SATURDAY NIGHT AT THE WESTERNER

A new concept in team roping—the handiCUP division

By Julie Carter

There seems to be an unspoken, in polite company anyway, request for a new division in the world of team roping.

This suggestion came by way of an email dissertation from a female team roper relating the story of her recent return to the roping arena. For those that know me personally, you will understand that I didn’t think up this idea on my own because of a complete lack of need for the plan. It would have just never occurred to me.

For you non-ropers, a handicap roping ranks cowboys according to skill level similar to golfers. In an effort to make it fair for everyone, which is in reality impossible, seconds are taken off the roping times before the last go round to even up the field of roping qualifiers. This concept I need and understand.

It is really a business tactic on the part of the roping producer. The more entries there are the more moolah he earns. This handicap system entices lowered numbered (less skilled-- that would be me) ropers to shell out more entry fee money because it appears the handicap system gives them a pretty good chance of winning. Fat chance.

The author of this newly proposed concept suggests that in addition to the handicap offered for lack of ability, roping producers would do well to offer advantages to female ropers due to an assortment of extra burdens born by the fairer gender.

She called it the HandiCUP Roping.

Guidelines suggested were that there be a second off your time for being female, another second off for each child given birth to and another second off if you are currently nursing one or more child. And last but not least another second off for each cup size the roper is endowed with. Proof is not required but the decision of the judge is final.

She swears she never leaves home without her self-designed roping sports bra that keeps everything where it belongs and nothing swinging but the rope.

Now this is the part I’ll have to take her word for.

She says, “You have no idea how uncomfortable it is leaving the roping box like a banshee, running nine-oh down the arena, screeching around the corner and then whipping around to face causing a tetherball-like feeling midsection. The momentum will often take you right out of the saddle and those ropers really hate having to take the time to scrape you up off the ground.”

She goes on to say that this handiCUP program takes care of quite a few issues including a get-even to all the men that try to compare the pain of child birth with cutting themselves shaving. “Not to mention along with the pain the world expects you to ‘glow’ and then when it’s over they hand you a couple Tylenols.”

Her belief is that with this system she alone is worth a 16 second handiCUP putting her in the last round of the roping with a negative time and making her unbeatable. “Women from all walks of life will start roping and men will actually want to rope with us. Big bust, many kids—No problem. You’ll be the queen of the roping.”

I pass on this idea on to the world of roping with the thought perhaps it could be a good idea. What do I know?

It would have never occurred to me to suggest we as females should get any preferential treatment beyond respect and dignity when competing in a sport that was first invented for men by men.

But then I’ve never had much in the way of handicups to get in the way of my work.

Julie can be reached for comment at jcarter@tularosa.net

© Julie Carter 2005


What if we abolished all farm subsidies?

by Larry Gabriel

What would happen to the farm economy of South Dakota if all farm subsidies were abolished?

I have heard people say that as many as one-third of our farmers would go broke. No official is predicting that, but some farmers believe it.

Some think it will never happen. Others think it is inevitable. President Bush recently promised that it will happen, if the European Union abolishes farm subsidies.

Only one industrialized nation has tried it. What happened there may be the best indicator of what we could expect.

New Zealand abolished all farm subsidies (except indirect funding for scientific research, which is really more of a subsidy for agricultural schools than farmers) in 1984.

They were more dependent on both agriculture and its subsidies than we are. Agriculture was a larger share of their national economy, and prior to "reform" (as they called it) government subsidies were about 30 percent of the value of production. In the United States, that number is about 22 percent.

The government itself predicted that up to ten percent of the farmers would be put out of business. Massive farm bankruptcies were predicted. The big crisis did not happen.

This is what happened in New Zealand.

• One percent of the farms (mostly those deep in debt) went out of business.
• Farm land values dropped then later came back up.
• Input costs declined.
• Specialty crops and dairy increased.
• Production increased at about six percent annually.
• Agriculture's share of the national economy increased.
• The country's farmers still compete well in international trade.

Some farmers may object to my saying this, but the loss of farm subsidies might not be all bad. The question is: do subsidies cause more harm than good? There are many pros and cons to consider. I don't know all of them. But, I do know one I especially dislike.

I know of a man who farmed a large area in South Dakota and killed all the trees and grassy waterways on his land, while he "farmed the government" for every nickel he could get.

I don't believe he cared about the land, nature or his neighbors. I do believe government subsidies contribute to this type of behavior. Quite often they reward negative behavior while offering no rewards to people who are already doing it right.

Most of us do what's right and are good stewards of the land. We care much more about the land than quick deals or government money.

With or without government subsidies, we will be here caring for it the best we can.

Larry Gabriel is the South Dakota Secretary of Agriculture

I welcome submissions for this feature of The Westerner

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