The Montana 4-H Working Ranch Horse Project is a heritage-based, activity-rich program designed to pass on to today’s youth traditional practices of safe livestock handling from horseback. This is not a rodeo project, but instead a practical and exciting opportunity for youth to use horses for handling, sorting and moving cattle. This project also teaches mounted roping skills as a humane and useful livestock handling tool as well as branding techniques, housing and care of cattle and horses. Like all 4-H projects, Working Ranch Horse members will develop the qualities of leadership and responsibility that come with being engaged in4-H. In today’s world, managing cattle from horseback is a disappearing tradition. Ranches are increasingly automated, using four-wheelers and other machines instead of horses. Many of the skills once learned for necessity are being lost. The 4-H Working Ranch Horse Program is designed to teach and preserve the age-old skills and traditions.

 

Working Ranch Horse Finals September 9 2023 (image of horse)

Photo Credit: Tom Aldrich

 

The 4-H Ranch Horse Competition will be Saturday, September 9th starting at 9:00AM. 

Saturday’s competition is open to any 4-H youth enrolled in the 4-H Working Ranch Horse project (Levels 1-4).  There is no requirement that youth compete at a county level or qualifying show to participate in WRHF. The 4-H youth is required to be enrolled in the same county level as the level entered in at WRHF and be in good standing as a 4-H member. One horse must be used for all classes within the level. Horse must be an approved project horse for the current 4-H year. 

Each competitor will exhibit in 5 classes:  

  • Knowledge Test 
  • Riding a Pattern 
  • Sorting Cattle 
  • Roping Heading 
  • Roping Heeling 

Colt classes are for horses 5 years old and younger.  

Classes include ranch pleasure/riding, ranch reining, working cow horse, and ranch trail. Exhibitors may enter any number of classes. Different horses may be ridden for separate classes. However, for overall competition winners in each division, points will only be counted from one horse/rider combination that demonstrates exceptional versatility in many areas. Exhibitors show by age or enter by age of horse in colt classes. 

Registration

Register for the Working Ranch Horse Finals online.

Payment can be mailed to the Montana 4-H Center for Youth Development (address below) or completed at event check-in by check or cash. 

Payment Submission by Mail

Make checks payable to MSU Extension and mail to:

MT 4-H Center

Attn: WRHF

PO Box 173580

Bozeman, MT 59717 

Registration Deadline

Registration is due by August 28, 2023.

Contact Information

If you have questions or need assistance call Lisa Jassen at 406-781-3678 or email [email protected]

Schedule


Time
Event
7:00am
Large and small arenas open for warm-up
7:30am
Registration open
8:00am
Show staff meeting 
8:15am
Exhibitor's meeting -  explanation of events, schedule, and questions with judge
8:45am
  Presentation of colors and pledges followed by group photo in event jackets
9:00am
Show starts
Knowledge exam for all competitors
Detailed scheduled for sorting, roping, patterns for each level and location for each event will be included in the check-in packet and posted in the facility  
5:00pm
Dinner sponsored by Cascade County Farm Bureau for all competitors and families
5:30pm
Awards Ceremony
8:30pm
Barn Dance

Stalling

Stalls will be available at the 406 Arena. There are 20 indoor stalls and 50 outdoor covered stalls available. There will not be group pens for multiple horses at the facility this year due to all pens being occupied by boarding horses. Stalls are reserved by a first-register and pay basis. Bulk shavings will be available for stalls at no charge. Bagged shavings are available at $10/bag. Extra shavings will be available for purchase onsite or you may bring your own. It is allowed to build your own pens – the cost is $20 per each and site must be approved by arena owner before a pen is constructed.  

Accommodations

There are 10 camping sites with electric plug-ins available at the 406 Arena. They will be assigned on a first-registered basis.  

Great Falls offers many hotel options and is a short drive down the interstate from the arena.

Hotels with easy access include:

Comfort Inn - 1801 Market Place Drive 406-455-1000

Crystal Inn 3701 31st St SW 406-727-7788

Heritage Inn 1700 Fox Farm Road 406-761-1900

Days Inn 280 14th Ave NW 406-727-6565

Awards and Prizes

The WRHF committee has collected a wide variety of fabulous awards and prizes. The awards and prizes are made possible by a great number of generous sponsors and donors. Please make sure you send a thank you note for each award and prize you are awarded. A card with the sponsor’s name and address will be on the award or prize and sponsors will be listed and made available during the event.

Personal Safety and Helmet Policy

Please remember to be safe around horses and wear the proper riding gear. Do not communicate with strangers and be aware of your settings. Please make sure you are accompanied by an adult. If you would like to report an incident, do so immediately to the show office. Reference the Montana 4-H State 4-H Horse Rulebook for helmet policy. 

Grievance Committee

Grievance committee shall consist of three committee members of the Montana State 4-H Working Ranch Horse Committee.  A fee of $25 must accompany all protests. 

Working Ranch Horse Finals 2022 Results

Congratulations to our finalists!

VRH TRAIL Class Results - Sponsored by Associated Veterinary Services

Category/ Place
Junior
Intermediate
Senior
Colts 2 & 3
Colts 4 & 5
1st
Ariana Banner
Reagan Jassen
Leann Murphy
Dakota Woordring
Reagan Fink
2nd
Kiley Wilkins
Avery Banner
Clayton Jassen
Avery Banner
Clayton Jassen
3rd
Connor Fryberger
Keegan Kennedy
Anna Tretter
Carter Fryberger
Lane Smart
4th
Taylor King
Ella Fryberger
Lane Smart
Asa Jassen
Carter Fryberger
5th
Luke Jassen
Norah Stromberg
Dakota Woodring
Reagan Jassen
Dakota Woodring
6th
Amya Otto
Aspen Smart
Carter Fryberger
Madelena Preston
Kiarra Kennedy

 

VRH PLEASURE Class Results - Sponsored by Montana Cowboys Association

Category/ Place
Junior
Intermediate
Senior
Colts 2 & 3
Colts 4 & 5
1st Ariana Banner

Kiley Ohs

Allie Uecker Aspen Smart Kiarra Kennedy
2nd Luke Jassen Reagan Fink Kiarra Kennedy McCoy Banner Reagan Fink
3rd Jimmy Fryberger Caden Brooks Asa Jassen Mariah Olson Carter Fryberger
4th Amya Otto Keegan Kennedy Carter Fryberger Madelena Preston Hannah Goffena
5th Hunter Fryer Maddy Taylor Clayton Jassen Avery Banner Clayton Jassen
6th Logan Kellom Avery Banner Madelena Preston Clayton Jassen Lane Smart

 

VRH REINING Class Results - Sponsored by Cowan Select Horses

Category/ Place
Junior
Intermediate
Senior
Colts 2 & 3
Colts 4 & 5
1st Ariana Banner

Makenze Woodring

Hannah Goffena Aspen Smart Carter Fryberger
2nd Kylee WIlkins Reagan Fink Asa Jassen Madelena Preston Hannah Goffena
3rd Connor Fryberger Ella Fryberger Mariah Olson Avery Banner Reagan Fink
4th Jimmy Fryberger Norah Stromberg Dakota Woodring Clayton Jassen Dakota Woodring
5th Logan Kellom Keegan Kennedy Kiarra Kennedy Coleman Otto Kiarra Kennedy
6th Amya Otto Reagan Jassen Allie Uecker Dakota Woodring Lane Smart

 

VRH COW WORK Class Results - Sponsored by Stockman Bank

Category/ Place
Junior
Intermediate
Senior
Colts 2 & 3
Colts 4 & 5
1st Arianna Banner Reagan Fink Hannah Goffena Avery Banner Hannah Goffena
2nd Connor Fryberger Makenze Woodring Carter Fryberger McCoy Banner Asa Jassen
3rd Jimmy Fryberger Reagan Jassen Mariah Olson Madelena Preston McCoy Banner
4th Emma Brown  Caden Brooks Coleman Otto Asa Jassen Carter Fryberger
5th Kylee Wilkins Avery Banner McCoy Banner Dakota Woodring Reagan Fink
6th Luke Jassen Norah Stromberg Anna Tretter Mariah Olson Kiarra Kennedy

 

VRH Overall Placings

Category/ Place
Junior
Intermediate
Senior
Colts 2 & 3
Colts 4 & 5
1st Ariana Banner Reagan Fink Carter Fryberger Avery Banner Reagan Fink
2nd Connor Fryberger Reagan Jassen Hannah Goffena Madelena Preston Carter Fryberger
3rd Jimmy Fryberger Avery Banner Mariah Olson Dakota Woodring Hannah Goffena
4th Kylee Wilkins Caden Brooks Kiarra Kennedy Asa Jassen Kiarra Kennedy
5th Amya Otto Keegan Kennedy Lane Smart McCoy Banner Clayton Jassen
6th Luke Jassen Makenze Woodring Anna Tretter/ Asa Jassen Carter Fryberger Asa Jassen / Lane Smart

 

TOP HAND AWARDS

Category/ Place
Junior
Intermediate
Senior
1st Luke Jassen (811 points) Caden Brooks (770 points) Carter Fryberger (813 points)
2nd Jimmy Fryberger (785 points) Reagan Jassen (768 points) Asa Jassen (776 points)
3rd Connor Fryberger (742 points) Kiley Ohs (741 points) Leann Murphy (768 points)
4th Logan Kellom (739 points) Avery Banner (732 points) Clayton Jassen (767 points)
5th Kylee Wilkins (719 points) Reagan Fink (730 points) Mariah Olson (765 points)
6th Mesa Scalese (714 points) Norah Stromberg (714 points) Coleman Otto (761 points)

 

4-H Pattern Class Results

Category/ Place
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Level 4
1st Kylee Wilkins Leanne Murphy Aspen Smart Carter Fryberger
2nd Luke Jassen Kiley Ohs Dakota Woodring Caden Brooks
3rd Connor Fryberger Reagan Fink Mariah Olson Asa Jassen
4th Logan Kellom Hannah Goffena Clay Stott Clayton Jassen
5th Jimmy Fryberger Keegan Kennedy Anna Tretter Coleman Otto
6th Mesa Scalese Carson Fryer Norah Stromberg Lane Smart

 

4-H Heading Class Results

Category/ Place
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Level 4
1st Logan Kellom Shealyn Berner Avery Banner Caden Brooks
2nd Luke Jassen Kora McCray Tanner Stott Coleman Otto
3rd Mesa Scalese Taylor Kellom Clay Stott Carter Fryberger
4th Jimmy Fryberger Kaylee Otto Mariah Olson Reis Speer
5th Connor Fryberger Samantha Lee Dakota Woodring Asa Jassen
6th Kylee Wilkins Kiley Ohs / Reagan Jassen Kiarra Kennedy McCoy Banner

 

4-H Heeling Class Results

Category/ Place
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Level 4
1st Luke Jassen Reagan Jassen Aspen Smart Clayton Jassen
2nd Jimmy Fryberger Taylor Kellom Mariah Olson Carter Fryberger
3rd Connor Fryberger Cale Fryberger Norah Stromberg Asa Jassen
4th Kylee Wilkins Carson Fryer Kiarra Kennedy Coleman Otto
5th Taylor King Kiley Ohs Clay Stott McCoy Banner
6th Lynsie Pond Regan Jassen Tanner Stott Caden Brooks

 

4-H Knowledge Test Results

Category/ Place
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Level 4
1st Mesa Scalese Reagan Jassen Kiarra Kennedy Asa Jassen
2nd Luke Jassen Leann Murphy Tanner Stott Carter Fryberger
3rd 3rd / 4th: Jimmy Fryberger Hannah Goffena Anna Tretter Clayton Jassen
4th 3rd / 4th: Justine Curry Shealyn Berner Mariah Olson Allie Uecker
5th 5th / 6th: Kylee Wilkins Madelena Preston Clay Stott Coleman Otto
6th 5th / 6th: Talon King Kiley Ohs / Keegan Kennedy Norah Stromberg Caden Brooks

 

4-H Overall Placings

Category/ Place
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Level 4
1st Luke Jassen Reagan Jassen Clay Stott Carter Fryberger
2nd Jimmy Fryberger Leann Murphy Mariah Olson Coleman Otto
3rd Logan Kellom Kiley Ohs Tanner Stott Asa Jassen
4th Mesa Scalese Taylor Kellom Dakota Woodring Caden Brooks
5th Connor Fryberger Hannah Goffena Norah Stromberg Clayton Jassen
6th Kylee Wilkins Shealyn Berner Kiarra Kennedy Reis Speer