03/07/2022
Derek made University of Minnesota Crookston Equine Program alumni spotlight! 🍀❤️
Let’s have a Sunday Alumni Spotlight!
Say Hello to Katie Brucks, owner of Lucky Stables LLC
Name: Katie Brucks, Katie Weyenberg, known to my college classmates as “whiner” (Thanks Rachel Stark!)
Where did you grow up: Neenah, WI
Major/minor in college: Bachelor of Science in equine Industries Management
Where do you live now: Neenah, WI
Current Employment & Duties:
Owner/Instructor of Lucky Stables LLC. If I itemize everything I do, it would create its own chapter in a book. Short and sweet answer is, I am the head instructor/coach for my very successful lesson program and my 32,500 square foot facility. Custom built with my 29 years of experience, education, and grit. Myself and my team teach and compete in western, english, jumping, driving, basic dressage. I also work with handicap riders with disabilities - most of which are funded by a few different government programs.
Most exciting moment or favorite aspect of your job:
I love helping people reach their goals. I pride myself in having an eye for pushing my riders just outside their comfort zone in an effort to reach that next level. When they succeed, I do too. Sometimes it takes a while, the journey getting there is half the fun! I've also observed the community that has naturally evolved within my barn. Teens helping toddlers, teens looking up to adults, adults being coached by teens. It's beautiful to share a common passion with others who appreciate learning in all forms.
I am humbled and honored that through the years, half a dozen horse owners in the area have sought me out to care for and “buy” (they gifted me or significantly price dropped) their horse to insure they would be well cared for, loved, and would receive daily attention and exercise. This is an extreme compliment to my management style and a bonus that I never expected!
What led you to choose your major/minor:
My Dad – he isn't even a horse person! As a senior in high school, I was confused/unsure what I wanted to do with my future. He simply said to me one morning while I was stressing abut majors/colleges, “Katie, - what do you want to wake up and do every day?” and that was it! Plain and simple. I want to be in the barn with horses. He told me to research equestrian schools and find a way to start my career doing with I love with a solid knowledge base. So, I researched equestrian programs and fell in love hard and fast with UMC. Beautiful heated barn - I was SOLD. Both my parents encouraged me to follow my dreams, even though I had no idea what exactly that meant at the time. Add in a pile of scholarships (academic, 4H, UMC merit & church) plus my choice to be an RA on campus my entire duration (huge savings on housing) - I graduated Debt free in 3.5 years. It sure feels good to type that.....I'm going to type it again – I graduated college with a 4 year degree, ahead of schedule, with ZERO debt.
When I graduated in 2005 my goal was to build a breeding program. The market crashed in 2007 resulting in a poor market for breeding so I just started teaching lessons to help pay board on my first horse. From there my lesson program grew. For 10 years I worked three jobs until my program could sustain itself. I worked at an equine veterinary clinic which I learned a massive amount about the industry (this was a crucial part of my success – shout out to Great Lakes Equine for the paycheck AND the knowledge/experience). I also worked at a local hospital doing patient registration because they allowed me to flex my schedule around my farm life. On top of teaching, veterinary work, and the hospital job I was also a gestational surrogate for four babies during this time. My fascination with science and reproduction combined with my love and ease of pregnancy led me to being and actual surrogate mare! Did you know I also taught the lab portion of equine reproduction my senior year of college?! HA! Insert a marriage, two of my own human babies and family life – those 10 years of hard work were a blur but I wouldn’t change a thing. I have no regrets. I have built my program with my own two hands. No handouts, nothing was given to me. I have earned every penny with blood sweat, frostbite, sunburn, and tears. I am SO PROUD of what I have built and cannot wait for what the future holds. The best part – my sons see my work ethic. They see what it takes to keep a business running. I pray they will hustle just as much as I have in life in an effort to get what they want in this tumultuous world.
Why did you choose UMN Crookston:
Smaller campus size! Technology included with tuition, excellent equestrian program, campus tour, merit-based scholarships available to every student! Also, my diploma reads “Bachelor of Science in Equine Industries Management” which I prefer over UW River falls diploma which reads “bachelor of Science with and equine emphasis”. Having MANAGEMENT and SCIENCE on my diploma was important to me. Also, who wants the word “emphasis” on their hard-earned diploma? Not me! And also....i came home Skid steer certified upon graduation, that’s a bonus! I wanted to build an impressive resume and this was the most important start! Besides, it's important to have a fallback plan if your equine business fails or if you find yourself injured. With a degree in management and science I could easily switch professions. Or if I want to retire early, or sell the business I still have accolades to continue working in a different field. Of if I get injured and physically cannot do farm chores, I have another option. I wanted to be marketable.
Networking with my fellow graduates has been an added bonus. I've had classmates do test rides for me on horses out of state, saving my customers and myself a 1,000-mile trip on more than one occasion. I've gotten fencing advice. Arena lighting tips. Some great deals on tack, jewelry and horse purchases because my classmates hooked me up! I've even gotten great hunting tips for my husband and son from networking with college friends.
Favorite instructor and why:
This one is tough! “Dr D” took care of my first horse when I was a senior so I feel some allegiance to him. BUT Both Nikki Overgaard and Jonathon Holland were probably my most favorite. Their excitement, humor and life experience taught me a lot. Their partnership was admirable and I really looked up to them as a student. Learning with them was ALWAYS fun! I remember being in awe of their shiny new 6 horse trailer they had bought for their side business training horses. They saw my lust for their trailer and laughed when they told me that it was the biggest waste of money they’d ever spent. Not practical, no return on the investment. They traded it in within a year.
Favorite class and why:
Animal Anatomy 101 – Holy crap. My mind was blown learning about all aspects of production animal industry. I often reflect back on learning Dry matter intake and mathematically determining a dairy cow's diet and nutrition needs. I killed a cow once on paper with bad math. It was a pop quiz that I simply transposed numbers and accidently killed my fictitious cow with poor nutrition. I went up to the professor to debate my score and explain my error in transposing numbers. The instructor clearly and firmly said to me, “Katie you killed the cow. There are no exceptions., your score remains 0/10”. WHOA - I killed a fictitious cow accidently and got a big fat ZERO on one of my first pop quizzes in college. This was a life changing moment for me. He’s right, mistakes no matter how small, have big consequences. How's that for a life lesson?
I also enjoyed genetics, reproduction, horse production and anatomy and physiology. I think these classes helped me to visibly see and understand form to function, and body condition scoring as well breeding to enhance certain traits, and discourage the less desirable traits. I loved college! Except statistics and microeconomics, those two courses almost killed me.
Favorite memory from Crookston:
I loved competing and ultimately coaching on the NCAA women's equestrian team. I got to travel and compete but also observe and tour other programs and facilities across the nation which helped me design and build my current successful operation. The best part about the NCAA team was it was scored 100% on the rider and 0% on the horse. An incredible experience in learning how to quickly adapt and change as a horseman. You simply arrive to a campus, draw a horses name out of a hat and get on. No warm up no practice, just your skills! This was also an effective way for my teenage self to REALLY learn there are no excuses. It is NOT the horse's fault. You learn to figure out a horse QUICK!
I also fondly remember bringing a puppy into class often. My classmate Crystal had just gotten a wiener dog puppy and I was obsessed with it. She let me bring the dog with me everywhere. Agricultural school is where it's at folks! My instructors tolerated the pup hanging out in my hoodie during many class periods. I was in heaven.
Best advice to someone considering your major or field of employment:
Research and exposure! It's impossible to “know it all”. Be open minded. Get out there and apprentice or shadow horse trainers, lesson program, farriers, veterinarians or anyone in the industry. There are so many excellent opportunities out there. Don’t get stale, get out and continue to educate yourself. Ask questions, know your value. Don’t work for free. Be confident, Believe in yourself. Create contracts and enforce them. Save your money like a squirrel preparing for winter. Business ebbs and flows, that’s natural and expected, be prepared. You cannot make every customer happy. Appreciate and utilize the down times. Never burn a bridge. Tip your farrier, and keep your hay supplier happy. Be humble. You don’t need fancy new equipment, tack, or trailers/trucks to be successful, in Fact - I had the owner of a large manufacturing company help his daughter load up my trailer for a horse show, He commented on how he appreciated my humble horse trailer. He said he appreciates and notices those who live within their means. He laughed and said - “Thats how I know I'm not overpaying for lessons!” Functional, not fancy. Not all that glitters is gold. Most importantly don’t forget your roots. I have my very first instructor to thank for kicking off my horse carrier. Pat Heeg thank you for teaching me how to saddle a horse, and how to be a boss mare! Lastly, If at the end of the day, you didn’t have fun......find a different profession. Life is too short.
