Dr Lynn Phillips has been the Oklahoma Cattlemens Association’s Ranch Rodeo Announcer for forty years. With the Theme always being “Cowboys Helping Kids,” the organization has raised close to $700,000 for Miracle Network- the Oklahoma Children’s Foundation. At this year’s event, Farm Director KC Sheperd caught up with Dr. Phillips to talk about his love for this Ranch rodeo, “This is different from a regular PRCA rodeo. These are guys, when they do their taxes each year, where it says occupation, they simply write “cowboy,” and you’re getting to see what they do each and every day, wind, rain, snow, and there’s competition, of course, but these guys are having fun.”
Each year the OCA Ranch Rodeo features special teams looking to compete in the events, but only 12 get the honor, “These are 12 of the oldest, most historic ranches, the Stuart ranch one of the oldest in the entire state of Oklahoma. It was formed prior to statehood back in 1890. You’ve got the Drummond ranch up in the Pawhuska area. Tonight, we’re going to honor Terry Forst of the Stuart ranch with a very special award into the AgHall of Fame, and Blayne Arthur, our Secretary of Agriculture, is going to make that presentation tonight because of what she has done and what that ranch has done over the years.”
The 2024 participating ranches include: A Bar Ranch, Claremore; Barron-Highsmith Cattle Co. & Short Ranches, Oologah; Drummond Land & Cattle Co., Pawhuska; Stuart Ranch, Waurika; Daube Cattle Co. & 3C Cattle Co., Ardmore; McPhail Land & Cattle Co., Medicine Park; Buford Ranches, Hominy; Gray G Bar Ranch, Shidler; Quarter Circle 99 Ranch & Double R Operations, Loco; Lazy Rafter Slash Ranch, Lenapah; Trentman Ranch & Steirwalt Ranch, Pawhuska and Shidler; Whitmire Ranch & Sumner Ranch, Delaware.
Phillips said this rodeo showcases what Ag producers do on their farms and ranches every day,
“Every event we’re going to feature here tonight is really how its done. We’ll have the stray gathering, because if you happen to have a cow that got out on the neighbor’s place, and there’s not a catch pen in sight, then you and a buddy, you’re going to go out, one’s going to head her, one’s going to heal her, somebody’s going to go get the truck and trailer, and you’re going to load her. Well, We will try to do that. “
Phillips said not all the events are quite as realistic as others, for example, the Wild Cow Milking,
“You know, there’s a couple just for the crowd entertainment, if you had to get milk for your cereal every morning, the way we’re getting this wild cow milk, then everybody would move on to just eating eggs for breakfast! That’s for fun, But the other events really are events that they do each and every day. “
Aside from the fellowship the OCA Ranch Rodeo provides for ranchers and working cowboys across the state, Phillips also talked about how the event is put on to help raise funds for the Children’s Hospital Foundation, “They have raised $640,000 for medical research for children in the great state of Oklahoma. And every dollar they raise stays right here in Oklahoma. So it’s a great, great cause. “
How Long does Dr. Phillips plan on keeping his announcer gig at the Ranch Rodeo? Well, he’s not sure, but he is having fun right now, “I’ve announced rodeos over 50 years. I started in high school and attended medical school to practice anesthesiology for 40 years. I would do one, and people would say, Well, will you keep doing it? I said, Listen, I have a real job. This is a hobby. This is fun, And as long as it’s fun, I’ll keep doing it. “
