By DIANE GASPER-O’BRIEN
FHSU University Relations and Marketing
Winning – and losing – in rodeo can happen in a matter of seconds. The same holds true in life, say Fort Hays State University students and graduates.
But even if you fail, you always, always get back up and try again. FHSU Tigers from three different walks of life shared that philosophy at this past weekend’s 53rd annual Fort Hays State Rodeo.
There was Jalynn Pfeifer, who was crowned 2019 FHSU Rodeo Queen during Friday night’s performance.
Travis Booth, a senior steer wrestler, is trying to qualify for the College National Finals Rodeo in his last collegiate season and had to look ahead to the next meet after just missing qualifying for Saturday’s finals.
Watching the action was Sara Hornbuckle, a recent graduate of FHSU and mother of rodeo competitor Brent Hornbuckle. When Mom Hornbuckle decided to return to school to complete her Bachelor of Science in Nursing, she chose Fort Hays State. She said she was able to successfully complete her degree online because of the “incredible support” FHSU offered.
That kind of support is a way of life at FHSU and the Hays community, said Bronc Rumford, Fort Hays State’s rodeo coach.
Rumford was all smiles at the conclusion of the 2019 rodeo Saturday night. The stands were packed on a pleasant spring evening, with folks from the university, the community and the surrounding area cheering on the competitors, which included students from two-time defending national champion and perennial power Panhandle State out of Goodwell, Okla.
“We appreciate the community of Hays so much,” Rumford said. “From businesses who serve as sponsors to parents who come to watch their kids and all the fans who come just to see good competition, a lot of people support this program.”
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A freshman from Ellis, just 16 miles from Hays, Pfeifer was familiar with the FHSU Rodeo at a young age.
When she heard the rodeo was bringing back a rodeo queen in 2017, she thought about trying out if she attended school at FHSU.
She did indeed become a Tiger, following her two older siblings to Fort Hays State.
Though just 18 years old, Pfeifer thought she was ready to compete for queen this year. After all, she had been competing, and failing, and trying again for rodeo crowns since seventh grade.
After two attempts in the Ellis County Rodeo Princess competition, Pfeifer won that title on her third try and followed that up with Ellis County Rodeo Queen and Miss Teen Rodeo Kansas.
“Looking back, I was glad it took me three tries at princess,” Pfeifer said. “A lot of times, you learn more when you lose than when you win, and I learned so much and developed so many skills during that time.”
Now, Pfeifer is looking forward to promoting rodeo while representing Fort Hays State at rodeos and other festivals throughout the next year.
“I love being an ambassador for the sport of rodeo,” Pfeifer said. “I look forward to just getting the word out there.”
Pfeifer is the youngest of three siblings who have attended Fort Hays State. Her sister, Jordan Pfeifer Gabel, graduated in 2013 with a degree in nursing, and her brother, Jared Pfeifer, is a senior on the Tiger men’s track and field team.
“Fort Hays State is a great place to get a good education,” said Jalynn Pfeifer, an agriculture communications major. She will get some practical application in that field as rodeo queen.
“I like being a mentor for the youth,” she said. “I’m excited to get started.”
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Hornbuckle said her son became interested in calf roping when he attended a rodeo Bible camp while in middle school. He competed in rodeo in high school, and when it came time to check out colleges, his mom suggested Fort Hays State.
Despite being much closer to several other four-year colleges, including one in his hometown of Ottawa in eastern Kansas, Brent decided to apply at FHSU – the same college at which his mother was enrolled in online classes.
“I was hoping he would choose here, because I knew he could be involved,” Hornbuckle said, “and it’s so reasonably priced.”
Brent, who was involved in football, wrestling and FFA in high school, chose Fort Hays State and the rodeo team. He competes in team roping and tie-down roping.
From a parent’s point of view, Fort Hays State and rodeo were a good fit for her son.
“The rodeo team here has been so good for him,” Hornbuckle said, “and I knew he would get a quality education there, because I did. I learned a ton, and I loved it. All the options they have to help you succeed are fabulous.”
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Booth’s time of 4.7 seconds would have won Friday night’s performance in the steer wrestling, but he was assessed a 10-second penalty after breaking the barrier a split-second too soon.
Almost instantly, Booth began looking ahead to this weekend’s regular-season finale at Panhandle State. Booth, who qualified for the finals of the National Little Britches Rodeo Association his senior year in high school and first year of junior college, said that the College National Finals Rodeo has been a goal of his for two years.
At the end of the season, the top three competitors in each event from the 11 regions across the country qualify for the national finals.
Booth is currently ranked in the top six in the region, and a strong performance at Panhandle State could push him into the top three. Should that happen, Booth said, it still won’t be the end of his competition.
“I’d like to work on a ranch and keep rodeoing,” said Booth, an animal science major.
Booth grew up in Castle Rock, Colo., and transferred to Fort Hays State after two years at Otero Junior College in LaJunta, Colo. He had checked out other four-year colleges with rodeo teams and ultimately chose FHSU.
“The thing that sold me was they pay for travel here,” Booth said. “I’ve enjoyed rodeo here so much. I’m going to miss hanging out with all my friends.”
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Two Fort Hays State competitors who reached Saturday’s finals and placed in the top three at FHSU’s Rodeo were two students from Colorado – Peyton senior Zeke Hall and Eads junior Bailey McCaughey.
Hall, who had no rodeo experience when he first came to Fort Hays, improved consistently each year. He will certainly remember his final rodeo in his home arena. He competed in team roping with Daniel Durkes from Northwestern Oklahoma State, and the duo won third in the long round, third in the short round and third in average.
McCaughey placed sixth in barrel racing.
Rumford, a rodeo standout who won numerous events during his collegiate days at Fort Hays State, is in his 10th year as the team’s coach. He said the last couple of meets each year are kind of nostalgic, with the seniors approaching their final meets.
“They’re such good kids, you hate to see them go, but you’re glad to see them get out into the world,” Rumford said. “And then the next fall, we get a new set of good kids in.”
