348 NE S.R. 61
Pratt, KS 67124
The Block & Bridle Club at Pratt Community College is small, but it is a very active club on our campus.
Each October, the club holds its annual Ag Olympics, which includes activities such as stacking hay, pitching horseshoes, flipping a bucket, roping a roping dummy, and barrel racing using wheelbarrow and a blindfolded pusher. Nine teams entered, with the entry fee of one can of food or $1 per team member. Cash entry fees purchased additional canned food. More than 50 cans of food were donated to the Pratt County Food Bank.
Also in October, the club cooperated with the PCC Rodeo Team to host a team roping event as a fundraiser. More than 60 teams entered, and the club cleared nearly $250 as its share.
Last November, the PCC Athletic Department, Block & Bridle, and the Livestock Judging Team worked together to hold a chili cook-off during the PCC Invitational basketball tournament. We charged $25 per team to enter, and $5 per person to taste the different kinds of chili. For the first year of the event, we had 17 teams and quite a few people come out for the tasting. Everyone seemed to have a good time, and we think that this event has a lot of room to build a tradition and grow.
Four members traveled to Fort Worth in January for the National Convention. We enjoyed seeing the ranches, going to the educational and leadership seminars, and attending the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo.
In March, club members put together a display about Block & Bridle for the annual PCC Open House, then manned the booth to answer questions for prospective students and their parents. Club members also helped man a booth at the Salina, Kansas, Farm Show.
During April, the PCC Student Senate held a carnival to raise money. For its part in the carnival, the club put on a petting zoo and gave pony rides. Chapter members arranged for the pygmy goats, sheep, dogs, cats, ducks, and the pony; pens for the animals; and handled the animals for the children who came through.
Club officers for 1997-99 were Toni Wesley, Lake City, Kansas, President; Steve
Clark, Amorita, Oklahoma, Vice-President (also acting Student Senate Representative
after February); Shannon Hiatt, Rosalia, Kansas, Secretary; Mandi Stewart, Hutchinson,
Kansas, Student Senate Representative; and Dr. Bill Hunter, Advisor.
