Valley rodeo team an asset to the community -- and not just for its trophies

From left to right and back to front, Assistant Coach Rusty Jones, Katie Kraii, Kaitlin Buzzard, Chelsea Clapsaddle, Casey Taylor, Krista Staley, Kallie Agre, Megan King, Jessie Pratt, Lauren McDonald, Brett Caldwell, Lauren Struxness, Coach Ken Mason, Dana Fricker, Sami Ross, Jessica Brown, Casey Chapman, Katie Kimble, Amy Adametz and Rachel Slatton of the Missouri Valley College Rodeo Women's Team pose. (Contributed photo) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

The Missouri Valley College Rodeo Men's Team took first in the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association Ozark Region team championship for the second consecutive year and the women's team placed second in the region. The men's team is currently ranked second in the nation, based on points earned throughout the season.

But rodeoing isn't all these teams do.

Coach Ken Mason said team members are involved around town in a number of activities, including assisting the Knights of Columbus in serving food and cleaning up after a meal and visiting grade schools to introduce students "to the culture we're used to."

Additionally, students help individuals in the community by moving furniture, tilling gardens, spreading manure (that they save for just this purpose) and cutting hedge posts.

The team also donates tickets to rodeos and their fundraiser chili suppers to Butterfield Youth Services and the Lighthouse Shelter, Mason said.

The ultimate addition the team makes to Marshall might simply be the money team members spend in town.

"Think of all the fuel we buy in this town, all the grain we buy in this town, all the hay we buy in this town," said Mason, also mentioning the costs of animal care for the 200 animals in MVC stables and the fact that most of his team members live off campus and purchase food in town. His team members also predominantly drive pickup trucks, he said, which get lower gas mileage than most smaller cars and add to the total amount spent by team on gasoline.

"We spend a lot of dollars right in this community," said Mason.

The team has quite a sense of camaraderie, said junior Katie Kimble. Team members practice together at 6 a.m.

Kimble added that because MVC is the school farthest north in the region, team members often practice in the snow while other teams only have to deal with rain.

From left to right and back to front, Assistant Coach Rusty Jones, Chris Coulter, Brady Wilson, Matt Cositt, Codey Payne, Jared Kempker, Jake Shaw, Chance Weldon, Will Smith, David Clapp, Colten Butler, Kyle Brennecke, Coach Ken Mason, Will Crain, Sean Beachy, Nathan Shaver, Adam Gilchrist, Chase Waters and James Earl Carter of the Missouri Valley College Rodeo Men's Team pose. (Contributed photo) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

"You might have two guys get in a fistfight in the middle of practice, but by the time they get back from running to the water tower and back holding hands, they're the best of friends," said Mason.

Mason said he is pleased at any opportunity to showcase his team members to the community because he wants community members to "know what an outstanding group of kids we have."

"These are the most moral kids with the most responsibilities. You can't just give them a pair of tennis shoes and have them get on a bus," like a basketball coach might be able to do, Mason said.

The students on the MVC rodeo team have to transport themselves to and from each rodeo and pay all their own expenses.

They house their own horses at MVC's stables and transport them to rodeos.

Junior James Earl Carter, who Mason recruited from Fort Scott, Kan., last year, said one of the biggest difficulties in being part of a region as large as the Ozark region is the driving time.

Many rodeos are quite a distance from Marshall, such as the next event attended by the MVC rodeo team, which will be the national meet in Casper, Wyo., from June 14-21.

"Rodeo's not a sport you pick up in the spring and drop off in the fall," said Mason. "They compete all the time and practice all the time."

Contact Geoff Rands at marshallreporter@socket.net