauley and the other Tom and Donna Hildebrandt and Mike and Kay Moore. Those honored or a family member also receive belt buckles.

A committee of area business persons and ranchers decide in whose names the trailers will be given and who is to benefit from the proceeds. This year’s committee members include Lyndal, Janet, Frank and Susan Van Buskirk; Sherle, Charley and Nikki Lockwood; Terry and Terral McLemore; Shelley Lewis, Londa Pogue, Harold Allen, Bob Earl Stewart, Bill Fincher and Stacey Clough.

Also serving are Dustin Weatherly, Johnny Dewbre, Karla Pickens, Sherry and Rusty Mashore, Joe Roberts and Tracey Rapier.

Brinlee Dulaney (left), Susan Van Buskirk and Darlene Crowell take entries while Bill and Rodney Crowell look on. Photo by Judy Wade.

It takes an immense number of volunteers to make the roping a success.

Some take entries and keep the books, others cook hamburgers, Ringling FFA members run the concession stand and about 20 work the chute and keep the cattle ready. Area merchants donate much of the supplies for the concession stand, but there are expenses.

“The only things we have to pay for are the cattle, the facility, announcer, time keepers and flagman,” Janet Van Buskirk explained. “All the rest is run by volunteers.”

This year, 313 teams entered the number 13 with a total payback of $21,500. The top 25 came back to the short go, with Shawn Scott and Kolby Miller emerging as the winners, splitting $5,400 for first place. Miller also placed sixth for another $650, giving him the most points and making him the trailer winner. Prize money was paid through eighth place, and points for the trailer were given through 20th place. Two places were also paid in the number eleven incentive.

In the number eight roping, 247 roped for $16,000 in prize money. Winners Chris Nance and Dustin Hatley split $3,400. Fernando Selgado placed second and sixth and won the No. 8 incentive, a total of $2,750, and the most points to claim the second trailer.

About two weeks after the roping, the committee meet, critique the roping, address any problem areas and begin to plan for next year.

“So far we have not had any problems,” Van Buskirk said.

Bill and Darlene Crowell have been supporters of the roping from the beginning, with Darlene taking entries and Bill helping where needed and entering the roping. In fact, Bill won the first saddle given away at the event years ago.

“What started out as a benefit for one cancer patient has turned into a community benefit helping a lot of people,” the Crowells said.

The event is a team effort, Janet added.

“We can’t give enough money to one person to pay all their medical bills, but we can help get them to and from treatments,” Van Buskirk said.

It has become an event that continues to assist a wide range of people in the Ringling area, living up to its name, the Ringling Community Benefit Team Roping.

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Country Lifestyle

Farm Dogs & Table Scraps

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Growing up on a farm, our dogs were tough. They roamed the pastures, slept under the barn, and ate just about anything they could get their paws on—whether we meant for them to or not. I’ll admit, I never thought twice when one of our old cow dogs snatched a biscuit off the table or licked up a spill from the barn floor. I’ve even seen a dog steal a whole rib bone off a plate and trot off like he’d won the lottery. And somehow, they always seemed fine.

But here’s the thing—just because they survived doesn’t mean it was safe. For every farm dog that lucked out, there’s another that wasn’t so fortunate. Some human foods can be downright toxic to dogs, and a little bit of bad luck (or a smaller, more sensitive dog) can turn a harmless snack into an emergency.

Common toxic foods lying around the farmhouse

Are table scraps good for your dog? (Stock photo)

If you’ve got a farm dog—or any dog, really—you need to be aware of the dangers lurking in everyday foods. Some of the biggest culprits include:

Chocolate – The darker it is, the worse it is. Even a little can cause vomiting, seizures, or worse.

Grapes & Raisins – No one’s exactly sure why, but they can cause kidney failure fast.

Onions & Garlic – In large enough amounts, these can destroy red blood cells, leading to anemia.

Xylitol (Found in Sugar-Free Gum & Candy) – This artificial sweetener can send a dog’s blood sugar crashing and cause liver failure.

Alcohol – Even small amounts can be deadly to dogs, affecting their nervous system much more than it does ours.

Bones from Cooked Meat – While not necessarily toxic, they can splinter and cause serious internal injuries.

Macadamia Nuts – These can lead to weakness, vomiting, and even paralysis in dogs.

What to do if your dog eats something toxic

First, don’t panic—but don’t ignore it either. If you know your dog ate something dangerous, call your vet immediately. They can tell you whether to induce vomiting or if it’s something that requires urgent care. If it’s after hours, contact the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (888-426-4435) or the Pet Poison Helpline (855-764-7661).

Prevention is always the best medicine, so keep toxic foods out of reach. That might mean keeping the trash can secured, making sure kids don’t slip the dog a treat under the table, or just being more mindful of what’s left on the counter.

Our farm dogs might have been lucky, but luck isn’t a great strategy when it comes to their health. A little awareness goes a long way in making sure they stay happy, healthy, and ready for the next day’s work.

For more information
ASPCA Animal Poison Control: www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control

Pet Poison Helpline: www.petpoisonhelpline.com

Visit www.akc.org/expert-advice/nutrition/foods-your-dog-should-never-eat

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Country Lifestyle

Summer Squash and Corn Chowder

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By Lacey Vilhauer

Total time: 40 minutes

Servings: 6-7

Ingredients

  • 6 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled and 1 1/2 Tbsp rendered bacon fat reserved
  • 1 1/2 lbs yellow squash, chopped (about 3 medium)
  • 2/3 cup thinly sliced celery
  • 1 cup diced onion
  • 1 Tbsp flour
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 3/4 cup milk (I used 1%)
  • 5 cups canned or fresh cut corn (from about 6 ears corn), divided
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 1 1/2 tsp chopped fresh thyme (or 1/2 tsp dried)
  • 3/4 tsp salt, then more to taste
  • 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper, then more to taste if desired
  • 3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese, for serving
  • Chopped green onion for garnish (optional)
  •  

Instructions

Heat 4 tsp reserved bacon fat in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add celery and onion and sauté 2 minutes then add the squash. 

Saute until tender, about 6 minutes, adding in garlic and flour during last 2 minutes of sauteing. Reduce heat slightly.

Add 1 1/2 cups milk, 2 cups of the corn, thyme, salt and pepper to the sauteed veggies. 

To a blender add remaining 3 cups of corn, remaining 1 1/4 cups milk and the cream. Process in blender until nearly smooth (about 30 seconds). 

Add pureed mixture to pot and stir to blend. Cook until mixture reaches a light boil. 

Serve warm with shredded cheese, crumbled bacon and sliced green onions if desired.

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Western Housewives – May 2025

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By Summer McMillen

All my married life I have thought that when husbands all got together horseback after a hard days work they were probably rating their wives on a scale from one to ten based on their various capabilities. Did Wife A have a good hat crease? Was Wife B good help in the branding pen? Was Wife C an excellent mother? Was Wife D hospitable to everyone? Could Wife E make a decent gallon of sweet tea? Did Wife F keep a tidy saddle house?

Presumably, when Wife B did not live up to Wife A there was a fist fight followed by wife shaming of Husband B. His status amongst the cowboys immediately fell and he would be behind for the rest of his life in his cowboy career.

He would come home ashamed his wife couldn’t flambé a decent bananas foster and she couldn’t hoolihan either. He would be distraught and said wife would feel his pain.

Of course, this never happened to me like I thought it would. My husband always came home with a smile on his face and I’m pretty sure “flambé” isn’t even in a cowboys vocabulary.

Nonetheless, these imaginary fights and social rankings have plagued my brain for years.    It has caused me to always be in competition with myself to be the very best at everything I did. Which I have eventually realized is a trait of women all around the world.

While we are cooking a four course meal for our families we start to think about how we actually should be practicing heading steers instead.

While we are practicing our horsemanship we start to think about how we should actually be preparing a nutritious and elaborate meal for our families.

It is a constant battle that women have created and proceeded to fight for centuries.

One day the inner battle got to me and I finally broke down as we were riding wheat pasture and confessed to my husband my guilt. I was so sorry that I wasn’t a better cowgirl. I was so sorry that the house was a mess. I was so sorry that I would never be on The Cowboy Channel. I was so sorry that I had lost his good pair of gloves. (Except I didn’t actually mean to confess that last part. Some things are just better left unknown.)  I apologized again and again and told him I was sorry and he probably never wanted to bring his friends over for supper ever again.

Instead of consoling me, he just started looking at me like I was crazy. Which is what all good husbands do.

He stopped his horse and looked at me and said “Do you know how cowboys rate each other’s ranch wives?”

So many thoughts started filling my brain. Was it looks? Gentleness? Laundry speed? Work ethic?

Then he revealed their secret. “Cowboys rate  each other’s wives by how well they can cook eggs for breakfast.”

His point of course, was that men don’t think about each other’s wives. As long as they get their eggs for breakfast. In another twist of irony, my husband taught me how to fry the perfect egg. What can I say? It’s a man’s world.

Since then, I have let go of my irrational fears and doubt and have simply been living life. It’s all anyone can do. I may not team rope the best. I may get my fingers when I’m trying to dally and I may not have the tidiest saddle house. But I try hard at everything I do and I do it all out of love for my family and finally, myself.

So, if you’re a woman this Mother’s Day and you catch yourself feeling down amongst life constant pressures just remember you are not alone. You can almost guarantee there is a woman in every household that needs a little pick me up. Maybe you should just go outside. Maybe you should sit down and count your blessings. Or, maybe you should have your husband fry you some eggs.

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