Nebraska 4-H Profile: Annie Cleveland

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

Western Nebraska is home to many great attractions, such as Lake McConaughy, the Scotts Bluff National Monument, and Chadron State College. In the middle of all these is the western Nebraska town of Keystone, home to Annie Cleveland, a Nebraska 4-H member with a great passion for horses.

Cleveland has been in 4-H four years. She is currently a sixth grade student at Ogallala Middle School. She is involved in club volleyball, basketball and junior high rodeo. She loves spending extra time with her family and friends.

Cleveland’s family lives on some acreage in Keystone and owns between 25-30 horses. All of the horses are American Quarter Horses except for her brother’s horse. He has a true mustang that they got from a reservation.

Annie Cleveland / Photo by Deb Cleveland

In 4-H shows, Cleveland participates in halter, western pleasure, horsemanship, barrels, poles, and trail. Most of the training for the horses is done by Cleveland and her family. Recently, they sent one horse for training for rodeo events. Cleveland’s father has over thirty years of experience working with horses, training and breaking them for others and himself.

With her father always having been around horses and her mother formerly being very active in the rodeoing community, Cleveland was destined to live with her passion for horses. Her mother helps her with her goat tying and her father coaches her for barrels.

In 2008 she won the Keith County Fair’s Horse Show in the halter class. In 2008 she also won Grand Champion Gelding with her 5-year-old American Quarter Horse named Cajun. In 2010 Cajun suffered a stifle injury, causing Cleveland to have to use two of her other horses, Gator and Mose.

Horsemanship at the Keith Co. Fair, 2009, Annie is riding Cajun. / Photo by Deb Cleveland

Cleveland said she loves working with horses so much simply because of how much fun it is. She stated, “It is my favorite thing in the world to do!” She is one of the few people in her school that lives on a ranch and gets to work with horses. To the surprise of many, Cleveland would rather spend time at a vet clinic than going shopping. Regardless, she does love shopping “dearly.”

In the future, she would like to be either a veterinarian or physical therapist. Lately, she said she is leaning more towards the veterinarian path. She said she is very fortunate in that she is very good friends with her local vet, Dr. Ron Moorhead. This has allowed her to spend time in the clinic, observe many activities and procedures, which she has enjoyed and learned from very much.

Annie Cleveland at the Broken Bow Jr. High Rodeo, October 2010, goat tying on her horse. / Photo by Deb Cleveland

Being involved in junior high rodeo, Cleveland participates in barrels, poles, goat tying and ribbon roping. Her ribbon roping partner is her brother, Brody Cleveland. Throughout the summer many friends and family members join the Clevelands in their arena to rope, socialize, and practice 4-H. Cleveland said she thanks Julie Glinn, Keystone 4-H leader, for making her 4-H year very successful and fun. She also is very thankful to her parents, who help her make her dreams come true.

Cleveland’s hard work and dedication are a prime example of a 4-H member’s passion for agriculture, success and, most of all, horses.

Annie Cleveland and a frield at the Curtis, Junior High Rodeo, October 2010. / Photo by Deb Cleveland

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.

Nebraska 4-H Profile

By Noel Ochoa, Student, Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture

Mikensie Wright of Broken Bow, Neb., is a proud member of her local 4-H organization. Mikensie, who is sixteen, has participated in 4-H activities for seven years and has had the opportunity to participate in many projects, including sewing, cooking, photography, BB gun and air pistol shooting with her brother, though her main interest lies in working with horses.
In 2009 Mikensie made it into the top fifteen at state for horsemanship. She has done very well at county fair, placing second and third in different categories.
Mikensie is involved in 4-H with her twin brother and her mom, who is the organization leader in Broken Bow. Mikensie also works at the local floral shop, and is very involved at Broken Bow High School. She is in the band, art club, speech team, and FFA. Horses have been a part of Mikensie’s life since she was very young. “My cousins had horses and I would always go over and ride them,” she says.
In the summer of 2009, Mikensie attended about eight shows in various places. On the ground, she does haltering and showmanship. While on the horse, she does western pleasure and horsemanship. Mikensie says these events cause her the most stress and pressure because the judges’ attention is focused on her the whole time.
Mikensie has two horses that she uses for events, Woody and Sunny. She also has an upcoming project named Roxy. Although Roxy is four years old, Mikensie plans on using her for her next 4-H project and training her for shows and events. In addition to showing, Mikensie has done barrels, poles, and goat tying. For these events, she uses Woody, a bay. She uses Sunny for pleasure and horsemanship.
Despite having begun her horse career fairly young, Mikensie has done all the training and getting ready herself, except for some help from past 4-H’ers and local friends. From busy nights with homework to working at the flower shop after school, she is very well rounded. Enthusiastic about the future, she plans to better herself and her horses and to continue winning many more awards.