Wednesday Mini Mag

Wednesday da Mini-Mag

Dec. 2, 2020

College Cowboy Is Team Roping Specialist Looking To A Finance Career In The Office And On Horseback By Frank J. Buchman

Growing up with a rope in hand sets the life for a champion cowboy. “I’ve been competing in rodeos nearly all of my life and rope every day to continue getting better.” Experience has paid dividends for Shane Jenkins of Amoret, Missouri. Just a few miles from both Kansas and Oklahoma, the 18-year-old is in prime location to be a team roper. “Team roping is my main event, usually heading but I’ve been heeling the past few months, too,” Jenkins said. “There are a lot of arenas and jackpots around here to practice and compete in team roping competitions.” Roping is bred into the young cowboy. “My dad Brad Abernathy is a top team roper and my mom Kandy is a winning breakaway roper,” Jenkins credited. “They’ve been great coaches and inspiration to be the best in the sport of team roping.”

To be a successful team roper also requires a partner who will take care of their responsibility. “I practice with several top cowboys, and we generally get a time when it’s a competition,” Jenkins said. “My dad has also been an important part of me having capable partners,” the cowboy continued. “Dad is well known for his winning roping ability, so his top heelers often come ask to partner with me.” Roping in junior events, Jenkins collected titles in the Junior high School Rodeo Association and Little Britches events. “I also made the International Finals Youth Rodeo three times and was eighth in the world one year,” he added. Entering United States Team Roping Championships (USTRC) and United Rodeo Association (URA) events, Jenkins is a consistent money winner. “I’ve roped at the USTRC Finals and was honored as the URA Rookie of the Year in 2019,” Jenkins noted.

“I rope wherever there’s competition, but I actually prefer going to the jackpots. They pay more money,” the champion declared. Upon completing high school with a degree from the Manhattan Virtual Academy, Jenkins was eager to further his education. Of course, the top roper looked at colleges which offered rodeo scholarships. “Northeastern Oklahoma A&M (NE0) at Miami, Oklahoma, had a recruiting rodeo where I won the team roping,” Jenkins said. “They offered me a scholarship so I’m enrolled in the marketing management curriculum with plans to complete a business degree.”

Like in many rodeo associations, the coronavirus put a crimp in his kickoff college rodeo career. “All of National Intercollege Rodeo Association rodeos were postponed. None were canceled just put off until spring. My first college rodeo is February 19,” Jenkins said. Likewise, health concerns have changed the format in which the cowboy is receiving his college education. “I’m two hours from the NEO campus so I’m blessed they worked with me to take all of my classes online. It’s completely a virtual program for my first semester,” he said. Especially appreciative of his rodeo scholarship to keep college expenses down, Jenkins is also being sponsored by Better Equine Inc. "Bill, Jana and Billy Barcus of Paola have been longtime family friends. We’ve competed together at rodeos for many years,” he noted. “They are distributors for Total Equine horse feed and also manufacture BE Saddle Pads, which are both great products. I’m really fortunate for their sponsorship too.” Kolby Ungeheuer coaches the NEO Rodeo Team which has indoor and outdoor practice facilities. “I go to Miami to practice about every week. It’s good to rope with my team mates and Coach Ungeheuer is a big help too,” Jenkins credited. “I’m really looking forward to getting on the road going to college rodeos next spring. I hope to qualify for the NIRA Finals.” Horsepower is essential to be a team roping champion and Jenkins appreciates the caliber of horses he rides. “I actually sold a couple of rope horses, and was without a horse early this year,” he related. “Then I found a seven-year-old sorrel mare called Yodi and seasoned her on the road. She’s really turned out to be a great head horse.”

For heeling, Jenkins calls upon an 18-year-old sorrel gelding called Genie. “He’s an excellent heel horse, and even more special to me, because my grandpa raised him,” Jenkins said. Concentrate and dominate have been Jenkins rodeo philosophy. “A lot of cowboys want to compete in several events, but I’m strictly a team roper,” he said. “It’s difficult to excel at more than one event. I’m specialized and keep working to improve my team roping. I intend to be the best team roper.” As if he isn’t busy enough going to team roping events and fulltime college, Jenkins has additional professions. “I am training several horses and I work one day a week at Mo-Kan Livestock in Butler,

Missouri,” he said.

Looking to complete his NEO education requirements in two years, Jenkins plans on pursuing his lifetime profession at that time. “I could attend a four-year college to rodeo, but I’ll be ready to start my career after NEO,” Jenkins said. “There are a lot of different directions I could go but right now I think I’ll become a financial advisor.” Office job won’t keep the cowboy off his horse. “My job will fit well with continuing to rope. I may try to go to more circuit rodeos, even some professional rodeos. But I’ll sure get to a lot of jackpots,” Jenkins promised. CUTLINES Looking to a professional career in business finance, Shane Jenkins of Amoret, Missouri, considers team roping as having the most potential for highest financial success in the rodeo arena. Shane Jenkins is a team roper on the Northeast Oklahoma A&M (NEO) Rodeo Team at Miami, Oklahoma. Riding a mare he trained called Diamond, Jenkins is heading one for Roper Goodson in the United States Team Roping Championships (USTRC) Number 13 Shootout.

Working the heeling end on Genie, Shane Jenkins team roped with Levi Phoenix at a recent area rodeo.

Horse Health First Concern For Mobile Veterinary Service By Frank J. Buchman

“ Before buying any horse, it should have a pre-purchase examination by a qualified veterinarian.” The advice comes from Dr. Jason Miles DVM of Stone Horse Veterinary Services offering mobile equine care based out of Lawrence.

“Even when purchasing what might be considered an inexpensive horse, an unbiased evaluation is worth the small investment,” Miles emphasized. “All of a sudden that horse could become very expensive if it has permanent ailment or costly yet treatable issues.” Owning and working with horses all-of-his life, Dr. Miles is speaking from experience. “There are a number of conditions that can arise in horses, even those that appear healthy,” he clarified. “It’s not always possible to identify problems, but better to have a horse checked out than wish you had later.” That includes all soundness from movement to breathing to digestive even reproduction. “Just because a mare has a foal doesn’t mean she’s a favorable candidate for a breeding program,” Dr. Miles added. Through his youthful experiences showing horses, Miles decided early on to pursue becoming a veterinarian.

“Growing up on my family’s farm north of Lawrence we always had horses and a cow-calf operation,” he said. “Regardless how hard we worked caring for the livestock, veterinarian services were sometimes required. I was inspired to have a career serving owners in health care of their animals.” Attending Kansas State University, Miles graduated with a doctor’s degree in veterinary science in 2014.

“I had decided that I wanted to specialize in equine medicine due to my lifetime working with horses,” he said. “I didn’t want to concentrate on one area but offer general overall horse health services.” Experience builds knowledge and the new Dr. Miles found that opportunity with an internship at Oakridge Equine Hospital, Edmond, Oklahoma. “Five surgeons are on staff at the surgery referral facility with five interns like I was,” he explained. The hospital handles all areas of equine medicine, lameness, respiratory surgery, sports medicine, orthopedics, and emergency abdominal procedures. “I was able to increase my knowledge of general horse health in my year there,” Miles said. In July 2015, Dr. Miles became an associate at the Oklahoma City Equine Hospital. “It has a heavy focus on reproduction including embryo transfer, but also routine horse health care,” Miles said. “The hospital foals out about 60 mares a year, and those mares don’t necessarily foal exactly when you want them to either,” Dr. Miles grinned. “As an associate I was one of those responsible for getting up in the middle of the night assisting foaling mares.” With Remington Park nearby, high level race-horses were frequent patients at the hospital. Dr. Miles served as veterinarian at the Appaloosa Horse Club World Show treating health issues of those quality horses. When his wife Dana accepted an electrical engineer position in Kansas City, Dr. Miles returned to Kansas in October 2019. Noteworthy, Jason Miles first met Dana Gude of Olsburg when they were showing 4-H horses at the Kansas State Fair. “We were both entered in the two-year-old snaffle bit class and literally ran into each other,” he remembered. With mutual horse interests, they became better acquainted, dated during college, and were married. “After we moved back to Kansas, I took a few months off from veterinary practice,” Miles explained. “We bought a home in Lawrence and keep our horses at my parent’s place north of town.” With his knowledge and specific interests in horse health, Dr. Miles saw a need for his services throughout the area. “There are a lot of horses requiring regular health care and treatment,” he said. “Yet frequently many owners don’t have the time or even the capability to get their horses to a veterinarian. “There was a place for mobile equine services, so I decided to develop my practice with that philosophy,” Miles explained. Stone Horse Veterinary Services was started on March 4, 2020. “My wife actually named the practice based on homage for my family’s farm. There are three stone barns on my grandparent’s farm where we keep our horses,” he said. Nearly complete horse health services are provided by Dr. Miles out of his pickup with the exception of certain surgeries. “I have a general practice covering all areas of equine medial issues,” he said. “I do not handle any other animal health cases.” Qualified in serving lameness issues, dentistry and reproduction Dr. Miles offers artificial insemination with frozen, cooled, or fresh semen. Emergency service is a feature of his practice. “I understand the dilemma of needing immediate care for a serious horse health issue,” he said. “I do my best to serve the demands of horses and their owners as quickly as I can.” Clients’ appreciation for Dr. Miles knowledgeable congenial services has made the mobile equine practice grow and thrive.

“It took a while, but the word of mouth has increased awareness of what I do,” he said. “However, I keep the mobile practice within about an hour’s drive so I can maintain the quality service.” Looking forward, Miles sees the possibility of adding another equine veterinarian to the mobile service. Both Dr. Miles and his wife continue to enjoy riding and showing horses in area competitions. “We have four horses and plan to raise some colts, too,” he said. Horse health is first concern of Dr. Jason Miles at Stone Horse Veterinary Services.

CUTLINES Dr. Jason Miles DVM of Stone Ridge Veterinary Services provides mobile equine care within an hour’s drive of his home at Lawrence. Serving all areas of horse health, Dr. Miles is doing dental work on one of his equine patients.

Whenever there’s free time from his Stone Ridge Veterinary Services, Dr. Jason Miles DVM enjoys working with and showing his own horses. He’s with his home raised three-year-old gelding Walkabout Winchester best known as Chester.

National Finals Rodeo This Week With Fourth Return Qualification For Kansas Steer Wrestler By Frank J. Buchman

Jule Hazen of Ashland finally has a return engagement to the National Finals Rodeo (NFR). The 39-year-old Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association steer wrestler was 14 th in the 2020 regular rodeo season winning $39,730. There’ll be more bulldoggers at Arlington, Texas, December 3-12, than in Hazen’s Protection, Kansas, High School graduating class of twelve. The Top 15 money-winning steer wrestlers from October 1, 2019, through September 30, 2020, qualified for the NFR. It’s been six years since Hazen has been to the NFR, with qualifications there also in 2007, 2010, and 2013.

The 6-foot-three, 245-pound cowboy made close to one-third of his money this season at the San Antonio, Texas, Rodeo. Hazen had three times in a row of 3.9-seconds or less and won checks in five of the six go-rounds there. Overall, Hazen won $10,891 in San Antonio with his biggest one-night total being $4,153 for his 3.6-seconds run in the semifinals. Although he didn't win giant paychecks after San Antonio, Hazen strung together a solid summer rodeo collection.

In July, he won $2,448 in Mandan, North Dakota, and collected $2,961 in Vernal, Utah. Hazen concluded the month by winning checks in Deadwood, South Dakota; Peterson, Iowa: and Fredonia, Kansas, in the same weekend. In September, Hazen won the Elk City, Oklahoma, Rodeo and finished second at Evanston, Wyoming, collecting $4,358 during the weekend. He added $970 to his earnings at the Abilene, Texas, Rodeo, later in the month.

Hazen's total of 17 runs in less than 4.2-seconds is the most he has had since 2016. Sometimes referred to as “Wholay,” nickname coming from amateur rodeo days, he started competing in 1984. “I started rodeoing young. I grew up with it. It's always been something I do,” Wholay said. “When I'm not rodeoing, I'm ranching. If I wasn't rodeoing, I'd be ranching. “My favorite part about rodeo is the way of life and the community of it,” Hazen insisted. “My friends are all here and we are all around

each other all the time. We all love doing this and love getting to be together.” Due to coronavirus concerns, the National Finals Rodeo besides being in Texas instead of Las Vegas will be considerably different. All fans are required to wear face coverings inside the rodeo pavilion except when eating or drinking at their seats. However, no food or beverage can be brought into the NFR and no tailgating is being allowed in parking lots. Pre-packaged food and beverages will be available for purchase at concession stands, but no cash will be accepted Hand-sanitation areas are to be provided. However, everybody is expected to maintain six feet separation from fans who are not a part of their ticketed pod. Re-entry into the rodeo pavilion will not be permitted. Tanner Brunner of Ramona also qualified for the NFR steer wrestling ranked sixth in the world with $46,885 season winnings.

CUTLINES Jule Hazen of Ashland has qualified for the fourth time to the National Finals Rodeo coming in 14 th with $39,730 winnings during the regular season. He’ll be competing at Arlington, Texas, December 3-12. The San Antonio, Texas, Rodeo was important to Jule Hazen’s yearend standings as he collected $10,891 there early in the season. In the box calling for one of his steers at the San Antonio, Texas, Rodeo, Jule Hazen won checks in five of the six go-rounds there. Announcer was excited as the San Antonio, Texas, Rodeo crowd when Jule Hazen bulldogged his steer in 3.6-seconds to win $4,153 in the semifinals. At the Dodge City Rodeo Days, Kansas native Jule Hazen of Ashland showed his professional rodeo champion form.

Kansas Pioneer

Cranberry Habanero Jelly

1 12 oz. pkg.

Fresh Cranberries

1 c. 1 c.

water sugar

1 1

Zest from orange Juice from orange

1 to 3 Habanero Peppers, seeded and diced fine Wearing plastic gloves, remove stem and seed(s) from peppers. Chop fine. Zest Orange. Bring water, pepper, and zest to boil in saucepan. Add sugar and Cranberries. Turn heat to medium and Cook and stir for 10 min. to 20 minutes util berries pop and mixture begins to thicken. Remove pan from heat. Can in jelly jars using open kettle method for shelf storage or place in glass container for refrigerator storage. To serve as appetizer. Place brick of cream cheese on serving plate. Warm jelly for 1 minute in microwave and pour over cream cheese. Serve at room temperature with basket of assorted crackers. (Our favorite is Large size Wheat Thins®)

United Rodeo Association Winners Topped By White Cloud Cowboy By Frank J. Buchman

Yearend winners in the United Rodeo Association (URA) were announced by Muff McGee, URA secretary, following the URA Finals at Humansville, Missouri. In a repeat performance, Reed Boos of White Cloud was honored as the all-around cowboy.

To claim the top award, Boos was also second for the year in calf roping and placed third in the team roping heeling yearend. Ty Blessing of Pomona was the yearend champion in bareback bronc riding collecting $4,099 for the year. Runner-up in bareback bronc riding was Job Dunlavey with $3,615, followed by Maverick Griffin with $2,198.

Saddle bronc riding champion for the year was Chase Gabriel, Grain Valley, Missouri, with $4,964. Runner- up in saddle broncs was Weston Pierschbacher with $2,209, and third went to Dalton Kingery winning $1,768. Bob Mitchell of Steelville, Missouri, was the yearend champion bull rider collecting a total of $5,274. Second in bull riding went to Koltin Hevalow, $2,133, followed by Patterson Starcher, $1,890. Blake Ash, Aurora, Missouri, won the calf roping with $5,557, followed by Boos who won $5,316 throughout the year. Third place went to Josh Foutch winning $4,512.

Fort Scott cowboy Jason Arndt was the champion in forty and over calf roping with $3,755. Second and third, respectively, went to Jeff Miller, $3,440, and Gregg Ash, $3,306. Dani Clover, Clifton Hill, Missouri, was the champion in breakaway roping with $6,874. Taylor Jilek won $6,552 for second, and Hannah Hughes was third collecting $5,925. In barrel racing, the championship title went to Taylor Reazin, Peculiar, Missouri, with $12,118. Runner-up was Lacinda Rose winning $6,203, and third went to Angie Galliher for collecting $5,944. With $3,490 collected throughout the year, Fenton Nelson, Marshall, Missouri, was the champion steer wrestler. Second went to Clay Clayman for winning $3,171, and Jake Johnson won $2,798 to be third. Payden Emmett, Mt. Vernon, Missouri, was the champion team roping header winning $7,811. Jesse Boos collected $7,526 for his second place finish and Cooper Bruce came in third with $5,652. Champion team roping heeler was Jeff Brown, Joplin, Missouri, who won a total of $6,889 during the year. Chad Kimbrough was runner- up heeler with $6,394, edging out Boos with $6,291, for third. Mike Fred, St. Marys, won the average in bareback bronc riding at the finals with 240 points on three horses. Second went to Dunlavey with 237 points, and Blessing came in third with 222 points. Kingery won the saddle bronc riding average at the finals marking 239 points on three rides. Runner-up was Trey Watts with 237 points, and third went to Pierschbacher for his 236 points. Mitchell also won the finals bull riding average with 234 points on three rides, with Starcher second for 164 points on two covers, and Kody McAfee third with 149 points on two. Ash was finals average champion in calf roping as well with 30.7 seconds on three runs. Miller was second with 31 seconds, and Boos had 34.1 seconds for his third place. Miller was the average winner in forty and over calf roping with 31.1 seconds on three calves tied. Shane Wesley had 32.9 seconds to be second, while Mark Edwards tied three in 37.9 seconds to place third. Jilek roped three calves in 9.6 seconds to be the breakaway roping average winner, followed by Bailie Schuldt with 10.3 seconds on three. Hughes roped two in 5.7 seconds to place third in the average. Rose had a total time of 46.913 seconds on three runs to win the finals average in barrel racing. Bailey Suva clocked 47.158 seconds to be runner-up, and Katie Larson had 47.52 seconds on three runs to be third in the average. Steer wrestling finals average winner was Justin Morehouse with 16.8 seconds on three steers down. Miller came in as runner-up with 19.8 seconds, and Jake Johnson dropped three in 24.1 seconds to be third in the average.

Scott and Ryan Spurgin teamed up to clock 25.4 seconds in three runs to win the finals team roping average. Second went to Cooper Bruce and Boos with 47.1 seconds. Jesse Boos partnered with Chad Kimbrough to stretch two steers in 12.2 seconds to be third in the finals average. CUTLINE Reed Boos, White Cloud, has been honored as the all-around champion cowboy in the United Rodeo Association. He was second for the year in calf roping and third in the team roping heeling.

Interscholastic Equestrian Association Show At Westmoreland Ranch Sunday

By Frank J. Buchman

Youth Western horseback competitors from throughout the country are headed to Westmoreland, Kansas.

“They’re coming for the Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA) Show Sunday, Dec. 6, at 2UW Brush Creek Ranch,” announced Mary Ubel, ranch owner-manager. Iowa Equestrian and Big Red Elite Equestrian are cohosts for the Slide in to Winter competition. Kicking off Sunday morning, with schooling of horses and judges meeting, at 8 o’clock, the show begins at 9 o’clock. Western competition is to feature reining and horsemanship classes. Youth in the fourth through eighth grades, and ninth through 12 th grades, will compete. Open, intermediate, novice and various levels of beginner divisions are planned. There’ll be individual awards in each class as well as overall team awards. Joe Ammann, trainer at 2UW Brush Creek Ranch, will serve as the show judge. “Membership in IEA is mandatory. Only teams and individuals who are members may compete,” Ubel clarified. Member paperwork must be processed, and the member activated on the team roster prior to entering the show. “The IEA was established to provide competitive and educational opportunities through equestrian athletics,” Ubel explained. “Good horsemanship and honorable participation are priorities at every event. “It is the responsibility of all attendees to foster a spirit of belongingness, and an atmosphere of community enjoyment. There must be a mutual respect for all participants and their equine partners,” Ubel said. An IEA rider’s journey starts with the desire to be a part of a team, according to Ubel. That’s a partnership with the horse drawn at the show or the team of old and new friends at the barn, “An IEA rider has the opportunity to develop competitive riding skills while making memories lasting a lifetime,” Ubel said. “And the best part is IEA riders do not need to own a horse or tack to participate.”

For hundreds of years, Western riding has been synonymous with ranch work. “Movements necessary to work cattle can be seen in reining patterns used in competitions today,” Ubel said. “A horse changes speed with the slightest touch from the rider, stops and turns quickly with ease.” Western horsemanship provides a rider with a strong foundation that will support seamless communication with the horse. The horse- rider the combination executes the walk, jog or lope on the rail and maneuvers in individual pattern work. “All Western classes are done with zero warmup time allotted to the rider,” Ubel pointed out. Concessions will be available at the show. However, strict coronavirus masking and distancing rules will be enforced. No community or team food tables will be allowed.

Information is available from Ubel at www.2uwbrushcreekranchks.com or www.rideiea.org.

Horses Patience With Youngsters

“Horses must be the smartest, most understanding, forgiving and patient creatures alive today.” What an obvious conclusion seeing how no less than three dozen horses were being ridden by children ten and under.

It was a Saturday morning barrel race nearly an hour before starting time and horseback riders jotted the showgrounds everywhere. Heavy coats, hoods, gloves and red checks, the young riders on their mounts were trotting around in groups of a half dozen more less. Hooping, hollering, grinning from ear to ear, some even unconsciously spurring and flopping their reins, inclement weather was no concern. Unaware the scary feeling when a horse runs off or shies from a blowing paper cup, these riders were nonchalant. Somehow, someway, instinctive nurturing whatever it is the horses never gave their riders any reason to worry. Perhaps just as difficult to understand dads and moms of the cowboys and cowgirls were paying no attention to their children. Most had not a clue where the obviously competent riders and dependable horses were or what they were doing. Other than knowing they were having a good time riding their horses with friends. There was obvious mutual trust of the horses among the tykes, their family and most everyone around. Now don’t be misled, these horses were not old fragile lazy worn out retirees. Although several ponies were among the mounts, they weren’t little shaggy scrawny deadheads or cold jawed independent aggravations either. All of the mounts regardless of size were nice looking, athletic, sound, ears perked, and bright eyed ready to go. Yes, the horses were well broke and had been there and done that. Each was eager to please turning readily with one-hand rein and especially important stopping upon their little rider’s knowledgeable command. Add to the equation, many of the young well mounted contestants recorded the fastest barrel racing times of the day. True, most of the horses knew their arena job well. The cowpokes just had to hang on for dear life and not mess up their mounts. Of nearly 100 horses running throughout the morning, several of the pint-sized riders beat adult times.

All things considered, what could be better for youth today than riding horses with friends? Reminded of Genesis 50:20: “You have nothing to fear. I’ll take care of you and your children.” +++ALLELUIA+++ XIV--48--11-29-2020