Mini Mag Feb 16 2021

Feb 17, 2021 2021 Kansas FROZEN

Wednesday Mini-Mag

Frozen

By Erin Glassman

For those of you with a connection to children and have seen the movie Frozen, you may have also wondered if Elsa was hanging out and avoiding her medications this last week or so here in Kansas.

The drastic swing in temperatures has definitely put a hitch in a lot of our get alongs! To be quite honest, I really had thought we were mostly going to escape a harsh winter, especially as we started rounding into February without too many heinously cold days in our wake.

As the cold started rolling in, things didn’t seem too bad at first. Chop a little ice here, roll out a little extra hay there...horses, cattle, birds, and all were quite cozy.

Those of us with varying numbers of livestock, from just one or two to thousands of animals know that there is no break, no snow day, no day off period when it comes to the care of our wards. In fact, the work goes from busy to insane in these extreme weather conditions.

In addition to the challenge of keeping water tanks open, fighting frozen automatic waterers, feeding, caring for animals such as those calving and just finding enough places to create at least a wind shelter for the critters, the lack of being able to do the tasks that we need and want to be doing can be frustrating and downright depressing.

At my place we are a small cattle operation startup, and have a small horse breeding and training business going. I’ve got to get out there and work horses, but -32 windchill today and just trying to survive the rest of the time has pretty well taken care of not being able to get anything done. If you’re like me, it tears you up inside not to be able to accomplish what you need to do. Seasonal Affective Disorder may also strike, as it does with me. I truly believe that the lack of vitamin D we get from the sun is involved in our motivation, happiness, satiety in what we do on a day to day basis. Obviously with the shorter days and having clouds blocking our rays, if what I think is true, it’s pretty much the norm to be at least a little down this time of year anyway.

Keeping a positive outlook and motivation to keep moving forward (and not just sell out as I think most of us have thought about in the past couple of days!!) can be very challenging, especially at times like these.

The good news is that this polar vortex should be exiting stage right by the end of the week. Swimsuit weather will be on us the week after this (ok, maybe just shorts and t shirts). Some of us may actually be getting some housework done! Ok, that might be stretching it. I personally have used the time to create more projects for myself to someday finish before I die, like more afghans, website stuff, new craft ideas etc. And Dammit, today there is no mud!! Take that, Elsa!!!

Erin Glassman is the owner of Prairie Sylvania Arabians, LLC, breeding versatile partner Arabians for distance and ranch work, co-owner of Rocking EL Ranch where she and her partner raise cattle, train horses and perform a variety of leatherwork services and works off ranch in the healthcare field.

2020 Annual Report on Volunteer Work on Kansas Public Equestrian/Multiuse Trails and Benefit Trail Ride Proceeds

Throughout 2020, equestrians have continued to make a big difference on Kansas trails.

The flooding of 2019 left trails in a mess around several of our lakes, and equestrian volunteers worked diligently on cleanup with work continuing on some of the lower trails. We rallied successfully to keep Rockhaven Campground at Clinton Lake open, after the Corps of Engineers announced the campground would be closed unless usage increased. We worked side by side with hikers and bicyclists on extending the Landon Trail further south. We promoted Kansas equestrian campgrounds and

trails through social media and through articles in state and national publications. We promoted the beauty of Kansas state parks by welcoming Tom Seay and his Best of America by Horseback RFD-TV program to Eisenhower State Park for a perfect June weekend, resulting in national coverage of our Kansas State Parks, Kansas Horse Council, and Back Country Horsemen Kansas.

This year equestrian benefit trail rides and other fundraisers were able to raise a total of $13,675 for public equestrian campgrounds and trails. Funds raised included: Perry State Park $4,900, Eisenhower State Park

$3,900, Hillsdale State Park $2,500, and Kanopolis State Park $2,375. Over the past 9 years, these trail rides have raised over $129,000, which have funded numerous campground and trail improvements. The partnership with BCHA provides us a consistent method of calculating and reporting volunteer work hours. Through our Kansas chapter of BCHA, we log volunteer hours spent working on equestrian campground and

trail maintenance and improvements each year. For 2020, total volunteer hours in Kansas exceeded 3,300, and using values provided by BCHA, monetary value of these work hours exceeds $229,000! We are working closely with trail users in the Randolph State Park area and in south-central Kansas on formation of regional BCHKS chapters, where members will focus on partnerships with local park managers to help maintain trails. Randolph State Park Manager Todd Lovin is very appreciative of the interest and volunteer efforts in improving those trails. Once again, we equestrian trail users are committed to working alongside our public land managers to ensure a future of trail riding opportunities in Kansas. Let me or Erin Glassman know if we can meet to discuss future plans and improvements for public equestrian camping and riding facilities.

Erin Glassman, 620-617-7221, ejacob716@gmail.com Trails Director, Kansas Horse Council Vice-President, Back Country Horsemen of America Kansas Chapter

Jim Thomas, 785-633-4761 Trails Director Emeritus, Kansas Horse Council Board of Directors, Kansas Trails Council Founding Member, Back Country Horsemen of Kansas

Cold Increases Ranch Issues

“Everything gets tested when temperatures stay below freezing for more than a week.” Most all in production agriculture and many urbanites as well have found that to become hauntingly true in recent days. It was only about the third day of the below freezing tantrum when one of three feed trucks started smoking. The big bale hauling, unrolling contraption had been giving serious problems and was being taken to the mechanic for repairs. Due to those hydraulic mechanism issues that truck had not been used feeding the cows for several days. Despite near zero temperatures, the pickup started with only a couple of cranks. Warmed up and given visual engine inspection, that old truck seemed to be running smoothly as possible at such maturity. Headed to the fixit shop at highway speed, all of a sudden smoke started rolling from under the hood. Ranch manager pulled the smoking machine onto a side road, turned it off and started inspection. Cool down took some time, but it was decided that the new antifreeze hadn’t been mixed stringently.

Nothing appeared damaged so two gallons of straight antifreeze were added to the radiator and again given warmup time. Believe it or not, the red bent up pickup made it to the mechanic’s shop without further issues. Seemingly living right for a while, the next morning all went awry again with a much more serious problem. There wasn’t any water when the faucet was turned on to make coffee. Without home water is bad but real concern was the 50 head of first calf heifers in the barnyard corral. Sure enough all three hydrants were frozen with bleak outlook for possibility of thawing out any pipes. However, heat lamps were brought out in full force and after several hours water did start running. Thirsty livestock was amply watered as additional insulation was placed over every known wind leak to prevent further freeze up. Still there was concern about water for the remaining livestock in a half dozen locations. Fortunately, the replacement heifer water pump worked without a hitch as did the new rural water faucet installed days earlier. A couple of natural springs still had a trickle, but several frozen ponds took considerable chopping to find water. Reminded of Wisdom 16:29: “Ice of winter shall perish and water flows.” +++ALLELUIA+++ XV--7--2-24-2021

Speedy Roping Ability Makes Fort Scott Cowgirl Yearend Rodeo Circuit Champion By Frank J. Buchman

“Faster than a blink of the eye and this cowgirl is a champion.” Hannah Hughes proved she is the best of the best in the American Cowboys Rodeo Association (ACRA). The Fort Scott cowgirl was crowned champion yearend breakaway roper climaxing her first year of ACRA competition. “To be the event title winner on top of being the rookie breakaway champion was really exciting,” Hughes admitted.

Competing in majority of the 2020 ACRA sanctioned rodeos, Hughes had work cut out for her at the yearend finals. “I was second in both the overall and rookie standings coming into the finals during January in Tulsa,” she said. “I knew I had to rope the best I ever had to collect either one of the yearend titles.” Roping ability matched the test but championships were not determined until the last calf was roped. “I caught my calves, but I was still down in the placings until my final run,” Hughes reflected.

Her 3.7-seconds flag was third in the first go-round at the finals. Despite picking up speed, the cowgirl’s 3.2-seconds run still only placed third in the finals second go-round. “I knew I had to put it all together on my last calf to be the yearend campion,” Hughes admitted. “Fortunately, I had a good calf and dropped the flag in 2.4-seconds in the third round.” That moved her up to win the breakaway roping average at the ACRA Finals. “It was such a blessing so I could be the ACRA open breakaway champion and also win the rookie award,” Hughes said. To be a roping champion requires cowgirl skill as well as a good horse. “My 22-year-old sorrel mare Effie is very dependable, and I always give her credit when I win,” the cowgirl acknowledged. “I’ve had Effie about eight years and wouldn’t be where I am today without her help.” After the ACRA Finals, Hughes has directed her roping focus to college rodeo competition. “I’m a sophomore majoring in agriculture business at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College (NEO) in Miami, Oklahoma,” she said. “I am on a rodeo scholarship and will be representing NEO in National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association competitions.” In her second year on the NEO team, Hughes is anticipating the first college rodeo this weekend. “I didn’t have a great first season, and the coronavirus curtailed any fall rodeos,” she said. “There are nine spring rodeos so I hope I can continue to rope like I did at the ACRA Finals. I’d sure like to make the National College Rodeo Finals.” Practice makes perfection according to the champion who has a regular roping routine to keep her skills in top shape. “I don’t use my good mare Effie that much for practice. I have an eight-year-old sorrel gelding called Ziggy I rope on mostly in the practice pan,” Hughes said.

Her rodeo scholarship provides housing for one horse, but Hughes keeps both horses at school. “I keep Effie on an exercise program, but I only rope a couple calves on her before a rodeo,” Hughes said. “Although Effie is getting old, I take good care of her. I think she’ll last two more years of college rodeo. Then Ziggy will work right into her place.” Intending to graduate from the two-year NEO this spring, Hughes is uncertain where she’ll continue her education. “I sure plan to college rodeo two more years, but I just haven’t decided what school I’ll attend,” she said. Summer months will be filled on the rodeo trail. “I intend to go hard on the ACRA circuit with most of those rodeos being in Oklahoma,” Hughes said. “There are a lot of jackpot breakaway roping events too so I’ll also go to as many of them as I can.” Kansas High School Rodeo Association breakaway roping champion as a senior, Hughes was fourth at the National High School Rodeo Finals. Her youth rodeo career featured a number of yearend awards in several associations. She’s pretty much a one event cowgirl at this time. “I have entered a lot of rodeo events through the years, but I concentrate on breakaway roping nowadays,” Hughes said. “My college classmates want me to head in team roping and I might try some later on.” Looking to the future, Hughes said, “I’m uncertain on my career plans. I am interested in equine rehabilitation which would be a perfect complement to continuing to compete on the rodeo circuit.” While her 2.4-seconds ACRA Finals breakaway run is almost a snap of a finger, she’s been faster than that. “I had a 1.7-seconds run at the NEO Recruitment/Alumni Rodeo. I’ve had a few other runs just under 2-seconds,” Hughes remembered. “That sounds fast, but you have to be in order to win these days.”

“My NEO rodeo coach Kolby Ungeheuer has helped fine tune my roping in the jackpots and team workouts,” Hannah said. An honor student, Hannah is the only child of Rod and Donna Hughes. “My parents both competed successfully in professional rodeo and are my best coaches and biggest supporters,” she added. Even when one is a champion competing on the rodeo circuit is costly. “I’m fortunate to have BE Saddle Pads, Total Equine Feed and Better Equine Equipment as sponsors,” Hughes appreciated. “Those businesses owned by Bill and Jana Barcus of Paola are a big help for me on the rodeo circuit.”

CUTLINE

Hannah Hughes of Fort Scott was honored as both the open breakaway roping winner and the rookie breakaway roping champion of the American Cowboys Rodeo Association for 2020.