The Hastings man has been associated with the Oregon Trail Rodeo, Hastings’ professional rodeo, since its inception in 1992.

By age seven, he had a newspaper route, and as a thank you to the newspaper carriers, the Tribune would bus the kids to the Burwell Rodeo every year. They would stop in Ericson for chicken, enjoy a night of rodeo, and then head home.

When the professional rodeo came to town, Consbruck, who was now an adult, was there.

When the rodeo began in 1992, Consbruck, who worked for the local beer distributor, helped source beer for the rodeo.

Three years later, he was asked to run for the board of the Adams County Ag Society and he won, holding that post every year except one from 1995 to 2014.

As a board member of the fair, Consbruck and his wife Joni have spent countless hours of their time preparing, setting up and dismantling the professional rodeo and the fair.

Over the years, Consbruck has sought sponsors, sorted calves, set up the barrels for the barrel race, hung banners, accepted tickets, ridden in the parade, manned the sponsor tent and much more.

One of the bigger jobs he helped with was setting up and taking down the panels and slides for the rodeo. Before a permanent arena was built on the fairgrounds, steel was trucked in from South Dakota by Jim Korkow, the rodeo’s livestock supplier. And before horses, bulls, calves and steers could be unloaded from the trucks, pens had to be set up. It was a big job moving steel panels, and the volunteers were grateful when the permanent arena was installed in the early 2000s.

Consbruck fell in love with rodeo and the people involved in it, and became friends with the cowboys, cowgirls and rodeo promoters he met through his association with the Oregon Trail Rodeo and the Korkow family. He has interacted with rodeo greats, and now when he watches the Cowboy Channel on TV, he recognizes some of the people he sees at other rodeos.

Joni has also put in her share of time. In the early days, the wives of the board members sold tickets. She helped Rick find sponsorship and continues to help with the cancer campaign “Tough Enough to Wear Pink.”

One constant in Consbruck’s years at the rodeo is beer. As an employee of Nebraskaland Distributing, he made sure kegs, cans and bottles were delivered to the fairgrounds at rodeo time.

Consbruck has been with Nebraskaland Distributing for 42 years. He works as a warehouse manager.

He has never missed a performance in the rodeo’s 32 years of existence. That’s 96 performances! Joni has missed a performance or two due to commitments to the couple’s grandchildren.

He and Joni have two daughters and four grandchildren.

His work at the Oregon Trail Rodeo was worth it, he said.

“It brings a lot of people to town. The stands are full.”

And this August, Rick and Joni will be back, sitting in the stands as spectators, keeping the concession stands stocked with beer and enjoying their favorite sport.

In 2002, Rick was named Justin Committee Man of the Year.

This year’s Oregon Trail Rodeo will be held August 16-18 at the Adams Co. Fairgrounds in Hastings. Evening shows begin at 7 p.m. on August 16 and 17 and at 6 p.m. on August 18.

General admission tickets are $10 for children ages 6-12 and $15 for adults. Reserved seating is $20 and stadium seating is $25.

Tickets can be purchased online at AdamsCountyFairgrounds.com, at the Adams Co. Fair office, and at the entrance.

For more information, visit the website or call 402.462.3247.

–Oregon Trail Rodeo