Winnemucca Ranch Hand Rodeo Weekend

These guys and gals just don’t compete in rodeo—they live it. This five-day lineup of events brings more than 30 top teams of real-life working ranch hands together to out-buckaroo each other and celebrate the life and culture of the Great Basin cowboy. Held in a community where Western culture is celebrated year round, thousands of locals and visitors alike descend upon Winnemucca for an extended weekend of rodeo events the whole fam is sure to love.

You won’t find any professional rodeo cowboys around here, which to us, is why the Winnemucca Ranch Hand Rodeo is such an authentic experience everyone’s sure to love. Different from a traditional, PRCA-sanctioned rodeo like the Reno Rodeo or PBR Finals, a Ranch Hand Rodeo is when teams of real cowboys and cowgirls from ranches throughout Nevada, and the West, compete against each other in events based on the type of real work they complete each and every day.

Here, you won’t find barrel racing or rodeo clown showmanship. Instead, you’ll see how real Great Basin Buckaroos work the range with competition (simulated) Ranch Doctoring, Team Trailer Loading, (simulated) Calf Branding, Cow Dog Trials, Wild Mugging, and the crazy-popular Wild Horse Races. While there are eight Ranch Hand Rodeos in the Silver State, Winnemucca’s is the largest and most thrilling Ranch Hand Rodeo of ‘em all, drawing nearly 3,000 folks from near and far for an extended weekend of good, clean fun.

The Ranch, Rope, and Performance Horse Sale also gathers horse sellers and buyers to Winnemucca from all over the Western United States to what many call the weekend’s most special event.While you’re here, don’t forget to stroll the Western Trade Show for all kinds of western wares, and Kids Pee Wee Events, like Dummy Roping, and Stick Horse Barrels.

Ranch Hand Rodeo admission is free Wednesday and Thursday. The rest of the weekend, admission is $10 for adults, $5 for kids ages 6-12, and kids 5 and under are free. All tickets are available for purchase at the gate. For more info on the Winnemucca Ranch Hand Rodeo and planning your trip to Winnemucca, get in touch with event organizers directly at (775) 623-5071.