Wednesday Mini Mag

Ramona Cowboy Finishes Regular Season Record High While Looking Toward Third National Finals Rodeo Steer Wrestling By Frank J. Buchman

“It was a good year yet a different year for sure.” Tanner Brunner of Ramona simply evaluated his best regular season steer wrestling standings in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. “With many rodeos canceled due to coronavirus we were lucky that committees did host and put on rodeos,” Brunner appreciated. Typically going to about a hundred rodeos annually, the Kansas cowboy only entered 58 rodeos in the 2020 season. “A number of larger rodeos were canceled, so we went to more of the smaller rodeos. That gave us the opportunity to see new country,” Brunner said. The 27-year-old, six-foot-two, 230-pound steer wrestler made best use of those limited opportunities. From October 1, 2019, through September 30, 2020, Brunner won $46,885.30. That put him sixth in the world steer wrestling standings qualifying for his third National Finals Rodeo (NFR).

“I’m pleased to qualify for the NFR again, and quite thankful there’s going to be an NFR,” Brunner said. “After such few rodeos this year and so much discussion about canceling the NFR, I’m sure glad it’ll go on.” In Las Vegas for a number of years, the 2020 NFR will be in Arlington, Texas, December 3-12. “It’ll be different than at Vegas, but the 10-rounds of competition will be just as tough,” Brunner assured. With the NFR just days away, Brunner is a “real working cowboy” at his family’s Marion County Cow Camp Feedlot.

“We’ve been building fence today before the colder weather sets in,” he said Thursday. “I’ve been exercising my horses to keep them in shape, but the ranch work is about enough exercise for me.” He’s also entered a couple of recent rodeos and bulldogs steers two or three times a week at home. To be a top steer wrestler requires not only cowboy ability but also horsepower. “I’m fortunate to have such a great bulldogging team,” Brunner appreciated.

The 13-year-old mare Miss Kitty is Brunner’s steer wrestling mount and Slick a 13-year-old gelding works the hazing side. “I’ve been using these horses for three years now. We seem to work well together,” Brunner said. “I’m fortunate to own the team now after buying them from Sean Mulligan and Pride Farms at Durant, Oklahoma.”

His traveling partners Cole Edge, Trever Nelson and Kodie Jang are also important to Brunner. “We’ve been going together with the same horses, and it’s really been great,” he said. “If the weather cooperates, I intend to run a few more steers here at home before heading south,” Brunner noted. “Then I’ll go down to practice with Sean Mulligan before the NFR like I’ve done the past couple of years.”

Highlights of Brunner’s 2020 campaign included winning the Prairie Circuit Finals at Duncan, Oklahoma, and the Mesquite, Texas, Championship Rodeo. He was co-champion at Woodward, Oklahoma; Coleman, Texas; and Gooding, Idaho. Brunner’s fastest run of the year came at San Antonio, Texas, where he dropped his steer in 3.6-seconds to win $4,153. “Several of the major Kansas rodeos that I generally compete at were canceled this year,” Brunner said. “But I did have some success in my home state.” His 4.1-seconds Dodge City run was worth $1,366, while he had 3.9-seconds at Phillipsburg and 4.6-seconds at Pretty Prairie. With entirely different rodeo conditions in 2019, Brunner completed the PRCA standings 15 th after the NFR with $109,912. He also finished 15th in the 2018 PRCA world steer wrestling standings with $98,193. The three previous years Brunner had been 47 th , 28 th and 63 rd respectively in yearend steer wrestling results. Growing up in a rodeo family, Brunner started competing when he was nine-years-old. His dad Tracy, mom Yvonne and sister Cat all have successful rodeo careers. Graduating from Centre High School at Lost Springs in 2011, Brunner competed at the National High School Rodeo Finals two years. On the Kansas State University Rodeo Team, Brunner also qualified for the National Intercollege Rodeo Association Finals two years.

He graduated with an animal science degree in 2016 and has been a fulltime professional rodeo cowboy and working rancher simultaneously. Evaluating the 2020 rodeo season cancelations and rulings on health issues, Brunner said, “It varied place to place. There were actually only a few rodeos requiring and enforcing masking and distancing stipulations.” With two previous NFR experiences, Brunner is preparing mentally as well as physically for the upcoming 10-day NFR run. “I’ll be going in ranked higher than ever. But a lot can happen running that many steers with so much money to win,” he said. “With my horses and hazers, I’ll be as ready as I can and hope the steers fall in my favor.” He’ll still be cautious not putting his hat on the bed, not eating chicken before a go-round, and not wearing a yellow shirt. Already in the 2021 steer wrestling standings, Brunner was second at the Prairie Circuit Finals this month in Duncan, Oklahoma. He also won $1,723 a few days earlier in Waco, Texas. “I’m hoping that can get me started on a roll for the NFR,” Brunner commented. “Hopefully, rodeo will get back to a more normal next year. Whatever, I’ll be working for the fastest steer wrestling time every time I nod.”

CUTLINES Tanner Brunner of Ramona shows the championship steer wrestling form making him sixth in the world regular season standings.

His bulldogging mare Miss Kitty and his hazing horse Slick along with capable traveling partner hazers get ample credit from Tanner Brunner for his third qualification to the National Finals Rodeo.

September 27th was KHC Region 1 Gathering, at Colby Community College, coordinated by Shanda Mattix. Ms. Amberley Snyder flew in to speak at Colby Community College about her personal journey through "Walk Ride Rodeo". Amberley is incredibly personable and caring and a true inspiration. This event was nothing short of an incredible success!

There were probably 250 people spread out on the lawn for an outdoor evening presentation.

The event occurred from 6:30pm to 10:00pm.

Shanda did a great job coordinating all the arrangements. Shout out to Colby Community College Campus for Event Support,

CCC IT Dept. for outdoor projection/screen & sound, plus Livestream on the Colby Agriculture FB page, Amberley's travel arrangements made possible by Peoples State Bank of Colby and Thomas County Farm Bureau, and the Colby Equestrian Team for help with set up, snack and drink serving, merch sales, and tear down! Shanda presented opening comments on behalf of Colby Community College, Justine Staten presented briefly about KHC, then Amberley presented for about 45 minutes. The takeaway from Amberley's presentation is that Life hands us a bag of surprises. She demonstrated this with a group of kids called forward to draw surprises from her Purina bag. The message conveyed is that some things you draw from this bag can be good and some can be less desirable. What you do with it is up to YOU! A great inspirational message. The kids drew candy bars, and feathered boas and sometimes something confusing. They then had to respond or act out something related.

The presentation was done in less than an hour, but the line to buy t-shirts and posters and to meet Amberley was 2.5 hours! Amberley was incredibly personable throughout the event, making each person feel special that wanted to meet her! She had fans of all sorts there and for varying reasons!

The Hoxie crew (Our Region 1 Representative, Jessica Milliman and Company) had a barrel race that day in Hoxie. Exhibitors had grandparents take horses home so they all could come directly to Colby for the event! They were a large and fun group!

The KS State Fair 4H Buckle winner, Mallory Jackson and her family attended too! There were many 4H families in attendance whom we recognize as participants of the State 4H Horse Judging and State Panorama events. Many KHC Foundation Scholarship Recipients were among the crowd. Also, among the crowd was Rep. Adam Smith, from District 120, out of Weskan, who like many, has a horse crazy daughter! It was a great time to see Kansas Horse Council members (past and present) in Western Kansas!

The numerous circles of equine enthusiasts coming together for this event made Colby feel like homecoming!

NEXT UP: REGION 5 at Hillsdale Lake, October 31, November 1…Don’t Miss It!

Justin Staten, KHC Executive Director

Kansas Pioneer

Severed Fingers – Monster, Witch, Goblin

.

Bake at 350° for 8 to 10 min. 24 fingers

1c.

Real butter

½ c. 1 t. pick 2 c. 1 c.

Powered Sugar

Real Vanilla Extract

Wilton® Cake Color (green, purple, orange or yellow

King Arthur® unbleached flour

Almond Flour 1 pk. Sliced Almonds for fingernails ¼ c.

Red Wilton Candy Melts (for blood deco) Mix first 6 ingredients in order given. I use stand mixer. If not, you may have to use hands to finish mixing. Scoop 1 t. of dough roll into a ball and then snake to make finger, tapering on one end slightly. Press sliced almond down on tapered end and sideways slightly into cookie to make nail and cuticle. Place on cookie sheet leaving 1 inch between cookies. Mark knuckles with three small knife indentions close together at joints. Bake until set & lightly brown on bottom. Cool on Rack. When cool use melted red candy melts to dip severed ends for blood effect. Lay on parchment or wax paper to set.

Corn Crop Overflows Bins

“Neosho River bottomland farmer wins 100-bushel challenge.” That wasn’t a true newspaper headline from the 1960s, but it sure could have been.

Farmers were challenged by a major seed company to compete for prizes to grow corn that yielded 100-bushels an acre. Few Kansas farmers were planting corn 60 years ago, and yields were typically far below winning the award. It was a national competition so likely certain farmers in prominent corn growing states like Iowa did achieve that yield. There may have even been a couple Kansas farmers with rich cropland and ample rainfall who grew some 100-bushel corn. Of course, that may have been on a selected small bottomland acreage just enough to meet contest criteria. State records indicate corn was a Kansas farm crop a century-and-a-half ago. However, yields were typically low, at least compared to 100-bushels an acre. With a higher percentage of uphill “gumbo” in Kansas, majority of farmers found growing milo more profitable. Sometimes referred to as “grain sorghum” in state historical data, milo would especially produce more profit in dry years. However, in the late ’60s when the vocational agriculture teacher encouraged a hands-on crop growing effort, corn was selected. Seven acres just outside the city limits were leased on a share-basis from a friend landowner. A contract was developed by the bank clerk on his manual typewriter with signatures making the agreement binding. A 1939 John Deere B, although uncertain of exact year, was put to work by a high school freshman The two-bottom wheel plow and ground-pull disk were used tilling the clay soil. A two-row “lister” planted the seed purchased in 50-pound bags at the elevator. Several commented about how crooked the rows were. Fertilization didn’t seem important, but weeds grew about as fast as the corn. However, there was some corn on the ears, and another farmer was hired to pick what was there. Uncertain of yield, old records indicate it wasn’t a profitable venture. Today, corn is a prominent Kansas crop with yields double sometimes triple challenges of decades gone by. So abundant is the corn many elevators have huge piles on the ground overflowing bin space. Yields are still less than in one Bible verse. Reminded of Genesis 41:6: “He dreamed seven ears full-bodied and lush grew out of a single stalk.” +++ALLELUIA+++ XIV--43--10-25-2020