The Wagner Rotary club held a weekly meeting on Wednesday, August 20th. President Jamie Soukup called the meeting to order with a rap on the Rotary bell. Soukup then lead a prayer for our meal and mission.

Song Leader Rachel Woods lead the Club in singing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame,” in honor of the recent Little League Championship Games.

Rotarian Patti Frei shared a Membership Minute that recapped Rotary’s areas of focus: peacebuilding; disease prevention; water and sanita-tion; basic literacy; economic development; and the environment.

Happy Fines were offered by Guest Kristan Soukup’s Queen of Hearts ticket was selected. Despite an enticing $564-pot, Ms. Soukup drew the jack of hearts; bummer.

Treasurer Krsnak shared an attendance report, noting 10 misses for the Jerry Weber team and 11 misses for the Jordan Weber team.

Other announcements: In two weeks, District Governor Bruce Nearhood will attend our meeting. Interested Rotarians are encouraged to assemble a Labor Day Float. And, Rotarians have the opportunity to help the Todd Becker Foundation during their upcoming September event in Wagner.

Program Chair Jeannie Crowe then introduced her program: Kristan Soukup’s local business, “Diamond K Legacy Horses: Leaving a Legacy in Every Foal.” Soukup’s business has three parts: Training, Competition, and Breeding.

As a kid, Kristan developed a love for horses. To barrel race in high school, Kristan used her dad’s retired competition horses. Then, she advanced to newly acquired three-yearolds, which she trained! Upon entering college, Kristan sold her three horses to pay the college bill. After college, she bought trainer horses again.

Ms. Soukup developed the Diamond K Legacy Horses logo, which is beautiful and means quite a lot to her. Diamonds are formed under pressure. And, her motto is, “Leaving a Legacy in Every Foal.” To that note, she’s never given up on a trainee horse, while noting that some are harder than others to train.

Clinton Anderson’s Down Under Horsemanship significantly impacts her methods. It takes about 6-8 weeks to break a horse. Horses can be broke for kids, roping, ranching, trail riding, etc. Barrels are her main training-purpose. Ms. Soukup’s model is to buy a three-year-old horse, train, and then sell.

When able to compete, Kristan does barrels, but also pole bending, which is a timed weaving maneuver through a series of six poles and back. A horse’s capability depends on its blood lines and its overall personality. Rotarians are surprised to learn that horses have relatively long lives, peaking performance at 8-10 years, and remaining competition- worthy at ages 16-18. It’s possible for a 20-year-old horse to still be competing.

On the breeding end of the business, Kristan owns two studs – an all-around stud and a barrels-stud. Ms. Soukup is active in the Wagner Saddle Club, management of Knotheads Bar & Grill, and local healthcare, as a registered nurse.

Shortly after 1pm, the Club adjourned in its usual fashion, reciting: OF THE THINGS we think, say or do: Is it the TRUTH? Is it FAIR to all concerned? Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS? Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned.