By SARAH OTTO
Staff Reporter
The second annual Rylee Miller Memorial Ranch Bronc Riding has wrapped up.
Miller was a Northwestern student from Brookville, Kans., and a member of the rodeo team. She ran barrels at college rodeos but also competed in ranch rodeos in her spare time. Her father was a bronc rider, so they shared a love for bronc riding together. Miller died in a car wreck on Jan. 14, 2013, but left behind an unforgettable legacy.
Her boyfriend for three years, James Hajek, is a Northwestern alumni. He also shared a love for bucking stock and was heavily involved in helping with the Northwestern rodeo team’s rough stock practices. He currently is a pick-up man at rodeos, and also runs his family’s ranch. He has a busy work schedule, but hasn’t let that stop him from keeping Miller’s memory alive. Hajek has put on two memorial ranch bronc ridings in her memory, and they have both been successes.
Hajek said, “It means everything to me to put this on. She had a love for ranching and rodeos that was beyond anything I could fathom. The bronc riding fits so well because of her love for it. I kept it in the family, with her dad and uncle as judges.”
This year the rodeo had 30 male entries, along with five female entries.
Hajek got sentimental while talking about Miller, and the strong connection they had. He explained that they were dating, but seemed to be much more than that. He said that they had their lives planned out together, and were respecting her parents’ wish to wait for her to graduate before she got engaged. Hajek said, “She left behind that you can be a lady, and also a tough cowgirl. She could be a trophy wife in a dress one minute, then be in jeans, boots and a hat working cattle the next.”
Jennifer Pollmiller, a Littleton, Colo., native, is a Northwestern alumni and also a former member of the rodeo team. Pollmiller said, “Rylee became one of my good friends when I first came to school here. She always had a smile on her face, and was more than willing to help anybody and everybody. James has always dedicated a lot to this event and does a great job remembering her and her legacy.”
This year, Shelby Long from Canton, Okla., won the men’s division and Maddie Banta from Ramona, Okla., won the women’s division. Both champions of the weekend weren’t extremely close to Miller, but are both very good friends with Hajek.
Long, who grew up on his grandfather’s ranch, was pleased with his weekend, in a sense. “I had a great ride in the short round, but unfortunately I hung up my right stirrup. I broke my leg after the bronc drug me a couple jumps. I scored a 78, and won the bronc riding,” Long said with a smile. “The Good Lord was watching over me, and I got out of my stirrup. I had surgery and am now recovering,” he said. Long broke one bone clean and also spiral broke another bone in his leg. Although Long’s weekend resulted in a broken leg, it was an honor for him to win the bronc riding. He said, “It means a whole bunch to win this year. Last year, I didn’t draw very good and didn’t get to make the short round.”
Banta works for /U Ranch in Skiatook, Okla., and said, “It was really cool to win the first annual last year, but winning it two years in a row, made it really awesome. I competed against a great group of ladies. James makes the event very special because everybody can tell how much it means to him.”
There has also been a $2,000 scholarship set up in Miller’s memory. Hajek said that he is hoping to expand the scholarship and set up another one in the future.