Phillipsburg volunteer works rodeo, never sees the beginning of it

PHILLIPSBURG – For the past 20-plus years, Denis Miller goes to his hometown rodeo. But he never sees the first half of it.

It’s not that the Phillipsburg resident is late getting there, it’s that his volunteer duties keep him away from the arena until the rodeo is nearly over.

The Phillips County native has volunteered with Kansas’ Biggest Rodeo for the last quarter-century, but he misses about 75 percent of it.

That’s because his job, to supervise ticket takers and count money, is busiest at the beginning of the rodeo, from more than an hour before gates open, till about the barrel racing begins.

Miller, part-owner of Mapes and Miller, CPAs in Phillipsburg, came to the rodeo when he was a child growing up in Agra. Back then, the rodeo still had Sunday afternoon performances, which “were really hot,” he said. After graduating from Ft. Hays State University, and jobs with a CPA firms and oil companies in Wichita and Smith Center, he came to Phillipsburg.

Multiple world champion Trevor Brazile competes at the 2013 Kansas’ Biggest Rodeo. Hundreds of volunteers work to make the rodeo successful. Photo by JJJ Photo. — Multiple world champion Trevor Brazile competes at the 2013 Kansas’ Biggest Rodeo. Hundreds of volunteers work to make the rodeo successful. *Photo by JJJ Photo.*

After a few years, Miller wanted to become more involved in the community. He bought a share of the Phillipsburg Rodeo Association and was active in the Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development, as a “way to say I was vested in the community,” he said. It didn’t take long to get recruited for his rodeo job.

At first, it was to work as a ticket seller. As the rodeo grew, it morphed into counting cash, assisting ticket takers, and having the official attendance number for the rodeo each night.

For the last dozen years or so, as the rodeo has grown, his job has grown. He misses about three-quarters of the rodeo, as he takes care of his duties. “I get done about 10 (p.m.), so I get to see some of the barrel racing and the bull riding and that’s it.” His employees at Mapes and Miller help out as well.

The rodeo has changed since Miller was a spectator on those hot Sunday afternoons, as a kid. The facilities have improved. “They tore most of the old facilities down, added (seating) boxes, the south grandstand, and added an office, hospitality and bathroom building on the east side. Now they’re adding bathrooms on the west side,” he said. “Every two or three years, they upgrade facilities, and they’ve probably doubled the seating since I started helping.”

It’s also changed financially. The committee “has increased the dollars, putting more money into the purse,” for cowboys. And attendance has increased. “It’s gotten bigger. The biggest problem is, I don’t know how they can get much bigger.”

And when the 85th annual event rolls around in late July and early August, Miller once again won’t hear the national anthem or see the first five events. He’ll be busy counting tickets. But as soon as that job is done and he’s given an official attendance count, he’ll be in the stands, ready for the bull riding.

This year’s Kansas’ Biggest Rodeo is July 31 to Aug. 2 at the rodeo grounds, 2 miles north of town. Performances begin at 8 p.m. each night. Reserved tickets for adults are $15 and for children ages 3-12 are $11. General admission tickets for adults are $13 and for children ages 3 to 12 are $10. For more information, visit KansasBiggestRodeo.com or call (785) 543-2448.