Trip to the field brings back memories for Kansas governor Winning line-up By Bill Spiegel Years ago, Kansas Gover- nor Mark Parkinson was a frequent visitor to his grand- parent’s wheat farm in Scott County. Pictures of him rid- ing a combine as a youth, he says, are notable in part be- cause those machines had no cab, let alone air condition- ing. After emerging from a combine operated by Tanner Brown southwest of Colby July 6, Governor Parkinson remarked that today’s com- bines are vastly improved. Governor Parkinson’s visit to the Thomas County farm of Tanner Brown and Gov. Mark Parkinson, third from the left, paused for a his father, Mike, symbolizes photo with the Brown family of Colby during wheat the importance agriculture harvest last week. Also pictured, far right, is Adrian plays in the state’s economy. Polansky, Kansas Secretary of Agriculture. “It’s important to high- light how important agricul- there are good things hap- “The harvest so far has been ture is to the state, and par- pening in the state. Farmers fairly decent, with yields in ticularly, how important in many parts of the state are the 40 to 60-bushel-per acre wheat is to our agricultural having good crops and yields range. Proteins are running sector. We have an awful lot and can help us come out of from 9 to 12.5, so they’re of parts of the state that are the recession.” pretty variable. Test weights hurting because of the reces- The Kansas wheat crop have been running 60 to 64 sion,” Parkinson says. “The was projected to average pounds, so those are good,” recession has hurt everybody about 40 bushels per acre, he says. “We’ve lost 450 but it has probably affected based on National Agricul- acres to hail. We still haven’t The Boley family — Holly, Jennifer and Clay — prepared their lambs for the agriculture less. Kansas tural Statistics estimates in cut a whole field yet, be- sheep show at the Cloud County Fair in Concordia last week. Clay, 13, worked needs some good news and May. Mike Brown expects on taking off the covers on the lambs just prior to the show. we wanted to highlight that his wheat crop to follow suit. Continued on page 3 Rodeo is all in the family for this 10-year-old By Cindy Baldwin has been a fixture at the their specialty acts. Leon Goode is quick to point performs, provides addition- full run. But, he accom- County fairs are all about McPherson County Fair Adams’ signature act was out, however, that he is al pointers. plished it with a few weeks kids. Whether they are ex- since 1949, the year after it riding a team of six Brahma doing this because he “real- According to Goode, the of practice. hibiting a 4-H project, at- moved to Canton. bulls Roman style. He also ly, really loves riding,” not audience at the McPherson “I was fearless,” he said tending the carnival or Goode, who rides a pair had a clown act and compet- because that’s what his fam- County Fair rodeo perform- matter of factly. hanging out with their of horses Roman style, will ed in bull dogging events. ily does, and that he wants ances will see him take his Within a short time, friends, fairs across the state be entertaining the crowd. Now retired, he has been in- to continue riding profes- horses, Rudy and Trudy, Goode was handling the are a big draw for the This will be Goode’s first ducted into the National sionally. It was actually around the arena, do a figure reins himself while his younger set. But, for one 10- performance outside of the Rodeo Hall of Fame and the watching the audience while eight, jump a bar, and go in grandfather gave instruc- year-old at this week’s state of Oklahoma. National Cowboy and West- his grandparents performed and out through a row of tions. Rudy and Trudy are McPherson County Fair, “We are very excited that ern Heritage Museum Hall that interested him in learn- torches — all at a run and, not tied together during held in Canton, it’s more Zayne has chosen to make of Fame. Vicki Adams has ing stunt riding. for part of the time, he will practice or performance, but than fun — it’s business. his first Kansas appearance performed stunt riding, and “(My grandparents) al- be facing backwards. He the two sets of reins are Zayne Goode, 10, of Stu- at our fair,” Mary Jane her signature act is what she ways entertain so many peo- will end the performance by taped together so he can art, Okla., will be the head- Lauer, McPherson County refers to as “dancing” hors- ple. When they would per- spreading the horses on ei- handle both horses which, line specialty act at the Fair Association president es, in which her horses exe- form the people just smiled ther side of the torch row as he said, are very well McPherson County Fair said. “It’s not very often cute choreographed move- and enjoyed it so, and I he straddles the flames, one trained. Even though Rudy rodeo July 17-18. The rodeo our fair gets this caliber of ments to music. A Native wanted to do it, too, to make foot on each horse’s shoul- is bigger than Trudy, they talent for our feature per- American, she has been in- people smile,” Goode ex- der. move together so their formers. We think the public ducted into the National plained. “I asked papa (his “I get the biggest rush backs go up and down at the will really enjoy what he Cowboys of Color Hall of grandfather) if he would (during the act) when I go same time, making it possi- does.” Fame. Goode’s mother, teach me and he said OK. It over the fire. I get to spread ble for Goode to keep his Even though it will be his Kerri Adams Hall, also was was kind of both of us that the horses out and it really balance. first performance in Kansas, a professional trick rider, decided I would try.” gets the crowd going,” While balance is impor- Goode is a veteran on the performing handstands, Even though he is only Goode said. He added that tant in the act, Leon Adams Oklahoma rodeo circuit, vaults and pommel work on 10 — he’ll be 11 next month even though the flames are said Goode also is “sized performing at over 30 her horse. The family has — Goode’s act is not a touching him as he rides right” for rodeo. Even events the past four sum- performed together and in- downsized version of what over the torches, he’s confi- though the horses are well mers. He began training to dividually at major rodeos would be expected of a dent he won’t be burned be- trained, it does take some ride Roman style — stand- in the United States and in- showcased performer at a cause of the horse’s speed. strength to handle them. ing astraddle two horses — ternationally. Their acts professional rodeo. He has Even though rodeo per- Goode said his “weight lift- when he was six and has have garnered specialty act always trained on and rid- forming runs in his blood, ing program” consists of been publicly performing of the year awards several den full-sized horses and Goode still spends many lifting the hay bales he since he was seven. While times. has increased the difficulty hours training in the prac- feeds his horses, which, he most six-year-olds might “We’re a rodeo family, of tricks to meet expec- tice arena, averaging one to said, were like part of their think it would be fun to and he’s doing well for a tations of his audience and two hours per day. His family. ride Roman style, most kid,” Leon Adams said, not- his skill level. His grandfa- grandfather started him on Goode has never been in- parents might hesitate giv- ing that there are very few ther has been his primary two horses tied together, jured either in practice or a ing permission. For Goode’s children Goode’s age per- trainer, showing him the which he led while Goode performance, but he has family, it was a natural forming at this level. “He’s technique needed to be a learned how to balance be- fallen a number of times. In fit. ready to go out and be a per- professional stunt rider. His tween the pair. One of the one instance he was step- His grandparents, Leon former. He wants to be big- grandmother, who is still hardest things, he said, was ping from one horse to the and Vicki Adams, are well ger than he is, and he wants performing, sometimes at learning how to step from known in rodeo circles for to do it now.” the same rodeos where he one horse to the other at a Continued on page 16 Page 2 Grass & Grain, July 14, 2009 We surely can’t arrive which this scenario is true, ernment extends itself be- Guest Editorial where we’re going if we by the way. In short, the yond those basic necessities don’t know where there is… Waxman-Markey bill is that we see legislation like The many feel-good axioms about pushing more Ameri- Waxman-Markey. The pow- Begin With the End In Mind about the journey being as cans out of the “luxuries” of ers Congress would like to important as the destination the middle class and into exercise in passing this bill By Andy Vance would require every ounce methods to the tools avail- belittle the fact that too economic strata requiring are neither explicitly grant- Ten years ago a dear of effectiveness I could able through my laptop and often, parroting the impor- more government reliance.