2003/2004 Abstract
Kansas State University

The Block and Bridle Club of Kansas State University began the busy 2003/2004 academic year with the College of Ag Watermelon Feed.  This kick-off event was sponsored by the Dean’s Office and designed to acquaint new students with the options they have for participation in ag related clubs while attending KSU.  Our Club manned a recruiting booth at the Watermelon Feed and we followed that with our first meeting of the year.  There were more than 150 in attendance!!!  Our Department Head (Dr. Jack Riley) gave a pep talk at this first meeting and did a fine job of setting the stage for our slate of outstanding educational speakers that addressed the Club during our regular meetings throughout the fall semester.

As always, the Watermelon Feed proved to be fertile ground for recruiting new members as demonstrated by the turnout of nearly 40 rookies for the initiation ceremonies in October.  We were kind of soft on the rookies this year  J, with initiation consisting of a written exam and competition in events such as the egg toss, a hay bale race, show stick relay, and roping a dummy calf.  Finally, we treated all the new recruits to cookies and punch before sending them home with a few fond memories.

Our fall semester continued with activities such as a hamburger feed, a pitch tournament, and the “First Annual B&B Pub Crawl”.  All of these activities were designed to encourage interaction among our members and to strengthen friendships …. both new and old.  We also parked cars at all of the home football games as our primary fund-raising activity for the year and threw in a couple tailgate parties just to keep morale high!!  We closed the fall semester with the B&B Christmas Party that consisted of 50 cent tacos at Bobby T’s (a local eating establishment).

All-in-all, we had an active and productive fall semester.  Then, it was time to take a break with family during the Christmas holidays and return to school ready for an even better second semester.

We kicked the spring semester off with our regularly scheduled (biweekly) meetings and planning sessions for the AGR/B&B Kickoff Show.  The Kickoff Show was a cattle show for junior exhibitors and drew in participants from every corner of the Great State of Kansas.  This was the second year for the Kickoff Show and, by all indications, it is only getting stronger.

Next on our list of major events for spring was the National Convention in San Antonio, TX.  We decided to make the trip to San Antonio our “joint activity” for the year and, thus, invited the B&B Club from Ft Hays State University (in western Kansas) to join us for the 16-hour bus ride to San Antonio.  Great fun was had by all both on the chartered bus and in the city of San Antonio.  We must say that the guys and gals from Texas A&M did a marvelous job of organizing and hosting the National Convention and who can argue that evenings on the San Antonio River Walk are anything less that delightful.  Finally, and best of all, our 37 Club members that made the trip to San Antonio got to see our Chapter Scrapbook win 4^th place.  Great job Nikki and Mary!!

Other activities for the spring semester included manning the concession stands at the Kansas State University Rodeo, organizing the Little American Royal Showmanship Contest (a huge undertaking), and executing our Second Annual B&B Pub Crawl.  I know, this was the second time for what was supposed to be a once-a-year event …. but, the first one was just too much fun to not do it again!!! 

We finished the year with our Annual Banquet.  At this capstone event, we swore in new Executive Officers, recognized the accomplishments of our Outstanding Stockman and Honorary Member  awardees, and announced the names of our Outstanding Senior and Outstanding Junior.  Finally, as a last farewell for the year, we had our End-of-Year Picnic at the Tuttle Creek State Park and took a “field trip” to the local miniature golf course.

Officers

Outgoing President: Holly Lawson
Incoming President: Kate Blubaugh

Outgoing Vice President: Bill Pope
Incoming Vice President: Kristy Wempe

Outgoing Recording Secretary: Mary Mikesell
Incoming Recording Secretary: Rosy Hansen

Outgoing Corresponding Secretary: Nikki Josefiak
Incoming Corresponding Secretary: Melinda Tebow

Outgoing Treasurer: Tom Bays
Incoming Treasurer: Christine Soukup

Outgoing Reporter:  Rachel Kruce
Incoming Reporter: Sarah Pippenger

Outgoing LAR Reps: Troy Soukup/Kati Neil
Incoming LAR Reps:Abby Dechant/Kati Neil

Outgoing Ag Council Rep: Beth Shanholtzer
Incoming Ag Council Rep: Jake Crockford

Outgoing Marshal: Curt Vogel
Incoming Marshal: Cale Wiehe

Outgoing Business Manager: Brian Davis
Incoming Business Manager: Heather Langton

Outgoing Feeds/Concessions Coor.:  Chris Delva
Incoming Feeds/Concessions Coor.:  Toni Belshe

Outgoing Parking Coordinators: Kate Blubaugh/Jake Crockford
Incoming Parking Coordinators: To be announced

Outgoing Web Master: Emily Weeks
Incoming Web Master: Bonnie Baumbach

Outgoing Rookie Reps: Lacey Evans/Adam Lukert
Incoming Rookie Reps: To be announced

Outgoing Senior Advisor: Dr. Twig Marston
Incoming Senior Advisor: Dr. Joe Hancock

Outgoing Junior Advisor:  Dr. Joe Hancock
Incoming Junior Advisor: Dr. Scott Beyer

Outgoing Rookie Advisor: Dr. Scott Beyer
Incoming Rookie Advisor: Dr. Ron Pope

For additional information, visit us at our web address:

http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/pr_bbc/welcome.asp

Chapter Abstracts