Fifth annual 4-H alumni reunion

Wednesday, July 20, 2016
4-H Drill Team. Submitted photo

Nevada Daily Mail

On Saturday afternoon, past 4-H members and their families crowded the Home Ec building at the Vernon County Fair Grounds for the fifth annual 4-H Alumni reunion.

"I pledge my head to clearer thinking, my heart to greater loyalty, my hands to larger service and my health to better living for my club, my community, my country and my world," the crowd recited as the 4-H pledge followed the Pledge of Allegiance.

Phyllis Sprenkle welcomed everyone to the event and introduced Vernon County's new 4-H Youth Specialist, Landon Sullivan.

Following committee archives and treasurer reports, the 2016 Youth Fair Queen, Riley Gordon, was introduced. Other past fair royalty were then recognized including the first princess, Melanie Miller.

A moment of silence was offered for former members and leaders who have died.

Outstanding 4-H Leader award winners from 1990-94 were recognized. They include: Janie Thomas, Helen Bausch, Jenise Burch, 1990; Susie Caldwell, Shelley Pitts, Blanche Balk, 1991; Donna Sheets, Chuck Humble, Debbie Metcalf, 1992; Steve Brier, Dale Pitts, Pat Harold, 1993; Mike Sheets, Ardis Legleiter, Alice Boehs, 1994.

The Stewards and McGlochiens were recognized for their decades of leadership with a star made out of horseshoes from Charlie Comstock. Becky and Daniel Bruce, and Brandi Shipley, the leaders of the second incarnation of the Drill Team, were also recognized.

Marjeanna Pitts delivered an account of the Drill Team's history that was compiled by Harva Miller, Dwain and Donna Steward, Ron and Nancy McGlochien, Darrell Caster, Charlie Comstock, and others.

In 1967, Darrell Castor thought of the idea for a 4-H horse drill team. Castor said that he was in a drill team as a youngster that square danced. He really enjoyed it and wanted his children to participate in something like that. He recruited Donna and Dwain Steward to help him start the program.

In order to be a member of the drill team, youth between the ages of 8-18 had to be a member of a 4-H club. Occasionally, a junior member was allowed to join, usually with an older sibling on the team. Members had to provide their own horses and transportation. This tradition continued for 25 years with well over 130 riders taking part at different times through the years.

When the group started there were only eight members: Penny Steward, Deline and Shelly Castor, Charlie Comstock, Mike Emery, Barbara Hedges, Pam Shorten, and Patty Dawson. This was not enough for a good presentation. Other members were recruited from throughout the county. The group grew to a maximum of 36 members. Steward said that about 24 was the best number but they never turned down anyone who wanted to be a member of the team.

In 1973, the Castors moved to South Texas, so Ron and Nancy McGlochien joined the Stewards as leaders. In the beginning, participants wore white shirts, green ties, white hats and jeans. Later, fundraisers provided money to purchase felt fabric for chaps. The chaps were made by Donna Steward and Nancy McGlochien with the help of some of the mothers. They also added attire for the horses: besides the saddle and bridle provided by the riders, 4-H green saddle blankets, white breast collars, white lanyards and white leggings for the horses. The primary fundraiser was cleaning saddles at the fair grounds for anyone who needed their saddle cleaned.

Each year the group got started the first Tuesday in April with a meeting at the fair grounds. Prior to that meeting, the leaders had devised the plan for the drill for the year. It was laid out on paper at the Steward home and their daughter, Penny, and the McGlochien girls walked through it many times. At that first meeting and ones to follow, the members practiced the drill on foot to see how it was all going to work. Every Tuesday evening the lights at the fair grounds arena would shine, as the team would show up for practice from 7-9 or later. If the practice didn't go well, or a performance was close another practice might be called. This continued until the last performance, usually the Osceola Rodeo on Labor Day Weekend.

The routine was made up of circles in various directions, wagon wheel and crisscross patterns and other maneuvers, all at the horse's cantor gate. They rode to the music of the William Tell Overture and Spanish Flea by Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass and the theme from "Dallas". Each year four leaders were chosen by the adult leaders based on experience, dedication to the team, knowledge and attitude. At times in the drill all four leaders were leading groups in various directions.

The group usually presented their drill at rodeos, but they always rode in the Bushwhacker Parade as well. Besides Osceola, they have preformed at Hepler, Kan., the Nevada Rodeo, Vernon County Youth Fair, El Dorado Springs, Butler, Cassville, Lamar, Hume, Diamond and the Benjamin Stables Rodeo in Kansas City. Once, they preformed at the Missouri State Fair.

During the Drill Team season, an ice cream social, watermelon feed, birthday celebrations and other social activities might follow a practice. At the end of the season, members and their families enjoyed a trail ride, hog roast, camp out and breakfast together hosted by various Drill Team families. The Drill Team was a family affair. In the off-season, a dinner and awards program was held. At the awards program, new members received wooden plaques. Each year thereafter, they received a brass label with the date of the year they rode.

The Stewards said that there were no formal records kept, nor rosters kept, no officers elected, no fees assessed and it all worked. Members were almost always at the practices and performances. A parent was asked to attend each practice and performance.

To their knowledge, there was never a serious accident. Nancy McGlochien recalled a close call once when the cinch broke on a member's saddle at the Benjamin Stables performance. The rider held tight, rode a circle with the team and then slipped out of the arena. The other team members just moved up and completed their performance as if it were planned. The team was a family and the leaders could not recall any problems with members or parents.

In 1992, the books closed on the original Vernon County Drill Team. The McGlocheins and Stewards had dedicated 20-25 years to this great organization. The number of youth interested in horses was dwindling as athletics and other activities were demanding more of their time.

In late 1995, Daniel Bruce started making inquiries into restarting the drill team as his junior leaders project. He recruited members and organized meetings during the winter of 1996. After many hours of on-foot practice and more hours on horseback, a few performances were presented. The following year brought more performances. Becky Bruce was the leader with the help of many parents. When Daniel aged out of 4-H, he became a leader. Brandi Shipley also served as a leader for a few years.

This drill team performed at many rodeos, parades and also at the State Fair where they made several special performances and one of the members carried the flag each morning for the National Anthem. This group dissolved in 2003."

In addition to Pitt's recitation of the Drill Team's history, individuals from each decade were invited to speak. Charlie Comstock, Penny Steward, John Garton, and Jennifer Wade told of their time in Drill Team. Amid the laughs of the audience, there was likely a tear or two.

Marjeanna summed it up, "we know the true meaning of being a team."

Both the Vernon County 4-H Alumni and the Vernon County Drill Team have a presence on Facebook. The next reunion is planned for Saturday, July 15, 2017.

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