“Roll ’em. Come on. Get down on that bull. Put your legs down.”
Jake must have said that a jillion times in his lifelong loving career as a rodeo stock contractor.
The show must go on, no wannabe cowboy wimping around. Chutegate could just open ready or not.
“The Rodeo and Sale Barn World has lost a great man. John B. “Jake” Jacobsen, 89, rural Delia, passed away Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018, at his home.”
Obituary opening is the most accurate description one could ever make.
Many have wanted to be rodeo contractors, but none had the business closer to their heart than Jake.
He lived, literally, to produce rodeos with the best livestock for a quality family show.
It’s been more than four decades, but like right now. Rodeo announcer Max Stowell introducing, Jake always rode in the grand entry.
When the national anthem concluded, Jake headed to the bucking chutes, unmounted, bareback riders better be ready.
Jake always opened the chutegate for the rough stock events, no cowboy piddling, rodeo spectators wanted action.
A family business Jacobsen Rodeo Company contracted rodeos in Kansas, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska and Oklahoma. Their small trailerhouse was home as they’d arrive with livestock two days ahead of rodeo time.
Welcome smile drooling lip of snuff, always a bit round Jake with Pearl, Dale and Sis were friends of everybody.
Nothing makes a rodeo producer grin wider than his livestock bettering cowboys.
Jake beamed to one champion bronc rider, “I don’t know how many you’ve ridden. But, I can tell you everyone that bucked you off.”
Sunday afternoon visits to Jake’s rodeo ranch where off season wannabes got on the real bulls for practice. Busload from Haskell always there falling off, back up, ready to go again.
Passion for rodeo, Jake was an all-around lifetime stockman, regular order buyer at eastern Kansas salebarns.
Appropriately, Jake’s memorial services were at Holton Livestock Exchange where he’d bought cattle for decades.
Too often, attendance at funerals for old people is low. The auction pavilion was packed standing room only stockmen paying respects to their friend Jake.
Harry “Spud’ Whitney, entertainer at Jake’s rodeos, spoke and then friends from all around got up reflecting Jake memories.
Reminded of First Thessalonians 4:7: “God called one to be dedicated, set apart to please the public.”
+++ALLELUIA+++
XIII–2–1-6-19