Diane Stamm | Johnson Publications
Kathya Aragon and her horse Flash keep their eyes on the barrel during the Chase County Fair’s Aug. 9 event.
Storm doesn’t derail fair’s barrel racing
A little storm that blew threw Imperial Aug. 9 didn’t put a damper on the Chase County Fair’s barrel racing.
Organizer Dixie Engelke said the best part about the arena at Imperial is the fact they added sand to the ground.
“It can hold some water if it rains and they work it before the race to remove the hard pan. It’s great ground for an outdoor arena,” she said.
“The weather can throw a curveball when dealing with an outside venue so we always try to be flexible and go with the flow,” she added.
After no fair last year, numbers were slightly down last week.
Down by about 10 horses, Engelke said she got calls to draw out because of injuries and conflicting schedules.
Much like the weather, Engelke said they just rolled with the changes.
Taking home the evening’s top spot was Stacey Hansen on Slingshot in the Open 1D. Hansen took second, as well, on DHR Last Chance Dash.
Winning the 2D event was Jacky Roesener. Jessica Wykert took first and second in the 3D. Emma Adams was first in the 4D.
Youth winners were Marisa Wykert in the 1D, Benkelman’s Lexie Yrkoski in the 2D and Kaiti Salvador in the 3D.
Senior wins went to Deb Schroetlin in the 1D and Diane Phillips in the 3D and 4D.
Engelke said she always feels fortunate to be invited back to Imperial.
Chris Krausnick and the other fair board members have always been great to the barrel racers, Engelke said.
Top results are as follows:
Youth—1D—1. Marisa Wykert, 2. Bailey Workman, 3. Ashlyn Weinbender, 4. Ava Peterson; 2D—1. Lexie Yrkoski, 2. Kadence Wallin; 3D—1. Kaiti Salvador, 2. Abby Spicer, 3. Liz Reeves, 4. Addison Oliver.
Open—1D—1. Stacey Hansen, 2. Stacey Hansen, 3. Deb Schroetlin, 4. Deb Christy; 2D—1. Jacky Roesener, 2. Deb Christy, 3. Deb Cox, 4. Lacey Hunter; 3D—1. Jessica Wykert, 2. Jessica Wykert, 3. Connie Hill, 4. Stacey Hansen; 4D—1. Emma Adams, 2. Alex Beard, 3. Angela Marietta, 4. Carrie Sperfslage.
Senior—1D—1. Deb Schroetlin, 2. Deb Christy, 3. Jacky Roesener, 4. Deb Christy, 5. Jacky Roesener; 3D—Diane Phillips; 4D—Diane Phillips.