East Texas Ranch Rodeo Association's inaugural year ends with wins

By LYNN MONTGOMERY | East Texas Edition

The team called H&W claimed the top win following competitive finals action earlier this spring. Pictured are (from left) Mark Howard, association president; Shannon West with Wilson Nugent (on saddle); Brandon Nugent with Clayton Nugent; Brandon Wilson with Brenden Wilson; and Brady Smith with Cooper Smith; and Joe Howard, association vice president. -- Courtesy photo

June 2, 2005 - The inaugural year of the East Texas Ranch Rodeo Association has mugged, doctored, milked and branded its way to a season end with the team of H & W Cattle Company from Gilmer coming out on top.

H & W, consisting of Brandon Nugent, Brandon Wilson, Shannon West and Brady Smith, earned 1,620 points throughout the season to win the regional association's competition. They each won a saddle for this accomplishment. Nugent also won a breast collar for his saddle after being named Top Hand for the April 23 competition in Marshall, which served as the association's finals.

The second place winner for the year was Pogue Cattle Company from Sulphur Springs. Their team consisted of Kenny Crowson, Lee Pogue, Leon Ely, and Logan Pogue. Prior to the finals competition, Logan was injured and the team picked up Evin Darling. Each team member won a breast collar for the win.

Also for the year, Crowson's horse, Otis, was presented with Top Horse honors. Top Hand was Lee Pogue, and Top Mugger was Mike Eason from Rock Hill Ranch of Gilmer.

Third place team honors went to 6T Ranch from Mount Pleasant, comprised of Jeffrey Don Bivins, Tye Mankins, Allen Hudson, and Matt Belcher. Bivins was injured previously to the finals and was replaced by Carlie Self. They each won a head stall.

Association Vice President Joe Howard (left) congratulates the "Top" winners of the season's competitions, including Otis, Top Horse, owned by Kenny Crowson; Lee Pogue, Top Hand; and Mike Eason, Top Mugger. -- Staff photo by Montgomery

Prior to the night's performance, board members for the East Texas Ranch Rodeo Association were elected for the year. Mark Howard of Longview is president; Joe Howard of Diana, vice president; and seated on the board are Sam Richards of Broken Bow, Okla., Leon Ely of Sulphur Springs, Pete Brown of Naples, Jimbo Roberson of Marshall, Brandon Nugent of Gilmer, Kenny Nugent of Pittsburg, Jeffery Don Bivins of Cuthand, Robby Connot of Detroit, and Matt Foreman of Longview.

The season finals, held in Marshall, capped off a successful year, according to Howard, association president.

"We started with about 16 teams in July," Howard said, and counted off teams that came from East Texas, Arkansas and Louisiana to compete almost every Saturday night at some arena in the area. The furthest team came from South Texas and the venue also hosted some teams from Weatherford.

Howard said some rule changes were made by the board following the finals. Notably, each of the association's competitions will include the mugging, branding, and wild cow milking events, and the producer will select either the doctoring, or the bronc riding, event.

The next East Texas Ranch Rodeo Association's event is Saturday, June 4, 8 p.m., at the Carthage Arena in Carthage. Watch for additional ranch rodeo information in coming issues of Country World. For more information, call 903-663-9888.