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Living in the country and on a small Farm is a great way of life. I love it!

We have horses, a few cattle, dogs, and cats.

There is always something to do, we spend a lot of time outside. So sit back and enjoy the view " From My Front Porch"

Monday, July 22, 2013

Our Very Own Hali, Miss Rodeo Idaho 2014!!!!

Hali Stutzman and her mom Laura Stutzman














"Last week I made a statement saying “I could talk her all up trying to make a stranger see the person I know her to be, but I’m going to sit back and let her hard work and dedication she has put towards making her dreams come true do all the talking this time.” and Hali Stutzman  – Miss  Gooding Pro Rodeo 2013 did just that as she was a force to be reckoned with at the Miss Rodeo Idaho competition as she went against some of the toughest competition I've seen yet. Now as Miss Rodeo Idaho 2014 elect, the work has just begun for Hali who has dedicated the largest portion of her time to being the best ambassador for the sport of rodeo as she can possibly manage and the support she receives over the next year and a half from her team is even more important as a new level of responsibility has been placed into her hands. Congratulations to one of my dearest friends. I can’t wait to see where this road leads you!"

Laura Stutzman

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

Dispelling of a Myth: By Cora Isaacs

For nine years now, my heart has belonged to 4-H and the Agricultural Industry. My life goal is to be a cattle producer, to promote, advocate, and to lobby for every aspect of that industry, which includes the Farmer, Rancher, and let us not forget Rodeo.
   Rodeo, Rodeo! You may be asking yourself, how does Rodeo play into the Agricultural Industry.
    Rodeo’s history here in the USA comes from the American cowboy. Ranchers from the Southwest would organize long cattle drives, to bring cattle to the stockyards in towns like Kansas City, where trains would carry the cattle east. “This was the golden age of the cowhand, who made their living on the many ranches and cattle trails such as the Chisum, Goodnight-Loving, and the Santa-Fe. At the end of the long trails, these new American "Cowboys" would often hold informal competitions among themselves and the various different outfits to see which group had the best riders, ropers and all-around best drovers. It would be from these competitions that modern rodeo would eventually be born.”
   The modern day rodeo’s do not just happen they take countless hours to organize, to find sponsors, and to promote. The person who organizes the rodeos does it all, but they also count on a team of people who volunteer their time for the love of the sport of Rodeo.
   One of those volunteers and the myth I would like to dispel is the young woman once known as the Rodeo Queen. Once upon a time a long long time ago Rodeo queens in the first years were chosen from a selected group of princesses who competed for the prize by selling raffle tickets for a steer. The young woman who sold the most tickets was the queen. This is a fact, but NO longer true, and the person once known as the Rodeo Queen has evolved over the years.
   This year I decided to encompass Rodeo into my promotion, advocating, and to lobbing efforts for the Agricultural Industry. My family has along history of rodeo participation, so I entered my first Rodeo Royalty Contest. For 30 days, I studied the Professional rodeo Cowboys Association rulebook (282 pages), PRCA Media Guide (543 pages) wrote a speech, worked on my modeling skills, got my fingernails done, learned how to fix my hair, and got the clothes needed to compete. I road and worked with my horse Custer, and as many different horses as I could find to ride. Let me tell you the day of what I thought was a contest I got up at 5 A.M., did my hair and makeup, got dressed and off I went, only to realize that it was a job interview. Those young women you see in parades are all business; the job that these young women are applying for; is no longer called Rodeo Queen, they are now known as Rodeo Ambassadors, and their job is to promote.
   I had the pleasure of meeting Hali Stutzman Gooding County Rodeo Ambassador while at the first competition.
Hali Stutzman

Hali politely granted me an interview on a year in the life of a Rodeo Ambassador. Hali: “I feel that it is important that those who are interested in becoming rodeo ambassadors realize that it is a job; it is the most exciting hard working job I have ever had. I travel nearly every weekend representing my title and I work hard to keep my rodeo manager/director happy by representing to the best of my ability possible. Last year I traveled over 8,000 miles; it is not just representing a rodeo or fair, it is the entire sport of rodeo and western way of life. There is a lot of pressure to hold your actions to a higher standard. I study everyday, some days it is an hour others it is 5 or 6 hours. Topics of veterinary science, equine nutrition, PRCA rulebook, PRCA media guide, current events. As well as various questions in personality. I also practice modeling for at least a half hour a day, and I try to ride as many different horses as possible to prepare for the draw horses they use for horsemanship at this level. In addition, a lot of work goes into my clothes, I design a lot of them and my mom sews most of them. I very rarely buy anything; it is extremely expensive to buy clothes for being an ambassador so we have worked our own system to be able to afford this job.”
    It sounds like it's more work than it is fun; but that is completely false. I have met some truly amazing people in my travels that I am lucky to call my friends now, from media personnel,  bullfighters, announcers, stock contractors, to other ambassadors but most important the rodeo fans. Signing autographs for the spectators of the great sport of Rodeo is so rewarding, I hear great stories from so many different people. Rodeo is a great family sport and it shows in every crowd I see.” Before I began competing for titles, I had a bad attitude and was extremely shy. Thanks to all my years as an ambassador, I have built my confidence and can make friends with almost any stranger I meet. It has also taught me how hard you have to work for your dreams.”
   After talking to Hali and the rest of those, interviewing for the job of Rodeo Ambassador, those beautiful young women in sequins, cowboy hats and with a smile that lights up a room, remember there is also knowledge of the sport of rodeo, agriculture, the western family values and so much more.
After meeting Hali Stutzman, I know that I will be participating in another Rodeo Ambassador Contest (interview) until I get the job! I learned a lot and had a great time doing it.
   The next time you see those sequins, and cowboy hats; just remember that every job has a uniform, and that is the uniform of a Rodeo Ambassador.

Thursday, January 10, 2013

Windy Go's To School

 Eduction in manors from horse trainer Toby Lapp.









My Favorite Picture of Tiny


I love to Drive