EMBARRASS- The inaugural Danny Theel Memorial Team Penning and Ranch Sorting Event will be held at the Embarrass Region Fairgrounds from Friday, Aug. 28 through Sunday, Aug. 30.
Team penning begins on Friday at 4 p.m. and goes until dusk. The event continues on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Ranch sorting will be held Sunday from 10 a.m. to noon for beginners (non-competitive) and 1 to 4 p.m. with prizes awarded.
Buckles and cash prizes will be awarded to top teams in both events. Food will be available onsite and primitive camping is available.
Team penning has become a popular attraction and is a fun spectator sport, with plenty of action and laughs. Riders try to herd three calves into a small fenced-in area at the opposite end of the arena. They get 30 seconds, and the calves may or may not cooperate. Teams are judged on their time and number of calves that are penned.
Ranch sorting is another timed event, this time with a team of two riders who attempt to sort 10 head of cattle in numerical order from one pen to another.
Cost to enter either event is $10 per horse and rider. There are three riders for team penning, and two for ranch sorting.
There is no admission charge for spectators.
This year, the event is being held in memory of Danny Theel, who passed away last April. Theel was an active volunteer for the Babbitt Ambulance and Fire Department and volunteered many years with the St. Louis County Rescue Squad. He was the vice-chairman of the Embarrass Region Fair Board. He was active in competitive ranch sorting and team penning. The Embarrass Fairgrounds are located at 4855 Hwy. 21, Embarrass. For more information, contact Lori Lilienthal at 218-780-7477 or Jeff Anderson at 218-780-3449.