It was Labor Day weekend and 90 plus degrees but that didn’t stop friends and family from joining together to remember a cowboy that is missed by so many. Mark Peterson lost his battle with cancer in December of 2019. Cowboys and cowgirls from many areas gathered at the Steve Watne Arena in Gully for the 4th Annual Big Mark Memorial Roping. One cowboy drove over 700 miles to rope and remember an old friend. 33 cowboys on their horses rode in the opening ceremony to the song - “My Favorite Memory of All” by Merle Haggard. Mark’s son, Blake, rode and roped on Mark’s old horse, Chopper.
u Once again two beautiful saddles were awarded to the top Header and top Heeler on their two day average. Ben Nelson from Clearbrook was the top Header and Wayne Sutton from Blackduck was the top Heeler. The saddles were sponsored this year by Circle J Angus, Lunke Farms, Taggart Contracting and the Middle River Coop Oil.
The second event of the weekend was a Pro-Am roping. In this roping, a “Pro” roper ropes with an “Amateur“ roper. The amateurs take home the beautiful prizes. Breast collars were sponsored by the Newfolden Elevator and Cutting K Ranch. Stacey Stoskopf and Krista Thoring took them home!
Gorgeous Big Mark buckles were won by Krista Thoring and Molly Nelson. The buckles were sponsored by Jim and Marlene Taggart of Newfolden.
Sponsoring Big Mark halters this year was the Newfolden Coop and they were won by Aubrey Stoskopf and Cooper Wishard. Along with all of these prizes different amounts of money are also awarded and this year some fun drawings of different horse tack was sponsored by Tomahawk Ropes USA. (Al and Robin Benson) Thank you to Steve and Stacey for hosting, Ashley McGregor for all of the work that she does behind the scenes getting things organized, to Jill Anderson for her fourth year of keeping the books and everything that goes with it to keep it running smoothly and her side kick this year, Dezi Gustafson!
Thank you to Krista for flagging, all of the shute help, and the young girls and their horses for running calves. Thank you to Rick and Connie Beito, Mark and Jan Berg, Brian and Kelly Gillund, Zoey Magner, Courtney Gillund, Carol Prosser, Diane Watne, Sethre’s Hartz, Dan and Joni Veselka, Vern and Lynn Brazier, and The Middle River Honker for working at or sponsoring this special event! I pray that I haven’t forgotten anyone but if so, please know that I am thanking you also! Thank you to my family and friends that joined us for the weekend to watch this special event!
Tears, stories and laughter were plentiful while remembering this humble cowboy. There is a quote that says, “The hat may lay quiet, and the rope sits with stillness, and the spurs have no more jingle, but the spirit of what they once carried lives on forever.”
