Photos: Ranch life rodeo in Cortez

Montezuma County Fair Ranch Rodeo took place Friday
Cowboys and cowgirls get ready to compete in the Montezuma County Fair Ranch Rodeo Friday evening at the Montezuma County Fairgrounds in Cortez. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)
Four-person teams compete in the scramble competition during the Montezuma County Fair Ranch Rodeo on Friday evening at the Montezuma County Fairgrounds in Cortez. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)
Four-person teams compete in the scramble competition during the Montezuma County Fair Ranch Rodeo on Friday evening at the Montezuma County Fairgrounds in Cortez. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)
A cowgirl who is a member of a four-person team competes in the branding competition during the Montezuma County Fair Ranch Rodeo on Friday evening at the Montezuma County Fairgrounds in Cortez. Contestants enter a pen with calves and cows, ropes the back legs of a calf and pulls it out of the pen. Team members hold it down and brand it with a cool iron before returning the calf to the pen. The team with the fastest time wins. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)
Four-person teams compete in the branding competition during the Montezuma County Fair Ranch Rodeo on Friday evening at the Montezuma County Fairgrounds in Cortez. Contestants enter a pen with calves and cows, ropes the back legs of a calf and pulls it out of the pen. Team members hold it down and brand it with a cool iron before returning the calf to the pen. The team with the fastest time wins. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)
Four-person teams compete in the scramble competition during the Montezuma County Fair Ranch Rodeo on Friday evening at the Montezuma County Fairgrounds in Cortez. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)
Four-person teams compete in the scramble competition during the Montezuma County Fair Ranch Rodeo on Friday evening at the Montezuma County Fairgrounds in Cortez. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)
Four-person teams compete in the scramble competition during the Montezuma County Fair Ranch Rodeo on Friday evening at the Montezuma County Fairgrounds in Cortez. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)
Four-person teams compete in the scramble competition during the Montezuma County Fair Ranch Rodeo on Friday evening at the Montezuma County Fairgrounds in Cortez. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)
The sunset lights up a butte during the Montezuma County Fair Ranch Rodeo on Friday evening at the Montezuma County Fairgrounds in Cortez. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)
Four-person teams compete in the branding competition during the Montezuma County Fair Ranch Rodeo on Friday evening at the Montezuma County Fairgrounds in Cortez. Contestants enter a pen with calves and cows, ropes the back legs of a calf and pulls it out of the pen. Team members hold it down and brand it with a cool iron before returning the calf to the pen. The team with the fastest time wins. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)
Children play around and watch the Montezuma County Fair Ranch Rodeo on Friday evening at the Montezuma County Fairgrounds in Cortez. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)
Four-person teams compete in the branding competition during the Montezuma County Fair Ranch Rodeo on Friday evening at the Montezuma County Fairgrounds in Cortez. Contestants enter a pen with calves and cows, ropes the back legs of a calf and pulls it out of the pen. Team members hold it down and brand it with a cool iron before returning the calf to the pen. The team with the fastest time wins. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)
Cowboys and cowgirls get ready to compete in the Montezuma County Fair Ranch Rodeo Friday evening at the Montezuma County Fairgrounds in Cortez. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)
The American flag enters the arena at the start of the Montezuma County Fair Ranch Rodeo on Friday evening at the Montezuma County Fairgrounds in Cortez. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)
Cowboys and cowgirls lower their heads in prayer at the start of the Montezuma County Fair Ranch Rodeo on Friday evening at the Montezuma County Fairgrounds in Cortez. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)
People in the crowd got to bid money on their favorite teams during the Montezuma County Fair Ranch Rodeo on Friday evening at the Montezuma County Fairgrounds in Cortez. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)
Children play around during the Montezuma County Fair Ranch Rodeo on Friday evening at the Montezuma County Fairgrounds in Cortez. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)
Cowboys and cowgirls get ready to compete in the Montezuma County Fair Ranch Rodeo Friday evening at the Montezuma County Fairgrounds in Cortez. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)
A cowgirl who is a member of a four-person team competes in the branding competition during the Montezuma County Fair Ranch Rodeo on Friday evening at the Montezuma County Fairgrounds in Cortez. Contestants enter a pen with calves and cows, ropes the back legs of a calf and pulls it out of the pen. Team members hold it down and brand it with a cool iron before returning the calf to the pen. The team with the fastest time wins. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)
A cowgirl rides her horse before the start of the Montezuma County Fair Ranch Rodeo Friday evening at the Montezuma County Fairgrounds in Cortez. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)
A cowgirl who is a member of a four-person team competes in the branding competition during the Montezuma County Fair Ranch Rodeo on Friday evening at the Montezuma County Fairgrounds in Cortez. Contestants enter a pen with calves and cows, ropes the back legs of a calf and pulls it out of the pen. Team members hold it down and brand it with a cool iron before returning the calf to the pen. The team with the fastest time wins. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)
Cowboys and cowgirls get ready to compete in the Montezuma County Fair Ranch Rodeo Friday evening at the Montezuma County Fairgrounds in Cortez. Thirteen teams competed in events designed to test their sills on a working cattle ranch. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)
Cowboys and cowgirls get ready to compete in the Montezuma County Fair Ranch Rodeo Friday evening at the Montezuma County Fairgrounds in Cortez. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)
Cowboys and cowgirls get ready to compete in the Montezuma County Fair Ranch Rodeo Friday evening at the Montezuma County Fairgrounds in Cortez. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)
Cowboys and cowgirls get ready to compete in the Montezuma County Fair Ranch Rodeo Friday evening at the Montezuma County Fairgrounds in Cortez. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)
People in the crowd got to bid money on their favorite teams during the Montezuma County Fair Ranch Rodeo on Friday evening at the Montezuma County Fairgrounds in Cortez. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)
A cowgirl who is a member of a four-person team competes in the branding competition during the Montezuma County Fair Ranch Rodeo on Friday evening at the Montezuma County Fairgrounds in Cortez. Contestants enter a pen with calves and cows, ropes the back legs of a calf and pulls it out of the pen. Team members hold it down and brand it with a cool iron before returning the calf to the pen. The team with the fastest time wins. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)
Four-person teams compete in the scramble competition during the Montezuma County Fair Ranch Rodeo on Friday evening at the Montezuma County Fairgrounds in Cortez. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)
A good size crowd shows up for the Montezuma County Fair Ranch Rodeo on Friday evening at the Montezuma County Fairgrounds in Cortez. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)
Four-person teams compete in the branding competition during the Montezuma County Fair Ranch Rodeo on Friday evening at the Montezuma County Fairgrounds in Cortez. Contestants enter a pen with calves and cows, ropes the back legs of a calf and pulls it out of the pen. Team members hold it down and brand it with a cool iron before returning the calf to the pen. The team with the fastest time wins. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)
The La Plata Mountains east of the Montezuma County Fair Ranch Rodeo on Friday evening at the Montezuma County Fairgrounds in Cortez. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)
Four-person teams compete in the branding competition during the Montezuma County Fair Ranch Rodeo on Friday evening at the Montezuma County Fairgrounds in Cortez. Contestants enter a pen with calves and cows, ropes the back legs of a calf and pulls it out of the pen. Team members hold it down and brand it with a cool iron before returning the calf to the pen. The team with the fastest time wins. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)
Cowboys and cowgirls get ready to compete in the Montezuma County Fair Ranch Rodeo Friday evening at the Montezuma County Fairgrounds in Cortez. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)


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