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The theme song from “Mission Impossible” pulsed through the sound system as a group of rodeo cowboys from Des Lacs chased their steer in a race against the clock Saturday.

The mission wasn’t impossible, although it might have seemed that way at times, for teams competing in the Y’s Men’s Ranch Rodeo held in conjunction with the Badlands Circuit Finals rodeo in Minot this weekend.pandora bracelets

Competing in events such as steer mugging and wild cow milking, 12 teams took part in a different kind of rodeo that’s been catching interest in the area. Allick/MDN

The Young Guns of Granville chase down a steer in the steer mugging competition during the Y’s Men’s Ranch Rodeo in Minot Saturday. The boys, aged 13 to 15, are Wyatt and Tate Magilke, Lane Dahl and Stetson Brandt. Allick/MDN

The Gooseneck Implement Team brings down a steer in the steer mugging event at the ranch rodeo in Minot Saturday. Allick/MDN

Members of the West Dakota Seed Feed Cowgirls of Stanley work to move a steer toward a trailer in Saturday’s ranch rodeo in Minot. Members of the team are Carmen Ruud, Jess and Bobbi Jo Pappa and Karyn Meyer.

Ranch rodeo has had a presence in North Dakota for about five years. Saturday’s rodeo was the seventh event this year.

Ranch rodeos offer events that are closer to true ranching, said Lynn Asheim of Mohall, who has been involved in getting ranch rodeo started in the state.

“It’s a little more laid back. We try to run it real fast, but the pressure isn’t there. It’s not standard rodeo.”Asheim said.

Fact Box

RANCH RODEO RESULTS

Earning top points in the Y’s Men’s Ranch Rodeo Saturday was the North Towner team with Orrin, Chris and Todd Nelson and Keith Medalen.

The team claimed the $1,400 first place prize from the $3,420 purse.

Other teams receiving cash awards were: second, Ross Ranchers of Stanley, Jeff Ruud, Josh Steele and Monte and Justin Lund; third, B P Trucking of Velva, Brett Saville, Terry, Nicki and Shelby Brandt; fourth, Gooseneck Implement of Stanley, Jed Bohmbach, Wade Skaar, Curt Meyer and Dude Varty.

Teams also competed from New Town, Carpio, Minot, Des Lacs, Berthold and Granville.

The nature of ranch rodeo makes it accessible to competitors who aren’t traditional rodeo participants as well as some who are. There’s opportunities for families to get involved. There’s quite a few instances of father son, father daughter and husband wife teams, Asheim said. Saturday’s contest featured teenagers, senior citizens, men and women.

Teams typically have four or five people, although no more than four participate in an event at a time. In the trailer relay race, ranch rodeo runs two teams at a time in the arena, heightening the action for spectators.

The trailer relay requires team members to jump out of a pickup, unload their horses from a stock trailer, individually race around the arena with the relay baton, reload the horses and get back into the pickup.

Several competitors had trouble with the baton, which isn’t a typical ranching tool. But they quickly recovered dropped or bobbled batons to get themselves back into the race.

Spectator Mike Sauber of Palermo said loading trailers doesn’t necessarily happen that way on the ranch, but it’s still fun to watch. Saturday’s event was the third ranch rodeo that he’s attended.

“I enjoy them but the best part is I know probably half the people who are involved in it. That’s what I enjoy most,” he said.

His favorite event to watch is the wild cow milking because it bears a resemblance to what can happen on the ranch, he said.

To milk the cow, contestants first must rope the head and hind leg of a Longhorn cow. The team holds the cow to allow a member to fill a bottle and rush it to the judge. The judge must be able to pour out at least a small amount.

The North Towner team accomplished the feat in less than 35 seconds. Most teams were successful in less than a minute, although just roping the ornery critter proved to be a trial for a few teams.

A team needs to have good ropers to be successful, said Orrin Nelson of Towner. Nelson, one of the older competitors in the event, also has competed in regular rodeo team roping. He was roped into ranch rodeo by his two sons, Chris and Todd, who also are involved in team roping and bull dogging in regular rodeo.

Keith Medalen joined the Nelsons to make up the North Towner team, which took top honors in Saturday’s rodeo.