Preservation of national rangelands and maintaining herds of wild horses continue to be complex issues with intermingled ties.

Bureau of Land Management maintains leadership over both segments — leadership that has become controversial because of allegations of misuse of land and abuse of the horse herds.

One young horsewoman plans to establish a career working to improve government land while sustaining mustang populations.

“While I see many perspectives, I am passionate about keeping public lands useful and retaining the heritage of horses grazing it,” says Brook Staten, 18. Brook has trained her own mustang and has started college range management classes.

The daughter of Tony and Justine Staten of Olsburg, Brook is a spring graduate of Blue Valley High School at Randolph.

“Horses have been a part of my family as I grew up and we enjoyed many activities,” she says. “Then my life took on a different meaning when I got my own mustang. I learned about endangerment of the wild species and their homelands.

“Public lands and wild horses are at risk and I want to be a part of helping both.” 

Road to championship

Brook got her first pony, Geronimo, when she was three years old and expanded her love of horses riding Bo, the family horse, in 4-H shows and local events. But she wanted a horse of her own.

After she acquired her sorrel gelding, Jericho, Brook moved up to championship levels. 

"He's a one-of-a-kind very smart all-around horse with his own personality,” she says. “Before I got Jericho from the K-State Equestrian Team, he’d had eight different owners. It’s taken a lot of getting used to each other. We just completed the Riley County Fair at Manhattan and actually did very well. Jericho was the high point performance horse. I also showed Flash our family Paint Horse in English and racing. Together their points earned me reserve champion overall in the 4-H show.”   

A frequent qualifier for Kansas State Fair competition, Brook has collected several awards there.

“We didn’t have district qualifications this year, but I’m still entered in four state fair classes on Jericho,” she says. “I’ll also be showing in the three-year-old pleasure futurity on Porter, my mustang. I’ve really learned a lot since I adopted my mustang as a yearling and participated in the Mustang Beginnings Challenge.”

Brook was reserve champion with the mustang in the state fair competition.

WINNER: Brook Staten’s sorrel gelding, Jericho, has proven to be an all-around winner with her in the saddle.

She was experienced at training stock horses but found Porter a challenge.

“Mustangs are sure different. It takes more time and patience since they haven’t been around people,” she says. “There have been some setbacks, but Porter is improving all of the time. I’m really looking forward to riding my mustang against the other stock horses in the futurity.”

Her mom, Justine, is director of the Kansas Horse Council and has helped coach Brook and her teammates in hippology contests.

“Hippology is actually an equine veterinary and management knowledge competition,” Brook says. “We’ve learned a lot while taking several trips to horse activities.” 

Her Kansas Hippology Team ranked high in national events.

“It was through my hippology experiences that I learned more about the Bureau of Land Management,” Brook says. “I continued to study the issues in maintaining wild horse herds on government rangelands.”

Brook’s respect and concern for public land preservations was further enhanced when she participated in FFA range management competitions.

“My FFA advisors, Anthony Meals and Megan Larson, have been instrumental in helping me plan my future,” Brook says.

Her work with horses earned North Central District and State FFA Proficiency Awards in equine science entrepreneurship and placement. 

“I was entered in national competition in equine science entrepreneurship last year and placed 11th,” Brook says. “My equine science placement application has been sent in this year so I’m hoping to make the top ten for an interview.

"I’ve attended the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis before and sure want to go again.”

For her many leadership services, Brook received her State Farmer Degree at the recent virtual Kansas FFA Convention.

Expanding her knowledge in rangeland management, Brook volunteered for an internship this summer.

“I worked at the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve near Strong City,” she says. “We spent considerable time studying invasive plant control and plant diversity.”

Classes have started for Brook at Chadron State College, Chadron, Neb.

“They have a great rangeland management curriculum and I intend to complete my four-year degree there,” she says. “Hopefully I’ll be in class on campus next spring, but with coronavirus issues I decided to go online this semester.”

Brook says she hopes to land a job with the Nature Conservancy after graduation. In the long term, though, she plans to manage wild horses and burros on federal rangelands.

Buchman is a Flint Hills rancher and freelance writer. He lives in Council Grove.