Sandhills cowboys to be inducted

Tickets will go on sale April 1. Tickets are pre-sold and the public is welcome. It is appreciated that tickets be purchased by June 4. To purchase tickets please contact Rod Palmer at 402-387-2212 or at P.O. Box 127, Ainsworth, NE 69210, or by emailing Tiffany Barthel at tiffbarthel@gmail.com.

Anyone wishing to donate items for the benefit auction can contact Rod Palmer at 402-387-2212, Bret Younkin at 402-760-0833, Tiffany Barthel at tiffbarthel@gmail.com or any board member.

Following is information on the cowboys being inducted this year

Alice Cotton

July 27, 1934 - September 27, 2024

On a sunny and breezy Saturday in October of 2024, more than 150 family and friends gathered to say good-bye to Alice Cotton. A celebration of her life was held at her home on the Cotton Ranch north of Rackett, NE. The service was in the hay meadow near the old arena looking up at the hills and blue sky, with saddled horses nearby. This was her home, her life, her beloved Sandhills.

Alice was a longtime cowgirl and ranch wife for over 70 years. As a ranch wife she would cook breakfast for a hay crew, pack dinner to the hayfield, then in the afternoon raking or sweeping hay till quitting time, fix supper for all and then head to the arena to rope steers. Just a typical summer day. She always had a big branding dinner for the crew and always had dinner for anyone working or visiting any day of the year. Living 30 miles from town she tended a big yard and garden, canning for the long winter months. She was well known for her dill pickles and biscuits and jelly. With a freezer full and a well-stocked cellar she didn’t need to go to town, she said “I can make do with about anything but…if you are coming, could you bring a can of chew?” In her early years she sewed many western snap button shirts for the rodeo cowboys. Seemed if she sewed one then someone else would sure enough want one. Remember her saying if she had to sew another striped shirt, it would drive her crazy. Later she worked in her basement leather shop that served a big Sandhills area. Here she could make a pair of chinks, repair a broken headstall or cut a pair of reins. If your leather tack needed repairing, everyone knew to take it to Alice, she would get it fixed up. She also tooled a lot of belts and billfolds. Alice always enjoyed a good card game with neighbors, friends and family. As a ranch wife and cowgirl she made her own fashion statement wearing her high topped boots and her black hat. Accessories would include her gun, pocket knife, gloves, and her dog.

As a cowgirl she loved horses, from the time she grew up riding her white phone, Beauty, to some of her favorite last horses like Bally the stud horse and Handy her big, dark buckskin. With these two horses she could rope in the arena, drag calves to the branding fire and doctor cattle out in the pasture. Sid was a roper and he taught her to rope and she even ran a few barrels over time. They roped at the Carver for many years and she won a buckle in Wray, CO. Many times she would partner with Denny at ropings and she always said it was bad when he had to rope with his mother-in-law! She helped trail cattle to and from summer pastures every spring and fall so got a lot of horseback miles. Alice would admit she had been kicked and bucked off, but always cussed a bit and got back up. One story was about the “Red” horse she rode. On the way back home after a hard day, coming through the pass he bucked her off hard and she lost her hearing aids and false teeth. Red bucked her off many times but she always got back on him. She even rode a few racehorses in her younger years, once ran over by seven horses. Not only could she ride horses but she could feed with a team of horses on a cold winter morning. She taught her kids how to harness and drive horses. Alice liked to drive her little single horse gray wagon or go to Penny’s for a sleigh ride at Christmas time. In early years she would ride a few steers, even got on a bull or two. Even in her later years she would check the cows up north putting out salt and mineral and continued dragging calves to the branding fire at 80 plus years.

Alice I. Cotton was born on July 27, 1934 to Fred and Eva (Simpson) Wills of rural Alliance, NE. One of five children, she grew up being a tomboy and riding horses, always wanting to best her older brother Bud. She attended rural District #22 school and later graduated from Alliance High School. Her first home in the Sandhills was on the Sibbitt Ranch. In 1967, she married Sid Cotton. Alice was Mom to three children Penny Mekelburg, Fritz Miller and Tuff Cotton. Alice was Grandma Cotton to seven and a great-grandma to thirteen. After Sid’s passing in 2007 she stayed on the Cotton Ranch that was homesteaded in 1928 by Sid’s parents. She loved the ranch life and the Sandhills and lived there until she was over 90 years old. Alice fought a tough battle with cancer and on September 19, 2024 she walked out of her home for the last time. On September 27, 2024 after just a week in the hospital she passed away. She is back now in her beloved Sandhills, upon the hill with Sid. She was a real cowgirl, many called her their hero, to others she was “Just Alice” but most will agree she was “one of a kind”.

“I will lift mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord which made heaven and earth.” Psalm 121:1-2

Alice Cotton was ‘one of a kind’. She was strong, tough and a little hard headed, but she had a soft heart for all God’s creatures. Alice loved the hills and lived there until she was over 90 years old, independently for the last 20 years or more. Her leatherwork and roping skills were used till she was in her late 80’s. Alice had all the makings of a true Nebraska Sandhills cowgirl and rancher.

A legend in her time, but her name is not found in the bright lights, headlines or history books. As one friend put it “I doubt she ever set out in life to become the legend that she became.” She lived the life she was given and lived it well. Alice was the cowgirl and rancher she wanted to be, and highly respected for what she did. Proof she was a legend is the fact that over 150 family, friends and neighbors, young and old, attended a service for a 90 year old cowgirl, on the ranch in the middle of the Sandhills, 30 miles from the nearest town.

Charles Daly

December 19, 1956

Charles was born December 19, 1956 in North Platte, NE to Emory and Evelyn Daly. Brother Dave, sisters Patti and Lori Barta, wife Melanie of nearly 50 years and children Tyler, Colin and Riley. Charles has lived and worked on the Dismal River nearly since birth. A rancher by trade he worked for his dad but also for neighboring Paxton Ranch in the early years. He excelled in the rodeo arena qualifying for the High School National Finals 3 years and winning the state Team Roping Championship with his brother Dave. He competed for years in the NSRA, AQHA, ranch rodeo and team penning associations in the years to follow winning top hand/horse many times over.

Charles has never sought out rewards and recognition. He’s served Thomas County as a Commissioner for numerous terms, helped with countless county fairs, youth and HS rodeos and community events. It would be fitting for his biggest documented honor to be this Hall of Fame. True Sandhills Cowboys don’t do it for the accolades but rather because it’s the right thing to do.

Jack Conrad Malmberg

May 29, 1940

Jack was born May 29, 1940 in Cherry County, NE to Emil and Vera (Slaby) Malmberg at 3-

Bar Ranch: Brandeis Ranch. He was the 4th of 3 children. Jack married Rita Longcor and had 3 children (Monty, Inger and Steve).

Jack served in the U.S. Army from 1962-64 as a paratrooper, 82nd airborne. He worked on Brandeis for 19 years, Hill Ranch (south of Gordon) from 1959-1969, managed Isham Ranch (north of Chadron) from 1969-1974 then moved to Wyoming with his brother Don and nephew Tony to eventually run Twin Creek Ranch until 1984. They transitioned to horse logging using 10 head of Belgians until 2000. He continued with contract haying in the summers. Jack is a self-taught log builder with more than 50 log homes and lodges across the west.

Now married to Robin Levin, Jack continues raising and working his Belgian, putting up 500 tons in the summer for a few dozen ranches in Wyoming. Jack’s daughter, Inger, and granddaughter, Stephanie, are part of his summer crew keeping the Malmberg horse tradition alive.

At this time, Jack plans to retire at age 95 so he can start traveling the world. He’d like to visit his family birthplace, Malmberg, Sweden north of the Arctic Circle.

In 1958, Jack was U.S.N.A. Champion F.F.A. beef calf of Ak-Sar-Ben; 1963-1964 he was part of the best ranked U.S. Army Engineering Company; 1973-All-Around cowboy at Hay Springs, NE; 1985-Featured in “America’s Wild Woodlands,” National Geographic; 1981-1983-Fremont County Cattleman’s Association Secretary; 1983-drove 10-horse hitch in Lander, WY for July 4th parade-the first 10-horse hitch since 1903. In 2024 he was featured throughout the Great Plains & Rocky Mountain Western newspapers, “At 84, WY Horseman Still Makes Hay the Old-Fashioned Way.”

Jerry Kennedy

August 22, 1950 – October 20, 2021

Jerry was born August 22, 1950 in Lewellen, NE to Donald and Lucille (Laing) Kennedy, one of seven children and lived with his family on a ranch near Arthur. He passed away on October 20, 202 in Gordon at his ranch.

In February 1970, Jerry married Patsy Gier in Ogallala, NE. To this union two children were born Joe and Jerry (JJ).

In December 1974 Jerry started as a brand inspector for the Nebraska Brand Committee. In the early 80’s he left the Brand Committee and married Susan Druery. They made their home on a ranch north of Chadron.

In the mid-90’s, Jerry returned to the Brand Committee, relocating to Mitchell, NE where he married Vickie Hanna Madden.

As a newly single man in the mid-2000’s Jerry moved to Gordon, NE, where he continued with the Nebraska Brand Committee until he retired in December 2018.

Jerry loved to play the guitar and sing and write country songs and cowboy poetry. He traveled around western Nebraska and Wyoming performing for many people and occasion. He enjoyed working on his ranch with his beloved horses and socializing with his numerous friends in Gordon and the surrounding area.

Jerry is survived by daughter, Jerri (Alan) Hamar of Canyon, TX; grandchildren Brandon Hamar of Warrensburg, MO, Cole Kennedy, U.S. Marine Corp., Jordyn Kennedy of North Platte, NE and Dalton Hamar of Canyon, TX; great granddaughter Alivia Kennedy of North Platte, NE; brother Kenny (Laurel) Kennedy of Ogallala, NE; sisters Phyllis (Ivan) Phillips of Whitman, NE, Nancy Glewwe of Hernando, MS and Kathy (Lionel) Williams of Buckner, MO; numerous nieces and nephews. Stepchildren Tawnya Miller of Big Piney, WY, Reece (Sherrie) Druery of Toluca, IL, Trisha (Terry) Williamson of Chadron, NE and Will (Mindie) Druery of Anselmo, NE; and 5 step-grandchildren. Stepchildren Josh DeMarcinco of Omaha, NE, Jeremy Madden of Gering, NE Lindsey (Cory) Hall of Lincoln, NE and Dan Maulsby of Omaha, NE.

Jerry was preceded in death by son, Joe Kennedy; parents Donald and Lucille Kennedy; brother Mickey Kennedy and sister Gloria Hutchison.

Jerry was born in Lewellen, NE and lived with his family on a ranch near Arthur. Jerry attended Arthur High School, where he currently still holds the school records for most points in a game, most points in a season and most rebounds in basketball. He graduated in 1968.

In December 1974, he started as a brand inspector for the Nebraska Brand Committee and continued as a brand inspector from the mid-90’s until his retirement while living in Gordon, NE in December 2018. The position of brand inspector is one of law enforcement, and Jerry was highly regarded as a fair and honest man of the highest character, a true representation of the traditional honorable cowboy of the Old West.

Jerry loved to play the guitar and sing and write country songs and cowboy poetry. HE traveled around western Nebraska and Wyoming performing for many people and special occasions. He was called on very often to sing at funerals, as he was so loved for the old classic country music that he sang. Jerry was very proud of the song that he wrote and recorded “My Sandhills Home,” which he wrote to tell the story of his fore bearers. Jerry was also very pleased that he had won the local Country Showdown in the early 90’s in Chadron, and was able to go on to Nashville for the final competition.

For nearly three decades from the early 90’s until 2020, Jerry served as the Master of Ceremonies each year for the Fur Trade Days Jamboree at Olde Main Street Inn in Chadron, which featured many of the old-time musicians from the Sandhills and western Nebraska. Also, during each of those years, Jerry sang and played guitar on New Year’s Eve in the Longbranch Saloon at Olde Main Street Inn, which was a great way for everyone to start their New Year!

John Schroder, Sr.

September 19, 1949 – March 31, 2024

John Schroder, Sr. was born on September 19, 1949 to Alfred and Laura Schroder in Ainsworth, NE. John was raised on the family’s ranches in Rock and Loup counties during his younger years. John graduated from high school in 1967 from Loup County High School and he couldn’t wait to try his skills at being a cowboy on larger ranches. John and his friend, Tim Naab, journeyed to Grand County, NE when John found work on the Minor Ranch and immediately started becoming a cowboy in every sense of the word. John was trusted with feeding hay with his own team of horses and became quite skilled at driving his team, even helping to put up hay with them. John was trusted with cattle work and loved the overnight cattle drives and learning from the ranchers how to handle any situation thrown his way. It was on the Minor Ranch where John met his future wife, Sandy (Blakey) Schroder and they married and moved to their marital home deep in the Sandhills of the Minor Ranch. They welcomed their first child, Johnny, Jr. here, and made their home together.

John continued to learn about shoeing horses, breaking colts and leather work. He loved meeting new cowboys, both young and old, and sharing stories about ranching. John and Sandy moved to Atkinson, NE where John worked in a feedlot and continue to work with his horses and blue heeler dogs. John and Sandy took part in youth rodeos and John taught Johnny how to rope and hang on to wild Shetland ponies. John and Sandy welcomed their daughter, Michelle, and John loved showing her how to ride the bucket calves while he held them down and encourage her to compete in rodeos with her brother.

John loved calf roping and trained his horse, Barney, how to be a winner. John spent many Sundays competing in jackpot rodeos in Atkinson at Doc White’s barn and training horses with his friends. John and Sandy then moved to Springview area, and they encouraged him to join the Norden Roping Club. John loved packing up the horse trailer with as many horses, ponies and roping calves as he could squeeze in. John and Johnny spent many nights roping under the lights with their friends and having fun and winning a few buckles along the way. In 1981 John and Sandy got a chance to move to Loup County and work for Harmon Farms on a cattle ranch in the Sandhills. John and Sandy took a leap of faith and returned back to the same county where John had grown up. They taught their children to work in the hay field, calve out heifers, tag calves, do everything vet related and work as a team. The four Schroder’s, under the watchful eye of John, moved onward and upward. They helped build a larger and better cattle herd, added acres to the ranch and developed the hay fields and irrigation systems. John could fix, build or operate anything that was needed for the ranch. While working for Harmons. John and Sandy set a goal to create a separate cow herd of their own, and they worked outside jobs, trading hay and labor for Angus cows. John and Sandy were able to buy a place of their own and for once, John did not have a boss. He was able to call the shots, and he loved having the ability to be proud of their accomplishments and doing what he thought was best for his family and his ranch. John and Sandy were able to pay off the ranch before his passing, and he was very proud to know no one could take away their dream.

While John and Sandy were working hard to build their own dream, they volunteered to be on the Taylor Junior Rodeo Committee and John served as a member from 1981 to 2024. He never missed a rodeo and he spent countless hours preparing, building fences, rounding up livestock and gathering donations. He loved the rodeo and he loved the kids that he helped. He loved finding team roping partners for the kids that wanted to compete, but didn’t know anyone to ask to rope with them. John loved seeing the kids with their prizes and their smiles.

Although time slowed him down, John made sure the rodeo was in good hands. He found volunteers to take his place with the more demanding tasks, but he was always there, observing, smiling and writing the checks. Along with the Taylor Jr. Rodeo, John and Sandy were adult sponsors for the Taylor High School Rodeo Club and made sure that every year, the kids held a rodeo to be proud of. John loved rodeo. He loved hauling his kids to their Junior rodeos, high school rodeos and he tried to hit all of Johnny’s Mid-States events that he could make it to.

John loved watching his grandsons, JW and Dean, Compete in their rodeos and John and Sandy spent numerous hours helping with practice rides, travel and sitting in bleachers. John and Sandy traveled to Tennessee and Wyoming for National Finals competitions for their grandsons and to college rodeos all over the country for their grandsons as well. It was with great pride that John let people know “those are my grandsons.”

John loved to be mounted on a good horse. He loved horse trainers and loved learning from them. John especially respected Ray Hunt, and used Ray’s techniques in training his own horses and helping others train theirs. John used his cowboy skills everywhere he went with his horses. He was always prepared to rope a calf, chase down a cow or lead the cows to summer pasture on a cattle drive. John loved teaching his kids and grandkids about the inner workings of being a cowboy and he mentored several kids in 4-H. His passion was the horse project, but he was known to help Michelle pick out a chicken or a barn cat for the county fair.

John loved the western way of life and never wanted anything different. He loved his tall top boots and was often found with his pant legs tucked neatly inside of them. He loved a good black hat, silk scarf, pair of Levi’s a shirt with snaps and his denim jacket. He always had a hankie in his pocket and a good pocket knife. He loved spending time branding with neighbors, talking about the food, things happening in their lives, sharing stories about the horses that they had lost and the ones that they hoped to have, planning something mischievous to do and laughing. John walked the cowboy walk and he did it all with a smile on his face and with a whistle and a two-step.

John was honored with a lifetime Achievement Award for his service as a Loup County Volunteer Firefighter for 35 plus years, honored as a 4-H volunteer, 40 years of volunteer service to the Taylor Jr. Rodeo, President of the Loup County Farm Bureau, zoning committee for Loup County and a sponsor for the Taylor Junior Rodeo.

Lee “Butch” Stout

February 26, 1949 – February 8, 2023

Lee “Butch” Stout was born in rural Rock County during the Blizzard of 1949, the oldest of six children. His mother, Helen, was flown by a neighbor in a small plane to a family member's house to give birth, while his father, Lavern (L.L.), stayed at the ranch trying to care for the young couple's cattle as they had sunk all they had into the ranch when he returned from Navy service in World War II. While Butch arrived on February 26, 1949, it would be almost three months before Helen and baby Butch were able to return to the ranch with L.L. This seemed to set the stage for a lifetime of perseverance and grit for Butch.

The family lived very modestly in a small house on the ranch, which was 45 miles south of Bassett and 47 miles north of Burwell. They did not have an indoor bathroom until Butch had already graduated from high school, nor did they have a television set throughout his time at home. Butch attended a one-room country school at the nearby Rock County district #55, and was responsible for making sure that his younger siblings made it there too. In 1954, tragedy struck the family as Butch’s younger brother, Tommy, was killed while the two boys were riding on a hay underslung pulled by their grandfather, Ebby Stout. Despite the hard times, Butch loved his childhood which was filled with riding horses, spending countless time in the hayfield, caring for and working cattle, and an occasional dip in the cool water of cattle tanks in the Nebraska Sandhills.

Being the oldest of the Stout kids, arrangements for Butch’s high school education were unclear when he graduated from 8th grade at his nearby country school. However, his dear Aunt Dee Sitz had purchased a house in Burwell and made plans to stay there during the school week with her oldest son, who was the same age as Butch. So, he moved in with his Sitz cousins and had the lifetime benefit of two families; the Stouts and the Sitz’s. He graduated from Burwell High School in 1967 and immediately went to work.

Butch was very proud of the fact that his great-grandparents on both sides homesteaded in the Sandhills and worked to build their ranches and herds through very difficult times. He was fortunate to know and work alongside his grandparents and parents, learning how to make almost anything work, as a quick trip to town wasn’t an option on the ranch.

Butch married his wife, Jeanne’ in 1969 while working for the McFadden Ranch in Loup county. They soon moved back to the Stout Ranch in Rock County and began their own herd of cattle and kids. He continued to ranch for himself and for other outfits as his four kids were born; Laura, Ronda, Scott and Jeff. He loved kids and was always happy to haul them along to check pastures or put them on a rake tractor in the hayfield. He was famous for teasing and when one of the kids would return to the pickup from shutting a gate, he would inevitably pull forward making the door handle just out of reach. This might go on for half a mile. Eventually, the family purchased a house in Burwell so that the kids could go to high school, and Butch traveled back and forth for the 47 miles to town or stayed at the “rustic” cow camp that featured a wood stove, outhouse and no running water. Many bitter winters were spent at the cow camp, as he looked forward to the kids traveling up North to help on the weekends as he calved 300-500 head of cows by himself each winter.

All the while, Butch was pursuing his passion for raising good ranch and arena horses. He raised all of the horses used on the ranch and eventually developed a program of Hancock bloodlines that had strong legs and feet, as well as the toughness and good mind that was needed on the ranch. He believed in doing everything on the ranch on horseback and passed that philosophy on to his kids and grandkids. He always said, “If you ride a horse you have two brains lookin out for you.” He was proud to raise enough good horses to get the ranch work done and to mount his kids and grandkids for their 4H and rodeo careers in barrel racing, pole bending, goat tying, breakaway roping, team roping, steer wrestling, calf roping, and he even turned out a couple pick-up horses for his family members that rode saddle broncs! Butch went on to offer sound and colorful horses for sale through consignment and private treaty. His program continues posthumously as his children manage his herd of brood mares and his favorite stallion, RS Drifting Blue Eli. His colts are sought after for their fair temperament, confirmation and versatility.

Butch never stopped working or living the cowboy lifestyle. He loved being around people, cattle and horses so he carved out time to work at the Burwell Livestock Market on Fridays. For 51 years, he worked horseback in the rain, wind, bitter cold or sunshine to bring millions of head of cattle from the back pens to the sale ring. He believed this experience made good horses, but he had his fair share of wrecks there too. At the age of 71 he called his daughter to bring some crutches to the sale barn as he knew some pushy cows had broken his leg. She waited for an hour for him to finish bringing cattle up so that she could take him to the emergency room to have his leg set.

In later years, he also worked at Kamp Kaleo near Burwell. He was a maintenance man and mower, but was best known for his practical jokes and compassion. He spent a lot of time driving hay rack rides for youth campers and also brought horses in for the annual special needs camp, so that those children could enjoy his passion for horses too.

Butch was an avid proponent of rodeo in all forms. He participated in and judged ranch rodeos, hauled his kids to youth and high school rodeos, and cheered for his grandkids as they participated in college and amateur rodeo associations. He served on the Board of Directors of Nebraska's Big Rodeo in Burwell for thirty years, from 1980 to 2010. During this time he witnessed many changes including the addition of steer roping to the rodeo, helping to bring Canadian Chuckwagon races to Burwell, and he campaigned for continual raises in added money for the contestants. He helped out wherever he was needed at the Burwell Rodeo and his family looked forward to it as it was the one week during summer that they were able to take time off from the hayfield.

Butch cowboyed until his final days, continuing to ranch, ride horses and work at the Burwell Livestock Market until his death. He passed away just shy of his 74th birthday on February 8th, 2023. Even after his death, he continues to advocate for his beloved Sandhills by placing his Rock County pastureland in an LLC that is strictly managed and maintained as native pasture land that cannot be sold without the consent of all family members, ensuring that it will remain carefully curated for future generations. He believed that there was no greater place than the Nebraska Sandhills and felt a deep responsibility to preserve the land and its natural resources.

Butch felt that his children and grandchildren were his greatest accomplishment and strived to pass his values of hard work, humor, love for the Sandhills, and love for the cowboy way of life on to each of them by sharing his time, talent and wisdom. After all, the greatest gift that a cowboy can give is to pass along the way of life that has been so good for him.

Butch’s accomplishments include:

a. Garfield County Frontier Fair and Nebraska’s Big Rodeo Board of Directors 1980-2010.

b. Volunteer at Kamp Kaleo youth camp in Burwell, Nebraska 2009-2022.

c. Interviewed by Carson Vaughan, freelance author, for the article, “A Green Glacier is Dismantling the Great Plains,” which was published in the “New York Times” as well as in several other print and digital publications.

d. Photographed by National Geographic Photographer, Joel Satore, at Nebraska’s Big Rodeo and published in “Under A Big Red Sky: Nebraska.”

e. Garfield County 4H Horse Superintendent for 10+ years.

f. Attended Artificial Insemination training at Colorado State University and received certification in 1981, becoming an independent rancher who provided A.I. services in the area.

g. Life member of the American Quarter Horse Association

As a third generation rancher in Rock and Garfield counties, Lee “Butch” Stout lived his life in promotion of the ranching lifestyle and modeled the values of hard work, preservation of the Sandhills, and the sustainability of the livestock industries in Nebraska. He was involved in ranching his entire life and worked in the industry until his passing.

Butch spent his life in promotion of the rodeo and horse industries in the state by serving as a Board of Director of Nebraska’s Big Rodeo for over thirty years and by developing his own program of ranch and rodeo horses. Butch was a life member of the American Quarter Horse Association, breeding and raising ranch and arena horses for himself, his family and for sale.

Butch believed whole-heartedly in promoting the Nebraska Sandhills and in the preservation of native prairie by advocating for the eradication of Eastern Red Cedar trees and by encouraging multigenerational ranching opportunities. Though he was an “old school” cowboy in almost every aspect of his life, he progressively planned his estate to ensure that his beloved Sandhills ranch would be maintained.

He lived to encourage future generations to embrace the rodeo and ranching lifestyles by encouraging his children and grandchildren to continue caring for Nebraska’s land and livestock and by thoughtfully ensuring that they would be able to do so. He made sure they had the opportunity to participate in all levesl of rodeo if they wanted to. He also faithfully shared his time, talents and love of horse flesh through youth camps for those with disabilities and special needs.

Michael “Mick” Knott

September 14, 1951 – January 29, 2015

Michael Joe “Mick” Knott was born September 14, 1951, in Albion, NE. He was the oldest of four sons born to Joseph J. and Doris Darlene (Fleek) Knott. He graduated from Sargent High School and received his master’s degree in Agronomy and Range Science from UNL.

On August 13, 1971, Mick married the love of his life, Toni Hebbert. Mick was a pickup man for Bob Barnes and Korkow Rodeo Company, worked at the Hebbert Ranch in Grant County and at the UNL research lab in Tryon. From 1981 to 1993 Mick was the ranch manager at the Gudmundsen Sandhills Laboratory north of Whitman. In 1994 Mick and Toni entered a ranching partnership with the Robert F. Lute II Trust which continued for 20 plus years.

Mick and Toni were blessed to raise their three daughters in the beloved Sandhills. One of his daughters’ favorite memories is of Mick singing as they headed off to round up a pasture before the sun came up, “when the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie, that’s amore.” He enjoyed watching his grandchildren play sports and rodeo. The younger grandchildren loved climbing up onto his lap, eating ice cream with him, or snuggling close to watch westerns with their Papa.

He always had a love of horses and rodeo. He roped left-handed for year before deciding to rope steers and taught himself to rope right-handed. In 2013 he achieved a life-ling dream of filling his PRCA permit so he could steer rope at the Pendleton Roundup after being diagnosed with leukemia. Mick and Toni enjoyed his participation in the Senior Steer Roping Association and the friends they have made over the years.

Travel was an important part of Mick’s life, and he encouraged everyone to take the opportunity to travel whenever they had the chance. He enjoyed traveling with Toni; especially spending time in Arizona with their steer roping family during the cold months.

It has been almost 10 year since Mick passed away and many of us that were fortunate enough to have him as a mentor and friend still ask, “What would Mick think about this?”

Mick embodied the spirit of the Sandhills Cowboy. He was known for his honesty and fairness, his horsemanship and his keen eye for cattle. He was able to maintain the old ways and yet implement new technology when he saw the benefits to the cattle and the land. He was a mentor and friend to many. Mick was often consulted for his thoughts and perspective before neighbors and friends made important decisions. Mick was a Sandhills Cowboy.

Mick was a member of the Nebraska LEAD Class X, Arthur County Commissioner, Arthur County School Board, NSRA Board of Directors, Sandhills District Health Board, Sandhills Task Force, Grand Master Zion Masonic Lodge #234-Hyannis, NE, member of the United Church of Christ Treasurer-Hyannis, 2006 Grassland Conservation Award, Nebraska High School and NSRA Rodeo Judge and NIRA Finals Qualifier.

Samuel Spencer Miles

March 13, 1931

Sam was born at a house in Thedford, NE on March 13, 1931 to Austin and Mae Miles, joining four older siblings: Lester, Eldora, Robert and Merle Marie. The first seven years of his life was at the soddy, an actual 4 room sod house northeast of Brownlee, NE. In 1938 Austin bought the old Doc Higgins place 5 miles southeast of Brownlee. This ranch is to this day referred to as the “home place”.

As a young boy, Sam and his younger brother Bernard liked riding calves at brandings as well as the bucket calves that his older brothers would put him on. Probably just for the wrecks that would ensue. Sam soon found out that the local rodeos would pay kids a dollar to ride steers thus bring the thrill of the moment to real life. This stirred his interest in the riding, roping and excitement that came with the sport of rodeo and being a cowboy. He soon found that he liked roping so at the age of 16 he joined the Brownlee Roping Club. This club was located just northwest of Brownlee and was quite active for those days with a fair number of active ropers. His passion for roping became reality and the thought of good horses was the direction he and his brothers pursued.

The Korean War put a pause on horses and roping when Sam was drafted in March of 1953 and sent to Fort Sill Oklahoma for boot camp. While on leave at boot camp he and Gene Carver hitchhiked to Wichita Falls, TX to look at some quarter horses. Days before being sent to Korea the war ended and Sam found himself fin Germany serving from 1953 to late spring of 1955.

Sam and his older brother Robert rode with the Vern Whitaker family to the Lowry Dispersion Horse sale at Lenapah, OK that fall. The two young men rode from Chambers, NE to the sale in the back of Vern’s truck. This is a story pretty much all of its own as you can imagine. Vern purchased two horses while Robert and Sam each purchased one. The men then were able to partition the back of the truck off so they weren’t stepped on by the horses on the way home. The mare that Sam acquired was a daughter of Lowery’s Oklahoma Star which sired quite a number of excellent rope horses, tied down and steer ropers. Sam called this mare Lena and she turned out to be an outstanding cowy horse. Sam’s love for good horsed, riding roping and rodeo have always been important to him.

In 1972 his father Austin passed and he took over the home place operation with the help of his wife Charlotte and two sons, Scott and Craig. This is when Herefords started being replaced with Angus cattle and his Angus based cowherd has served the Miles family well for years. In the mid 70’s the two sons now became interested in roping so Sam and the boys started going to the nearby Byron and Wayne Eatinger ranch since they had an arena and steers. Sam helped with the high school rodeo in Thedford for many years providing cattle for cutting and helping with maintenance on the old rodeo grounds. Sam served on the Thedford High School rodeo committee and helped out with that for many years. Helping haul cattle and providing support were important to him so all could enjoy the sport. Going to Hollis Fuchs’ arena west of Thedford was always a high light. Team roping lessons from E.V. Dorsey at Middle Loup Roping Club changed team roping for the Miles family. One team roping highlight for Sam was winning first place at the Chamber, NE family team roping in 1978 at the Holt County Fair with his nephew Rory, brother Bernard’s son.

Now retire at 93, very soon to be 94, he and Charlotte have enjoyed going to the Guthrie, OK timed event championships, watching rodeo on the Cowboy Channel but most favorite is going to horse sales with his grandson Caleb.

Stanley Mellor Huffman

November 2, 1921 – August 13, 2005

Stan was born November 2, 1921 in Elgin, NE to Stanley and Zoe Mellor Huffman. He grew up in Elgin and graduated from Elgin High School. He earned a degree from the Ag College at the University of Nebraska. He married Helen Jean Elam in Falls City on December 19, 1942. They lived in Lincoln for a short period before the ROTC was activated. Stan served in the 405 Infantry, Company D. He was awarded the Silver Star and the Purple Heart before receiving his discharge as captain. His Purple Heart was earned as he was wounded while in Germany. After returning from military duty, he worked at the lumberyard in Elgin. Shortly afterward, he and Jean moved to the Huffman Ranch in Wheeler County. In 1955, he served as the State Commander of the Nebraska American Legion. Remaining family include: wife Jean Huffman, now deceased, daughters Zoe Ann Huffman of Whitman and Becky Akporiaye of Tucson, AZ, and grandson Gabe Huffman of Whitman, NE.

Stanley and his wife, Helen Jean, purchased the Carver Ranch 30 miles north of Whitman from Jack Ressegieu in 1961. The Huffman’s Carver Ranch was the home of the Round Lake Ropers, one of the first roping clubs in the Sandhills. He had many memorable horses among which are: Lucky Card and Carver’s Grey. The ranch was the center of many community events over the years – NCHA cuttings, Memorial Day Old Timers Roping, Huffman Ranch Horse Sales, Annual 4-H Horse-Judging Contests and quite a few hotly-contested bridge, pitch, poker and cribbage games. Stan devised a first handicap method to make his team members more even in his roping club.

Stan and Jean hosted some of the biggest jackpot ropings in the Sandhills. Beginning in the 1960’s the club was known as the Round Lake Roping Club and they had something for everyone. This included grade school, pro-am, mixed and one-over-40 and occasionally barrel races. They drew contestants from many miles around, from Thedford to Alliance to Martin, SD.

Stan and Jean were extremely generous hosts. They made everyone feel welcome. If the roping was to start at 1:00 p.m. that’s when it would kick off. Probably going back to Stan’s military service, everything was run to precision. Stan loved roping although it never came particularly easy for him. He won the Triangle Ranch Roping at Arthur in the 1970’s; he was heart to say, “Now I can die; I’ve won a buckle!” That was not the last one.

Stan was extremely generous. When a group of Sandhillers went to Rapid City for a roping, he treated everyone, including wives, to a prime rib supper. That was just the norm for Stan. He loved ice cream and would always treat everyone. Woe to the guy who tried to pick up the tab; Stan would not hear of it. He never made a big show of it but he insisted on treating everyone.

Stan raised quarter horses for many years. They were always known to be gentle and capable to doing most anything. In the 1980’s he began sponsoring a “Century” roping in conjunction with the Hyannis Old Timers Rodeo. This drew a lot of ropers from all over the country. I believe they would have 150 or more teams. He would follow that up with a horse sale. Most of the geldings were trained rope horses and sold extremely well. Stan sold a weanling that eventually went to the National Finals Rodeo in the team roping event. Many more went on to become trusted ranch horses or top barrel horses, carrying the Double Arrow brand.

Vern Boeser

July 7, 1951

Vern was born July 7, 1951 to Jerry and Uela (Linderman) Boeser. He has an older brother, Steve, sisters Anita Harwager and Annie Lehmkuler. Wife Janet (Dobbins) Boeser, sons Bernie and wife Audra, Luke and wife Tara and Chancy and wife Ronnie. Vern and Janet have nine grandchildren.

Vern started working on ranches during his high school years on summer break. After graduating high school he attended Chadron State College for a time and then went to work on ranches in the Stapleton area that included his Uncle Lloyd Lovitt, Carl Rundbak and S & W Cattle Co. Later on he managed a yearling operation south of Lakeside. Not long after Vern and Janet married, Vern was hired as foreman for Milldales Whitewater Ranch. Sometime after that they bought their home place east of Stapleton and started their herd of cows. Over the years, Vern started many young horses and always rode a good one. He kept his three boys mounted on good horses while they were growing up and all through their years of junior, junior high, high school and college rodeo.

Early on Vern rodeoed in the NSRA riding bulls and an occasional saddle bronc. Later he was on several team penning and ranch rodeo teams. Being quite successful at that.

Vern has been affiliated with ranching and rodeo pretty much his whole life. He never hesitated to help a friend or neighbor with cattle work or anything else they may have needed help with. He’s always had a big heart when it came to helping kids with horses and especially their rodeo endeavors. He welcomed many kids to his arena to practice and hone their skills in rodeo. Furnishing them with bucking stock as well as timed event cattle to practice on. He was a coach and mentor to many kids including his three sons, nieces and nephews.

Vern was a longtime member of the Nebraska State Rodeo Association, member and officer of the Logan County Roping Club, he was on the Logan County Fair and Rodeo committee and served several years as an adult director for the Nebraska State High School Rodeo Association.