At 94 years young, Clarence “Buzz” Durham can still be found outside everyday working with and taking care of his animals. Buzz still has a few cows and takes care of six horses. His love of horses dates back to his toddler years when he was put on a horse for the first time. A love like no other formed in those early years and it can still be seen today in the way he tends to and handles the horses in his life.

Buzz was born and raised ten miles south of Geddes on the family farm about a mile away from the Missouri River. He is the second oldest of five with two brothers and two sisters. When asked how he acquired the nickname Buzz, Clarence remembered it was because one of his sisters could not pronounce brother correctly and ended up calling him Buzz. Buzz attended the Red White Blue country school for eight years before graduating from Ged-des High School at 16 years old. After graduating in 1946, Buzz continued the family tradition of farming raising both animals and growing crops. His family only did horse drawn farming for many years. He continued farming but was asked to work for the Fort Randall Water District where he worked for 20 years before retiring at 80 years old to return to his passion of animal husbandry.

In 1954, Buzz was set up on a date to a dance at Rest Haven with his wife, Donna. Donna was born and raised in Minnesota, but was visiting her grandma who lived in Geddes at the time. They dated a year before marrying in 1955. They have been married 67 years. The pair had three children Robert “Buzzy”, Debra and Alan. Unfortunately, Alan passed away at the age of four after a long battle with leukemia. The beautiful couple have five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren and a very loving dog named Taco.

Buzz was one of the three co-founders of the Wagner Rodeo. Harvey Johansen, Casey Buss and Buzz put together and started the rodeo for Wagner over 60 years ago. As amazing as it sounds, Buzz never actually participated in any of the rodeos as a contestant, only as a pickup rider. He can still be found helping at the gates at the Wagner Rodeo during Labor Day. Buzz also has a tradition of being the last horse rider in the Labor Day Parade.

Buzz competed in horseshows during his younger years. He competed in what he called rough events as a part of a team. Both his children, Robert and Debra, showed and competed in horseshows as well. Horses were always a big part of the Durham way of life and the love of horses was passed down to his children.

Buzz and Donna were avid sports fans and attended many local sporting events. They followed their grandchildren through all of the sports they played. Even after their grandchildren were finished playing high school sports, Donna and Buzz continued to attend games in Wagner, Platte and Geddes enjoying supporting the local teams and getting to know the local youth.

Nowadays, Buzz spends his time “puttering around” as he puts it. Many days, he can be found south of Geddes still working cows for other farmers, when he is not busy with his own animals. Buzz currently has three horses, Buddy, King and Blaze. The moment the horses hear Buzz open the outside door, they start making their way to the fence. There is an unspoken love and companionship between Buzz and the horses he takes care of. He has an uncanny way with horses whichmakeshimanamazing horse handler. After foals have been weaned, Buzz is known to take care of a horse for the next two years while he “handles” them. Handling meaning that he plays with them, tames them, and gets the horses used to being around and taken care of by humans.

Clarence “Buzz” Durham is definitely a one of kind man. He is a very kind, humble, honest man who holds many stories and experiences. He has seen and experienced so many advances and life-altering inventions throughout his life, and yet it is the simple things that he holds close. His family and his animals mean the world to him and it is in the simplicity that he finds the most happiness.