BB Codydoc Goodreed and Alta Vista rancher Frank J. Buchman were the 2023 yearend highpoint barrel racing champions in their division of the National Barrel Racing Association (NBRA) nine-show circuit, Eastern Kansas Horseman’s Association (EKHA) eight-show circuit, and BlackJack Saddle Club (BJSC) six- show circuit. The home-ranch-raised 24-year-old golden palomino Quarter Horse gelding with white mane and tail features lineage tracing to four stallions used in the Buchman’s Double B Ranch breeding program.

Flag Race Herington 5 21 2023

kwha Bennington Aug 8 2022

Beloit KWHA July 18 2022

KWHA circuit Bennington 2022

A muzzle can allow a horse that is an “easy-keeper” to remain on pasture while limiting intake. (Erica Larson photo)

Bobbie Hammond, Chase County, will share her unique life story "Cowboyin' Is Women's Work" in an upcoming Prairie Talk. Saturday afternoon, October 8, 2 o'clock, at Pioneer Bluffs, a historic Flint Hills ranch near Matfield Green.

Witt, Bill, Rowley, Quincie, Cooper, and Kyah Keesecker

Grand Entry

"Speed demon" would be appropriate moniker for Terra Blackwill of Quinter who won most of the women's speed events, July 16-17, 2022, at the Mitchell County Riders arena in Beloit during the Kansas Western Horseman's Association (KWHA) point shows.

It's a three hour drive from Oakley to Beloit, but it paid off for Matt Park who won the pleasure classes and placed high in a number of other divisions during the Kansas Western Horseman's Association (KWHA) circuit shows, July 16-17, 2022, sponsored by the Mitchell County Riders at Beloit.

Glenda Ratliff of Smith Center competes in the Kansas Western Horseman's Assocation (KWHA) circuit shows. She was second in four racing events Sunday, July 17, 2022, at the KWHA point show hosted by the Mitchell County Riders in Beloit.

Highway construction is everywhere throughout the Midwest. Highway 177 north of Council Grove, Kansas, to Interstate 70, south of Manhattan, has been closed for several months and is not scheduled for reopening until late fall. Such construction puts a major bind on farmers and ranchers as well as general traffic forced to use very long detours with very bad road conditions.

Young cowboys and cowgirls are biggest supporters for their competitors who are their best friends as apparent in their encouragement for a sheep rider at the Christian Youth Rodeo Association (CYRA) competition July 16, 2022, at Abilene.

Young cowboys expressed ultimate appreciation and respect during presentation of Old Glory and the National Anthem opening the Kraft Rodeo on Sunday, July 17, 2022, at Clay Center.

Katharine De La Garza of Randolph makes cowgirls of all ages become vivid with stopwatch awareness as she can beat 'em all on the right day in barrel races throughout the Midwest. She's coming down the straightaway winning her barrel race division at a Christian Youth Rodeo Association (CYRA) competition in Abilene.

The mail lady's white jeep pulled right up to the ranch house back door and handed over the day's mail. "There's no mailbox. I had a hard time getting through all of the bulldozers' highway construction, and now I have no idea what happened to the mailbox." It was found on the ground next to the arena fence although construction workers or Department of Transportation officials didn't tell anybody they were pulling the mailbox out of the ground.

Locked in the ranch yard with no imaginable way out on Highway 177 south of Alta Vista, Kansas, with urgent appointments in just a few hours.

No good luck charm when a horseshoe is found on the ranch lawn without a clue which horse is missing one. Yet the rusty nails indicate it's not one in the barn being ridden today. Likewise, shoe shape verifies it's been sometime since one needed such corrective shoeing done. Crack in the ground does indicate it's time for a rain.

When Rev. Adam Hamilton got his tractor stuck, a larger tractor was required to “save” or “deliver” him, likening this to the “human need for God to rescue us.” (Hamilton family photo)

Emma Lasher of McLouth is riding Executive Playboy in a recent hometown parade. In her first year enrolled in the Jefferson County 4-H Horse Project, Emma is a horsemanship student of Kathrine Shade, horse project leader and owner of the Appaloosa also known as Charlie. Emma and Charlie have been participating in Kansas State Horse Show Circuit (KSHSC) shows including the recent show sponsored by the Douglas County Trail Riders at Lawrence.

Jason Lasher of McLouth is showing The Finest Allstar, also known as Dude, in the Kansas State Horse Show Circuit (KSHSC) show sponsored by the Douglas County Trail Riders at Lawrence. A horsemanship student of Kathrine Shade, Jefferson County 4-H Horse Project leader and owner of the Appaloosa he's riding, Jason is a first year 4-H horse project member.

Kathrine Shade, McLouth, is riding her home raised and trained Appaloosa horse in a recent hometown parade. Shade is a longtime area horse show exhibitor serving as president of the Kansas State Horse Show Circuit (KSHSC). Also. the Jefferson County 4-H Horse Project leader, Shade gives student horseback riding lessons often with her own Appaloosa horses.

An equine unit and an ag competition complex to be identified as the K-State Animal Sciences Gateway is in the planning stages at Manhattan. (Kansas State University photo)

Kansas State Fair General Manager Bryan Schulz discussed the newest equine facility upgrades at the fairgrounds in Hutchinson with Justine Staten of the Kansas Horse Council.

Six cowgirls and cowboys were presented all-around awards at the Morris County Youth Rodeo sponsored by the Morris County Youth Rodeo Association Saturday evening at Council Grove. They include junior cowgirl, Brenli Corpening, Olpe; intermediate cowgirl, Kaycee Brown, Junction City; senior cowgirl, Macy Bolen, Council Grove; junior cowboy, Trip Nelson, Lincolnville; intermediate cowboy, Colter Corpening, Olpe; and senior cowboy, Lakoddah Downs, Council Grove. (Amy Allen photo)

“Horses are who we are and what we do. We’ve always had horses and our family and lives center around horses.” Vince and Tara Mowry and sons Cooper, Rylan, and Jacob. (Photo from Mowry family.)

Barrel racing in the 13–17-barrel racing at a recent Manhattan horse show, Kayla Bigham attends Valley Heights High School. (Angie Bigham photo)

Makayla Machin attends Riley County High School. She is barrel racing in the 13-17 division at a recent horse show in Manhattan(Kayla Bigham photo)

Kayla Bigham awards at the 2022 Pottawatomie County Fair Onaga

Kayla Bigham and her Paint Horse won a rope full of ribbons at the Pottawatomie County Fair Onaga

Turner Memorial Buckle

Kelso Park at what remains of the Kelso, Kansas, community, north of Council Grove, Kansas, is a tribute and memorial to Rosie Clymer Rezac, lifelong horse enthusiast, Arabian breeder, and servant to the horse industry.

Kayla Bigham collected yearend awards in both speed and performance divisions at the BlackJack Saddle Club banquet where she served as the official awards photographer.

Macey Wapp showed off her yearend third place speed events award at the BlackJack Saddle Club banquet. (Kayla Bigham photo)

Rhonda Machin is with her daughter during the club's yearend banquet at Leonardville. (Kayla Bigham photo)

Makayla Machin showed her horse Bough See Fuss to be yearend reserve highpoint 13 to 17 performance rider in the BlackJack Saddle Club.