White Shield Stampede Draws a Crowd

By Jerry W. Kram
MHA Times Reporter
The weather this weekend was hot and so was the action at the Ree Ranch in White Shield as the White Shield Stampede attracted cowboys and cowgirls from across the nation to ride broncs and bulls, rope or wrestle steers, and barrel race for cash prizes. “It’s gone really well,” said Jackie Whitecalf, president of the White Shield Stampede Committee. “We had a really good turnout for our youth rodeo Saturday and today has gone smoothly as well. It’s a little hot though.”
With clear skies and sunshine and temperatures approaching the upper 80s, it was a good day for rodeo. Whitecalf said more than 350 contestants made for a busy day, but a dedicated group of volunteers kept the slack and performance on schedule. “We made good time,” she said. “Our crew has been wonderful and things have been working good.”
The White Shield Stampede marks the halfway point in the MHA Rodeo Association season. The Association expanded its season this year with two off-reservation events in Crow Agency, Mont., and Dunseith in addition to rodeos at the Twin Buttes Fairgrounds and Healing Horse Ranch along with the White Shield’s Ree Ranch. The next two events will be held at the On A Slant Arena inMandaree on July 21 and August 2. The Little Shell Rodeo will be held at the Healing Horse Ranch on August 10 leading to the Finals August 23-25, also at Healing Horse Ranch. “Our numbers have been going up at every event,” Whitecalf said. “Our new Youth Association is getting more and more youth involved all the time. That’s our goal, to grow more cowboys.”
Whitecalf said the White Shield Stampede got a boost because another rodeo was held in the region Saturday. The Stampede gave those cowboys a chance at a second payday before they headed back home. “We had a lot of good cowboys today,” she said. “We had cowboys come out of Montana and Washington and really all over the nation. They came out here because there was an INFR rodeo up in Belcourt this weekend. It coincided with our event and we were able to draw some new people and expose them to the new facilities that we have and the new Association we are building.” It’s good that Native American rodeo groups can build off of each other,Whitecalfsaid.Itmakesthesport stronger, not just on the reservation but around the country.
“We are all Native American people,” she said. “INFR is the Indian National Finals Rodeo and our committee is an all Native committee. It is nice to help out our Native American people and give them options.”
Whitecalf said the growth of MHA Rodeo Association wouldn’t have been possible without the significant investment by the MHANation. MHARA can now hold events year round at indoor arenas at Ree Ranch, Healing Horse Ranch and the Twin Buttes Fairgrounds; along with outdoor arenas at those locations and in Mandaree. Plans are in the works for another indoor arena in Mandaree and a brand new arena in Four Bears.
“The Three Affiliated Tribes has put in a lot of money to put up buildings to allow our cowboys to continue through the winter and grow. It allows the adults and the kids to grow. Otherwise we were limited to about 90 days of rodeo time per season. Now we can go year round,” she said. The Ree Ranch and other indoor arenas hold roping and barrel racing series during the winter along with any community organizations who need a venue.
“Any event that wants to use the facility is welcome to book with us,” Whitecalf said. “We just go with the community and what they want to do with us. If I could tell people anything it would be, come out, bring your kids, come play.”