Riders, Ropers Stampede into 11th Annual Morongo Rodeo

Yellowstone star Mo Brings Plenty was on hand for the free celebration of Morongo’s cattle ranching history on Saturday Oct. 12 at the Morongo Indian Reservation.

MORONGO INDIAN RESERVATION – Amateur and professional ropers and riders competed for cash prizes at the 11th Annual Open Ranch Rodeo, a celebration of Morongo’s cattle ranching history, held Saturday, October 12 at the Morongo Indian Reservation.

Mo Brings Plenty (center, hat), star of the Yellowstone TV series, with Daughters of Morongo (left to right) Ciara Leyva and Elka Waters, and Warriors of Morongo Sebastian Castello and Lawrence Castello III at the 11th annual Morongo Open Ranch Rodeo on Oct. 12

Mo Brings Plenty, star of the hit Paramount Network series Yellowstone, greeted the crowd to kick off the day’s events. An enrolled Lakota who hails from the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, his traditional name — given to him as a young boy — is Ta Sunke Wospapi (“catches his horse”); which befits a man who enjoys spending more time on his horses than anywhere else.

Opening ceremonies at the Morongo Open Ranch Rodeo.
Team roping at the Morongo Open Ranch Rodeo.

“The Morongo Rodeo is an amazing experience that holds true to the legacy of Indian ranching and celebrates our deep connection to horses and riding,” said Mo Brings Plenty, who chairs the board of the non-profit Bronc Riding Nation. “Rodeos hold a special place in our culture, symbolizing the rugged and enduring spirit of Indian Country. They embody time-honored values such as strength, perseverance, and the importance of resilience in the face of challenges.”

Morongo Tribal Council Member Brian Lugo, the rodeo president, thanked Mo Brings Plenty for being part of the annual Morongo Rodeo, and all of the riders, ropers and spectators who came to the event.

“Morongo’s annual rodeo is always an exciting event that commemorates the long history of cattle and horse ranching on our reservation that began generations ago and continues to this day,” Lugo said.

The free, daylong event was open to the public as riders and ropers competed for thousands of dollars in prize money in a variety of events, such as open and team roping, Calcutta, ribbon roping, and ranch-style steer stopping. Youth riders also joined in the fun with competitions like mutton-busting and youth barrel racing.

A youth tries his hand at mutton-busting at the Morongo Open Ranch Rodeo.
Barrel racing was one of the many events at the 11th Morongo Open Ranch Rodeo.
A rider competes at the 11th annual Morongo Open Ranch Rodeo on Oct. 12.

“As always, this year’s Morongo Rodeo was a great event that gave fans a chance to see some of the best riders and ropers in the country,” said Aaron Tsinigine, a 2015 PRCA Team Roping World Champion. “The Morongo Rodeo is one of my favorite stops as the Tribe always puts on an awesome event.”

The annual rodeo is hosted by the Morongo Band of Mission Indians and the Morongo Cultural Heritage Department.