Ranch Life

2013 Ranch Hoedown: Bringing Families Together

By Katherine Teague

Each summer families gather at the ranch for our annual Hoedown, a fun and unique event.  For many, it’s quickly added to the list of “must attend” occasions for years to come. This July we had close to 200 attendees. As each man, woman and child passed through our welcome center, they were given an authentic country-western name of their choosing, a name they would answer to for the rest of the evening. Nearly everyone spoke in their best southern accent and was dressed in their finest hoedown attire.

The afternoon was spent in a whirlwind of activities.  Families first participated in old west type games such as bobbing for apples, roping the wooden bull and a cow-milking contest. All were encouraged to take family “pigtures,” a hilarious scene of everyone snuggling together with their noses taped up to look like pigs!  Then, a large crowd of parents and kids congregated in the arena for a cherry pit-spitting contest, egg toss, three-legged race, manure-pitching contest and more fun than should be had in one day! Just before the yummy BBQ dinner was served, a big group of lively line dancers made merry our main yard.

As the air cooled and the sun lowered behind the towering mountain peaks to our west, families nestled together on blankets and in chairs on the grassy hill.  In triumphant voice we sang songs of praise and worship to our King. Troy then spoke a message of encouragement to those gathered. To top off the evening, everyone returned to the barn to enjoy delicious ice cream sundaes.

The ranch holds this event year after year for one main purpose: to bring families together for a day of fun. Pictures from the Hoedown tell the story of the day well and bear evidence our mission was accomplished!  We sincerely hope that you and your family will be able to join us next year.

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