Northern Wyoming News - Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years

MEETEETSE - As cows and their calves neared branding pens, their pressed bays echoed through the valleys of the 91 Ranch in the foothills of the Absaroka Range.

A group of riders appeared at the top of a rise on the rolling pastures of the ranch. Behind them stretched the snowcapped peaks and above them nothing but big sky and cotton-puff clouds. Though young, these wranglers are saddle-proven and tough. But they're a different kind of cowboy - they're cowboys with a mission.

Celebrating its 20th anniversary, Cowboys with a Mission is dedicated to ministering to those who identify with rodeo, ranching, farming, and other western and horse-related activities. The Meeteetse-based group puts on training schools aimed at deepening students' Christian faith, with one core emphasis on giving back to its community.

Arriving on the ranch just after sunrise, Jordan Anderson saddled up and joined a group of cowboys to push and brand the cattle. The work was hot. And with 400 to brand, the day promised to be long.

Like every cowboy on the drive, Anderson was expected to throw herself in between cow and calf in an effort to get the 91 brand on the spring newborns. Cowpokes wrestled calves, stirring up the dust and taking their lumps. Owned by Helen and Wasim Hassan, the ranch does business the traditional way: Wood-burning fires heat branding irons and every cowboy tests their mettle under the hot sun.

Anderson and area rancher Alan Hogg dismounted and stepped in front of the approaching herd. Their goal was to separate mother from calf - not an easy task with the stubborn livestock. But Anderson, barely taller than a full-grown cow, was feisty and pushed each to their respective but opposing pens. After the herd was sorted, Anderson wrestled calves and fastened ear tags to each as smoke from the branding iron touching flesh filled the air.

She and her posse of volunteers worked tirelessly. But at the end of the day, none took a paycheck for the effort. The group volunteered their time, like all staff at the school. The payoff to help local ranchers and neighbors comes in the form of smiles and a chance to witness.

"I want to be a light for those around us in this cowboy culture. When they sense I'm different, I can share what makes me happy all the time," Anderson said.

The school trains future missionaries as well as running popular Rodeo Bible Camps for young, up-and-coming rodeo stars.

"The reputation of rodeo is you have to be a bad boy or girl to be in rodeo. That's not true; you don't have to act like a little hellion," said Erica Quittenbaum, who attended the school and then returned to volunteer. "Our instructors are all Christians and do really well in their field. And they do it without getting drunk and partying every night."

Powell's Virginia Lohr has been attending rodeo camp for four years. The Powell Middle School seventh-grader was the only girl in the steer riding competition at the end of camp jackpot rodeo.

"It gets your adrenaline up. It's my goal to ride steers and barrel race in the PBR after high school," the 12-year-old said.

Her father, Mike Lohr, is proud of his daughter's performance after she stayed on the crazed steer for about four seconds before being thrown face-first in the dirt. He moved to Wyoming from Virginia to compete in team roping and ride broncs as a young man. Now he watches and worries as his daughter competes. Virginia was stepped on by a steer in practice the day before and was riding injured.

"If she's going to do it, she might as well be the best," Mike said. "If you don't worry about injuries, you're foolish. If you rodeo, there's going to come a time you're going to get hurt."

Although the rodeo signaled the end of the camp, it was just the beginning of a big weekend for Virginia. She also took a turn on a mini bull and barrel raced at the Mule Days rodeo finals the following Saturday. She's known as a tough competitor in the arena.

"Sometimes too tough," Mike said.

The Lohr family appreciates the positive influences of the missionaries and the professional training of the rodeo crew, he said. Campers attend three services a day during the camp, hearing from Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association instructors as they testify.

"Christian competitors teach the events. We teach them how to live a rodeo life that's positive and stay off drugs and alcohol," said Kevin Cooley, director of the school for the past seven years.

About "half our kids come back" for the camp every year, Cooley said. "When they get too old to participate, they often come back to volunteer."

The school temporarily closed prior to Cooley coming to the school from his previous home in Alaska. He "re-pioneered" the school and it has been growing steadily since.

Cowboys with a Mission's reach is international. Not only have students from several countries attended the school, part of the 20-week session is spent in Mongolia or Azerbaijan, teaching horsemanship and witnessing to rural communities. Three students and three staff members are currently in Mongolia. The school limits class sizes to 10 students due to the intensity of training on horseback, Cooley said. About 30 kids attended the rodeo camp.

Powell's Kwinn Betz loves the camp and the inspirational focus. He hopes to one day ride bulls in the college rodeo finals. As he trains, having attended the camp for three years, he has developed a ritual before the gates swing open.

"I always say 'Jesus take the wheel' before the chute opens," Betz said after being thrown in the mud by an enormous bull.