Nebraska 4-H Profile: Angela Bamesberger

By Noel Ochoa, Veterinary Technology Student, Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture

Angela Bamesberger of Cambridge, Neb., knows about hard work and its rewards.

Bamesberger graduated from Cambridge High School where she was active in FFA, National Honor Society, student council, cross country, art club, speech and FBLA. She has been in 4-H for about eleven years, since she was 8 years old. For the first few years she worked and showed horses. After winning some 4-H shows and events, she has been participating in Quarter Horse shows for the past four years.

Angela Bamesberger rides in Youth World competitions. Photo by K.C. Montgomery.

Bamesberger and her sister got their passion for horses from their parents. As she and her sister got older, became more successful and won state 4-H, they decided it was time to move onto the next level and show strictly AQHA, which would require more traveling. Bamesberger participated in all-around events, including horsemanship, trail, pleasure, showmanship, hunt seat equitation, and hunter under saddle. For now, Bamesberger has given up showing while she attends college.

The Bamesberger family owns seven horses, three of which belong to Angela. Her main show horse is “Smooth Zippin Chex,” whose barn name is “Bob.” Bamesberger showed this horse in all-around events like horsemanship, trail, western pleasure, hunt seat equitation, and hunter under saddle. “The Fancy Details,” whose barn name is “Fancy,” is a filly Bamesberger broke herself when the filly was 2 years old. Fancy was only shown at a few shows in hunter under saddle until she suffered an injury. “A Natural Grace,” whose barn name is “Gracie,” is Bamesberger’s old show horse that is now going to be a broodmare due to lameness.
Bamesberger’s horses worked with trainers Jeff and Windy Allen in Elkhorn, Neb.  Bob, her main show horse, was kept at the Allens, and Bamesberger would drive there every weekend to ride, while Fancy, her hunter under saddle filly, was taken to them for final touches.

Angela Bamesberger rides in Youth World competitions. Photo by K.C. Montgomery.

Bamesberger has done her share of traveling for shows. She has been to shows in Ohio, Arizona, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Iowa, Colorado, South Dakota and Minnesota. Bamesberger has had quite a bit of success, too. The first year she was able to compete in state 4-H, in 2004, she won the Junior Overall High Point Saddle. In 2009 she won Nebraska Quarter Horse Youth 14-18 High Point. In 2008 she won Youth
14-18 Reserve High Point. She also qualified for the American Quarter Horse Youth World Show four consecutive years, showing in events including Horsemanship, Western Pleasure, Hunt Seat Equitation, Showmanship, Hunter Under Saddle, Performance Halter Geldings, Barrels and Stake Race. In 2010 she was an AQHYA World Show Western Pleasure Semi-Finalist. In 2007 she won the Region 2 Regional Experience All Around High Point Novice Youth 14-18.

Currently attending UNL with plans to major in Biochemistry, Bamesberger plans to go on to medical school and eventually become a pathologist. She plans to transfer to UNK next semester to continue her college work. Due to these goals, she will not have much available time to show while going to school so she is selling her horses for the time being.

“Working with horses is never the same two days in a row,” Bamesberger said. “Anyone can win when you are showing,” she said. She also said, “Horses are such great animals. Every one has its own personality, and all have strengths and weaknesses. Working with the animal itself is just so different than any other sport you could do, and you can’t help but to get addicted to them.”

Bamesberger’s horse that she won her first saddle with at state 4-H died that same year in a barn accident. There were other “bumps in the road,” such as lameness or the need for constant training that brought challenges. Making the connection between rider and horse takes time, and Bamesberger knows very well that this time period may be quite long. She also knows that when this connection is made, all the hard work pays off.

Bamesberger encourages anyone who would like to show horses to definitely start off with 4-H. She said, “All of my 4-H experiences were positive and the people were great.” She knows of the hard work and time it takes to succeed with a horse and enjoy winning a show. Her hard work and dedication has led her down a road of many successes to this day and more to come.

Nebraska 4-H Profile: Courtney Kral

By Noel Ochoa, Veterinary Technology Student, Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture

Courtney Kral excels in speed events. Photos by Jeannie Kral

Horses come into peoples’ lives through many ways and for a variety of reasons. For Courtney Kral of Roseland, Neb., this passion was introduced by her Aunt Joni. Her passion for horses all started when Aunt Joni bought Kral her first pony.

Kral has been a 4-H member since she was in third grade and 8 years old. She graduated from Silver Lake High School in 2009 and is currently a second year Vet Tech student at the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture in Curtis, Nebraska. In high school, she played basketball her freshman year and also did High School Rodeo (HSR) from her sophomore through senior year. During her junior and senior year, she went to state for HSR.

In 4-H, Kral competes in all events available, ranging from halter her junior and senior high school years to speed events  this very day. She has four of sixteen horses owned by her family, all Quarter horses, except for one Paint. Most of her horses had riding experience before she bought them. After she buys them, she furthers their training and practice in the area in which they are confident and naturally suited. Kral doesn’t usually do too much traveling for horse shows but in the past has traveled every weekend in the fall and spring to rodeos for HSR.

Kral has competed in a few open shows but other than the Webster County 4-H show, she only does speed events. At the Webster County 4-H show, she won Performance All Around and Reserve Champion Speed her junior year and got to compete in the Round Robin Competition her sophomore and junior years of high school.

When asked what is her favorite thing about working with horses, Kral stated: “When your hard work pays off and you win.” She plans to finish her Vet Tech degree at NCTA and work at a mixed animal practice. Most importantly, she plans to continue riding and rodeoing as long as she possibly can.

Courtney is correct when she says working with horses is hard work. It takes a lot of time, patience, money and dedication. With this passion having been instilled in her so young, Kral has grown up loving horses and developing
the qualities a good 4-H member, horse rider and show person must possess in order to succeed.

Nebraska 4-H Profile
By Noel Ochoa, Veterinary Technology Student, Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture 

Chantell Frisch at the 2010 Platte County Fair with horses Leo, left, and Jack.

Many images may come to mind when you hear the phrase horse training facility. Whether it be grassy green hills as far as the eye can see, with state-of-the-art corrals and horse barns, or hand-built wooden fence encircling the perfect arena with that dark brown, soft dirt that is perfect to fall in when being bucked off a horse. Running a horse training facility is one of Chantell Frisch’s many dreams.

Frisch, has been a 4-H member for the last nine years, during seven of which she has worked with horses. This fall she is a senior at Lindsay Holy Family, planning to graduate next May. She is involved in speech, one acts, and is editor for the journalism class and the Bulldog Barker. Frisch also played sports until her freshman year in high school when she suffered a couple of injuries. 

Chantell Frisch / Photo by Cathy Frisch.

 

In 4-H, Frisch does showmanship, pony pleasure, reining, barrels, poles and key hole. She competes at the Platte County Fair, Nebraska District Horse show, Nebraska State Horse Show and many other events. She personally owns three horses. Crackerjack Fox, or Jack, is her 10 year old Palomino Quarter horse. He is used for speed evens. Great Operator, or Leo, is her dark 11 year old Palomino Quarter horse. He is used for reining and pony pleasure because he is under 14′2 hands. Aint No Gold Digger, or Digger, is her latest addition to the team. He is a three-year-old gray Quarter horse. He was purchased last April and has been her project all summer. So far, Frisch says she has only been bucked off by him once. 

All the training with Frisch’s horses is done by her. She is proud to say they are all very well behaved and just about anyone can ride them. Both of her show horses are hard workers and do very well in their events. She hopes her work with Digger will get him to be just as talented and competitive as the other two. 

In the past, Frisch has worked hard and won many titles, over thirty trophies and plaques, and countless ribbons. So far this year, at the Nebraska State Horse Show she placed 3rd in both pony pleasure and senior reining. She also qualified for state in both barrels and poles. She received reserve in poles and reining at the 2010 District Qualifying Show in Hoskins. She travels around Nebraska for different shows all summer. It isn’t unusual for her to have a show every weekend during the summer months. 

Chantell Frisch / Photo by Cathy Frisch

 

Frisch loves working with horses because there is something new to work on everyday and it is never boring. She stated, “Horses are very athletic, talented, smart animals that are willing to work and learn. Horses never argue, and it is such a good feeling when all the hard work pays off in the ring or even during practice.” She is still unsure what she would like to focus on in college, but she would like to continue working with horses. 

Frisch feels fortunate enough to live on a farm, so as a young kid her parents bought her minis and she upgraded as she got older to her first horse, Skip, who was a giant 19 year old sorrel Quarter Horse. Regardless that he was blind in the left eye, Frisch says he would go anywhere and do anything for her. He recently died this last winter of old age; he was 26. 

No one else from Lindsay shows, but that hasn’t stopped Frisch. She stated she has made many friends who share her love of horses and showing, making it an awesome experience. 

With a great start and an admirable passion, Frisch is on the right path to making her dream of running a horse-training and riding facility. With nothing having stopped her yet, Frisch is a prime example of a Nebraska 4-H member who truly has a passion for horses and isn’t afraid to show it. 

Nebraska 4-H Profile

By Noel Ochoa, Veterinary Technology Student, Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture

What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear someone say “horse show”? Many immediately picture huge arenas filled with soft dirt, the odd yet sweet smell of horses and leather, and of course prize money, ribbons and trophies. In the case of Lacey Schardt, though, a day of fun, riding, socialization, and learning is what comes to mind.

Lacey Schardt / Photo Provided by Lacey Schardt

Lacey Schardt, from Carleton, Neb., has long been a passionate admirer of horses and a Nebraska 4-H member for 11 years. For the past five years, Schardt has showed and worked with horses after participating in other 4-H areas ranging from work with other livestock to knitting and computers. She is a 2009 graduate of Deshler High School and is currently a student at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where she is pursuing a degree in Applied Science. In high school, Schardt participated in high school musicals all four years, One Acts and Speech her senior year, and was Secretary of the National Honor Society her senior year. She was a member of the FBLA.

Schardt mentioned it was her love for horses that got her involved in showing, and that one of the things that helped her get started was when she, her cousins and her siblings were given a gelding to share when they were little. She owned two mares until recently, when her registered Quarter Horse mare of five years passed away at the age of 25. Now, Schardt owns a four year old Paint/Quarter Horse cross mare with potential to be registered.

Lacey Schardt / Photo provided by Lacey Schardt

In past years, Schardt competed in almost every event with her Quarter Horse mare. These events included halter, showmanship, English pleasure, English equitation, western pleasure, western equitation, horsemanship, trail, and barrels, poles. This summer, she will be showing her four-year-old Paint/Quarter horse cross mare, but will only be competing in halter, showmanship, western pleasure and horsemanship, trail, reining and western riding.

Schardt stated that this is the summer she has traveled to horse shows the most. She usually doesn’t travel very far, staying within an hour and a half radius from home. With many new friends and fellow horse lovers from college, she plans on many more trips to shows and competitions.

She does all the training with her horse on her own. The cross mare she has now did receive some professional training before she purchased her last spring, but much of it must be re-taught by Schardt since her last owner didn’t keep up with her training.

While the feeling of winning is what drives many horse lovers to shows, Schardt is motivated by the desire to teach and learn with her horse. She views shows as an opportunity to see where she and her horse need to improve. She said, “Winning a show or competition has never been important to me,” which is honorable, and which you don’t hear many competitors say.
Schardt’s horse showing is more than just a 4-H project. To her, her horse is a great way of relieving stress. “I really love how I am able to get on my horse and forget everything,” she said.

Lacey Schardt / Photos provided by Lacey Schardt

While continuing her work and shows with her horse, Schardt plans on pursuing her goal of earning a Rodeo Queen title and representing a local rodeo. After college, she plans to find a career in the agriculture industry, hoping to someday manage her own farm.  She plans to always keep horses as a part of her life and someday use them to help her manage cattle in a cattle operation she hopes to one day have.

From a gelding shared between siblings to the indescribable feeling that takes over one’s body when riding a horse, there are many reasons why horse lovers start and continue their work and lives with horses.

Schardt’s passion for horses has gotten her a long way so far, and with the positive attitude she has for the progress of herself and her horse, only great things can be expected.

Nebraska State Fair Preview

By Jace Pittman

From August 27 to September 6, 2010, the Nebraska State Fair kicks off at its new venue at Fonner Park in Grand Island. For 160 years the State Fair has been a source of education, entertainment, and celebration of the Nebraskan way of life. Families who make the annual trip to the State Fair will be glad to hear they can expect the same events and attractions from years past along with some new and exciting additions.

Equine shows begin Friday morning, Aug. 27, with Quarter Horses, followed by the Draft Horse Pull at 6 p.m. Saturday begins with Quarter and Appaloosa Horses at 8 a.m. followed by a Draft Horse Hitch Show at 6 p.m. Sunday opens with Mini-Shetlands and Appaloosa at 8 a.m. followed by a Draft Horse Halter Show and Youth Showmanship at noon, then a Draft Horse Hitch Show at 6 p.m. Monday provides a last chance to see the Mini-Shetlands at 8 a.m.

The action picks up Wednesday, Sept. 1, with Team Penning. Thursday, Sept. 2, starts with the first heat of Jackpot Barrel Racing at 2 p.m. with a nice Carriage Pleasure Driving Show at 6 p.m. Then the second heat of Jackpot Barrel Racing. Paint Horse shows start Friday Sept. 3, at 8 a.m. followed by a Carriage Driving Show at 9 a.m. in the open arena. Morgan Horse Shows are on Sunday and Monday, Sept. 5-6.

The State Fair also offers daily parades filled with floats, animals, tractors, marching bands, cars and many smiling faces and waving hands. The big parade is Saturday, August 28, at 6 p.m. Bring your lawn chair and grab some cool refreshments because it’s a long one.

Motorsports are going to be a big attraction this year. Stock cars, demolition derby, truck and tractor pulls will be roaring in high gear at the fair. Don’t forget earplugs for the kids.

If you plan on bringing your dancin’ shoes, beer gardens featuring some of Nebraska’s best musical talents will be playing after 5 p.m on weekdays and 2 p.m. on weekends; they like to play loud and well into the night. There are also stages located around the fairgrounds featuring daily entertainment from open to close.

The concert series this year includes Mel Tillis, Martina McBride, Josh Turner, Lifehouse, Phil Vassar, Casting Crowns, and Boys Like Girls. All concerts are free with paid admission into the State Fair except for Martina McBride, which is $25 per ticket.

As always, the Nebraska State Fair is the premier showcase for 4-H kids to show what they’ve learned. Along with the thousands of animals on display, there are also robotics exhibitions, tree and insect identification contests, Dog Skillathon Contest and many other avenues where Nebraska’s 4-H members can show what they’ve learned over the course of the year.

If the aforementioned events don’t get your pulse racing, authentic African performers, “never seen in America” before, will be dancing, tumbling, contorting, and more, will be performing daily. They’re also going to be educating the public on their cultural heritage of Kenya.

Like magic? There’s the Ag Magic Show, which teaches about agriculture while mesmerizing with magic. For a more exotic time, the Rainforest Experience Show runs three times daily, where the audience is taken to Asian ruins by a beautiful princess on horseback and encounters monkeys, parrots, lemurs, cougars, foxes and other exotic animals.

No fair would be complete without a carnival and Bell City Amusements, one of the best in the business, will be at the Nebraska State Fair. Throw your arm out tossing a softball at mysteriously immovable milk bottles trying to win a life-sized Scooby Doo Doll. Get nauseous and scream your head off on one of the many rides like the Dizzy Dragon or the classic Tilt-A-Whirl.

Need more incentive to come visit? There’s Brad Bodary the Human Statue, Budweiser Clydesdales, Hedrick’s Educational Petting Zoo, pony and camel rides, pig racing, Pirates of the Carribean Diving Show, Turbo the Robot, Stuhr Museum Exhibit, Festejo Latino, Great Nebraska Beer and Wine Festival, Veterans Day Celebration, Older Nebraskan’s Festival, Ag Equipment Display, Antique Farm Machinery Display, Art and Science Displays, Quilt Display, and many others.

And food. Amazing carnival food will be in abundance at the fair. Grab a funnel cake, snow cone or a smoked turkey leg that’s as big as your head while in-between contest booths at Bell City Amusements.

There’s something for everyone at the Nebraska State Fair this year. The new location alone is worth checking out, which is promised to be better and more convenient for fairgoers. The new livestock and exhibition buildings are sure to impress, and… well it’s the State Fair! How could that not be fun?!

For more information visit www.statefair.org.

Nebraska 4-H Profile

By Noel Ochoa, Veterinary Technology Student, Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture

Dustin Renken, All State. Photo by Faye Zmek

A successful showman in the horse world must combine many qualities, values, talents and personal attributes with a true passion for horses. This month’s featured Nebraska 4-H member is such a showman. Dustin Renken of Bertrand, Neb., is a dedicated and passionate 4-H member who works with horses and is the perfect example of a well-rounded leader and good citizen.

From his early beginnings in the horse world to this day, Renken is a very active young leader in his community, 4-H club, and school. Having attended Bertrand Community School, Renken graduated May 2010, having maintained a constant 4.0 GPA throughout high school and scoring a 30 on his ACT. During his high school career, Renken participated in a wide variety of activities including National Honor Society; One-Act Play, Speech, Math Group, B Club, Marching, Concert and Pep band, Academic Bowl, student council, and a few others. In addition to his participation in academics, he was very active in athletics. Renken participated in cross country, track and field and basketball all four years of high school.

As of this year, Renken has been a 4-H member for ten years, having joined when he was eight years old. Renken grew up with horses on the family farm and has always loved them. Renken initially started riding horses when his father needed another hand on horseback to help handle their cattle. The family owns around ten horses, but not all of them are shown. While not all of the horses are used in the show ring, they do all play a major part on the farm and carry out their jobs to justify their keep. “We try to keep our horses versatile and often take the show horses out to move cattle. It’s a nice break for both horse and rider from the usual arena work that fills their schedule. It keeps the horses’ minds sound and honest when you mix up their work load,” commented Renken when asked about his horses and the work he does with them.

Ever since Renken began 4-H, he has participated in many horse events at different shows. He shows English pleasure and equitation, showmanship, poles, barrels, and an occassional reining class. He also ropes and participates in any cattle classes being offered. Renken does all the training of his horses on his own, without the guidance of a professional trainers, only advice from his friends, family, and 4-H leaders. He applies the principles of many trainers and clinicians and uses different bits and pieces of training methods to help suit each of his horses’ needs. The Renken family used to travel across the state competing at different shows but now they stay close to home and drive to shows around only an hour or two away. 

Dustin Renken, All State. Photo by Faye Zmek

Renken enjoys riding junior horses because they present a greater challenge. He is constantly desensitizing his two and three year olds to different types of environments and situations. Renken commented that he knows from personal experience that even a simple thing like a plastic bag blowing in the wind can turn a whole day upside down for a horse and rider.

Hard work and dedication have paid off for Renken numerous times so far with many admirable wins at a variety of shows. In 2007 he was the Reserve State Champion in pole bending. For the 2008 season, Renken was the State Champion for the Yearling Lunge Line (gelding) and Champion Ak-Sar-Ben Horseman. 2009 was quite victorious for Renken, being that he was Champion at Ak-Sar-Ben in Western Showmanship, Horsemanship, and Three Year Old Western Pleasure. He was also Reserve Champion Premier Exhibitor at Ak-Sar-Ben and placed third in State 4-H Senior Horsemanship. Along with these and many other wins, Renken has received a lot of recognition and many awards in his school and community for his athleticism, academics, and even his work with horses to help disabled children through riding therapy.

Renken plans to continue his education at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in the fall to study Animal Sciences. Keeping horses as a hobby, Renken plans on riding and doing shows whenever possible Renken stated, “I am blessed to be as successful as I am. It takes a compilation of friends, family, and 4-H leaders to generate a successful showman in the ring. For that I’m truly thankful.”  The passion that Renken has not only for horses but for his community and his own success is truly something to admire.

Nebraska 4-H Profile

Katie Hupka

By Noel Ochoa, Veterinary Technology Student, Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture

In the southeast corner of Nebraska, one can find the small town of Cook, which is where Katie Hupka has grown up riding, working with, and loving horses.

Hupka is eighteen years old and graduated in May of 2009 from Johnson County Central. While in high school, she tried out all the different sports the school offered. She was also involved in FFA, 3D, and concert and marching band. At the time, Hupka worked as a CNA. She is currently attending Southeast Community College in Lincoln focusing on nursing as her major.

Hupka grew up on a farm and has been around horses ever since she was born. She first started riding with her mom when she was four. Before she was old enough to be in 4-H, her parents would take her sister and her to open shows in the area. Hupka has been in 4-H for nine years now.

Hupka started off in 4-H showing cows, baking cookies, doing crochet, and growing produce, but for the last five years she has focused solely on horses. She has always had quarter horses or palominos. Right now, she is working with a palomino she calls Danny. In open shows, Hupka participates only in speed events. “I used to participate in all the events but as I got older, I became more interested in the speed events and so that’s what I put my focus on now,” commented Hupka. For 4-H shows, she participates in the one required pleasure event, trail courses, speed events, dummy roping, and goat roping.

Hupka stated that the only time when her horses go to a trainer is when they are being broke. After they are broke, Hupka and her sister are the only ones that ride them and get them ready for shows. They ride the horses around the family farm and do run-throughs in a sectioned off field where their dad has set up barrels and poles. On the morning of shows, Hupka and her sister wake up early to bathe the horses and ensure everything is ready to go.

Two years ago, Hupka competed in district and state horse shows. At
districts, she competed in the barrels and poles and got a blue and a
purple. At state she also did barrels and poles, and there she got a red and a blue.

Hupka plans on someday getting a few horses of her own. She stated that if she ever has kids, she wants them to be raised around horses like she was, but doesn’t plan on that happening for some time. She is very thankful for the help and support that she has received from her parents. Without them, she would not have been able to be in 4-H or have gotten the chance to have a horse. Hupka is a great example of a dedicated Nebraska 4-H’er who truly has a passion for horses.

Nebraska 4-H Profile

By Noel Ochoa, Veterinary Technology Student, Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture

In today’s fast-paced society, it can be difficult to attend college, train horses, participate in sports, and compete in fairs and shows. And yet, Holly Bishop of Beatrice, Neb., has managed to do all of that. Having been around horses while growing up, Bishop has continued with her passion for horses, working them all the way to college with great plans for the future.
Bishop graduated from Beatrice High School and is a freshman at Hastings College majoring in biology as part of her pre-vet studies. Last fall, she was also a part of the Hastings College rodeo team, competing as a barrel racer. Aside from her horses and rodeos, Bishop is also on the track and field team. While at the moment she is unemployed, Bishop has spent past summers working for neighbors carrying out such duties as cleaning stalls, halter breaking foals, and riding some older horses. This upcoming summer she is planning on partnering up with someone and training barrel horses.
Having been around horses her whole life, Bishop has been in 4-H for 11 years. In 4-H, she shows dairy cattle and works with quarter horses. Both of these animals are taken to county fair, state fair, and Ak-Sar-Ben by Bishop and her family. With the horses, Bishop participates in poles, barrels, and working ranch. Occasionally, she’ll do some western riding or trail classes, just to give her horses a bit of change in routine. The Bishop family has 11 horses currently. Holly owns four of them. She owns Cuervo, a two-year-old gelding, two five-year-old mares, Sandee and Lena, and a ten-year-old mare she calls Peppy.
Bishop does all the training needed in preparation for competitions with her horses. “It takes time,” she said, “but it means a lot more after you make a great run when you’ve done all the work yourself.” She broke and trained Sandee and is planning on breaking Cuervo this summer. Peppy, who she has had for about two years, was a cattle working horse until Holly trained her for barrels and poles. Lena is the newest addition to the group and has just recently started working on the barrel pattern.
For the last two summers Peppy and Bishop have qualified for state in both poles and barrels. At the 2009 Gage County Fair they won the Grand Champion Senior Barrel Racing and the Reserve Grand Champion Senior Pole Bending. In September, they attended Ak-Sar-Ben and won the Senior Pole Bending and got third in the barrel racing. Bishop considers herself lucky to have a horse like Peppy and hopes to keep improving their times. Bishop also competed on the Gage County Horse Judging team and won at the Nebraska State 4-H Horse Expo in July. They got the chance to go to the National Western Stock Show in Denver for judging in January. The other members of the team were Erin Dorn and Jared Pinkerton.
Bishop’s passion for horses has led her to say that she can’t imagine going on after college without horses in her life. She would like to continue barrel racing and go on to raise some foals of her own. Her favorite part about working with horses is how easy they are to bond to. “Once they trust you and you have an understanding between each other, they will do about anything for you. There’s really no other feeling to compare it to.” In order to be able to succeed at college, sports, barrel race, and train horses, one must have a great level of dedication and an unwavering passion for horses. Bishop is a Nebraska 4-H’er who has demonstrated that there really is nothing in life that can take you from what you love as long as you work for it. With the dedication and passion for horses Bishop has, it will take a lot more than a fast-paced society to slow her and her horses down.

Nebraska 4-H Profile

By Noel Ochoa, Veterinary Technology Student, Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture

The reasons for riding and showing horses are unique to every person. For some it is a hobby, to others it is lifestyle. To Rachel Kettelhake of Elk Creek, Neb., it is an exhilarating and worthwhile passion, as well as a 4-H project. When asked how long she has been involved with horses, Kettelhake commented, “I have been riding horses since I wore diapers.” Actually, to be more specific, Kettelhake has been an active member of her 4-H club since the age of eight. She took horses on as her project at age ten.
Kettelhake graduated from Johnson County Central High School in May 2009, where she participated in FFA, Student Council, and golf. Currently, she is attending the University of Nebraska at Kearney, majoring in radiology.
After college, she wants to stay in Nebraska and begin her career. Regardless that horses have always been part of her life, Kettelhake was a bit hesitant about working and riding with horses after falling off one at the age of four. With the encouragement and help of her father and other 4-H members, she went ahead and got back on a horse. She later began working with the four young colts her family raised. Kettelhake does not own any horses, but her family buys and raises horses for her to use for her projects and competitions. Currently, the family has six horses, but they have had up to ten. Kettelhake participates in pleasure, halter, and showmanship events. She works the most with a dun mare named Shasta. All of the colts the family raises are halter broke. The horses are taken to the trainer before riding. Each horse spends thirty to sixty days at the trainer and from there it is up to Kettelhake and the rest of the family to keep working with them. The trainer starts them on pleasure but that is the extent of it. Kettelhake has used Shasta in both halter and pleasure classes. “I have briefly worked with her on speed events, just starting to get her familiar with the patterns,” Kettelhake said.
Kettelhake’s first appearance with horses was at the Fourth of July Horse Show in Tecumseh, Neb. She prefers to stick to shows and events near home.
She also participated in the 2009 Johnson County Fair 4-H show and the open class horse show in Tecumseh, Neb. There she received mostly blue ribbons.
From back when she wore diapers to today, horses have been a passion for Kettelhake. As she continues preparing for speed events, Kettelhake plans on furthering her success with horses as a project and enjoying them as a hobby, as do many Nebraskans.