Ark Valley News - Ropin’ a team title

In a record-setting run in the wild cow milking event, Troy Higgs milks the cow, while Chris Potter and Bud Higgs hold her still, with the help of Travis Duncan on horseback.

Ropin’ a team title
By Chris Strunk
Last Updated: December 03, 2015

Valley Center cowboys part of winning ranch

A pair of Valley Center cowboys have some major bragging rights.

Frank Higgs and his son, Bud Higgs, were part of the six-person Lonesome Pine Ranch team that won the Working Ranch Cowboys Association's national championship ranch rodeo Nov. 14 and 15 in Amarillo, Texas.

Lonesome Pine competed against 23 other teams from across the country that qualified in regional rodeos.

"The really, really meaningful thing for me is participating with my family," said Frank Higgs, who lives on a ranch northeast of Valley Center. "… It gives you a lot of family pride."

Bud Higgs, a 1982 Valley Center High School graduate, owns Lonesome Pine Ranch in Chase County. The team also includes Bud's children, Troy and Makenzie, as well as part-time ranch hands Chris Potter and Travis Duncan.

Lonesome Pine has qualified for the national rodeo three times, winning reserve champion two years ago.

"It's a lot of fun and everybody likes to win, and it's more fun when you do win," Frank Higgs said.

The rodeo includes five events — team branding, wild cow milking, team penning, stray gathering and ranch bronc riding. Lonesome Pine won wild cow milking and ranch bronc riding.

The team set a world record in wild cow milking, which requires a team member to rope a cow, two to hold her still and another to milk her. Lonesome Pine completed the challenge in 18.4 seconds.

"It's pretty satisfying really," Frank Higgs said. "Of course, you get the bragging rights."