Country Lifestyle
April 2018 Profile: Clark Kaupke

By Laci Jones
Horse trainer, Clark Kaupke recently received some valuable advice from fellow peer Jody Galyean: “You’ve got to ride every step.”
“That doesn’t mean I got to do everything for that horse,” Kaupke explained. “If we are training their body, they are going to wait for me to tell them what to do. If we train their mind, they are going to do it on their own, but I’m going to be able to help them when they get in a new situation that they need help.”
Born in Stillwater, Okla., in 1980, Kaupke’s passion for horses came naturally as both his parents rode horses. His father owned a tack business for 35 years and was also an auctioneer. His mother competed in Western Pleasure, and she took him to many shows where he sat atop his first horse named Blackie.
“We didn’t live the glamorous life, but we had a nice life,” Kaupke said. “We were grounded in our routine. I always rode handmade saddles and wore handmade spurs because that’s how our family made a living. I wouldn’t trade those kinds of traditions I had with my family for anything.”
His uncle Irvin raised multiple world champions in the Western Pleasure discipline in Great Bend, Kan. Kaupke spent much of his school breaks in Kansas learning from his uncle. At 12 years old, he started helping his uncle Irvin by starting his two-year-old colts.
“I didn’t have a clue what I was doing,” he added.
The tradition of competing in Western Pleasure was passed down to Kaupke. He had a natural ability to learn by observing professionals. He looked up to Jody Galyean, Gil Galyean, Troy Compton and Guy Stoops.
“I also rode with Jess Herd for a long time,” Kaupke explained. “They were the guys who were big names in the ‘90s in the Western Pleasure industry.”
Kaupke’s family mostly trained their own horses for the arena, always striving to reach the standards of “big name” horse trainers.
“It was a lot of trial and error, but that’s what made me the horseman I am today,” the trainer explained.
When asked if he always wanted to become a performance horse trainer, Kaupke said he was never exposed to cutting horses, but he assumed he would train pleasure horses. However, his talents exceeded the arena.
His father, Charles Kaupke, purchased a Martin acoustic guitar and played country and traditional bluegrass music. After Kaupke showed interest in the instrument, his father bought him a guitar when he was 11 years old. His skills evolved, and he attended South Plains College in Levelland, Texas, to pursue a degree in commercial music.
“I didn’t have any interest in going to college for an ag degree,” he explained. “I thought this would be a chance for me to pursue the other thing I love besides horses. It was good for that time in my life because I didn’t know how to speak for myself, so I could do it with the guitar.”
When he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in 2002, Kaupke followed in his father’s footsteps in the tack industry by moving to Weatherford, Texas, working for Cowboy Tack. He was also playing guitar for Aaron Watson, but they parted ways in 2003.
“He’s a great guy, but it just didn’t fit into my life at that time,” Kaupke explained.
Kaupke continued to work with horses in his spare time. In August 2003, he attended the National Cutting Horse Association Summer Cutting Spectacular in Fort Worth.
“They have the Sponsor’s Cutting for the corporate sponsors of the NCHA,” he explained. “Each corporate sponsor nominates two people who get to come ride a cutting horse and show in the big coliseum.”
Kaupke was chosen to ride for Cowboy Tack, where he cut on a horse trained by Teddy Johnson. He never rode a cutting horse before, but he felt at home as soon as his hands touched that cutting horse.
He left Cowboy Tack in early 2004, taking a job with Teskey’s in Weatherford, Texas. Throughout his career changes, Kaupke never lost his desire to cut.
“I always seek God’s will for my life, but I’ve not always followed his path,” he added. “It’s not easy as I get a little bit off-center. But at the end of the day, that’s where I am headed, that’s what I strive to do. Even when I was 20 and didn’t have a clue what I was doing with my life, that’s what I was seeking deep down even if I didn’t know how to put it in the same context I do at 38.”
He later went to work for J.B. McLamb for almost two years, where he said he learned how to be a “true horseman” and have good work ethics. Then, Kaupke’s life changed when he had health issues with his diabetes in the late 2000s.
“Diabetes burnouts are a real thing,” he explained. “I wasn’t taking care of myself, and I gained a lot of weight. I became very unhealthy and was in a bad place in my marriage.”
After his divorce in 2009, Kaupke went back to music. He hit the road full-time, touring with a few different bands. Four years later, he was looking for another gig, but he did not find the right fit. He prayed to God to point him down the path he was supposed to be on.
“When the day came that I was supposed to quit, I knew,” he recalled. “I picked up the phone and called my dad and said, ‘I’m done.’ When he knew that I was done, he asked, ‘What are you going to do?’ I said, ‘I’m moving back to ride horses.’”
Kaupke started riding horses for Bruce Morine, but getting back into the cutting horse industry proved to be difficult for the Oklahoma native.
“It was hard getting back into it—the physical aspects and the mental aspects of it,” he recalled. “Bruce is a great Christian man, and I respect him. He was very hard on me, but I’m thankful now looking back, and I still look to him for guidance.”
Read more in the April issue of OKFR!
Country Lifestyle
Farm Dogs & Table Scraps

What’s Safe and What’s Not?
Growing up on a farm, our dogs were tough. They roamed the pastures, slept under the barn, and ate just about anything they could get their paws on—whether we meant for them to or not. I’ll admit, I never thought twice when one of our old cow dogs snatched a biscuit off the table or licked up a spill from the barn floor. I’ve even seen a dog steal a whole rib bone off a plate and trot off like he’d won the lottery. And somehow, they always seemed fine.
But here’s the thing—just because they survived doesn’t mean it was safe. For every farm dog that lucked out, there’s another that wasn’t so fortunate. Some human foods can be downright toxic to dogs, and a little bit of bad luck (or a smaller, more sensitive dog) can turn a harmless snack into an emergency.
Common toxic foods lying around the farmhouse
If you’ve got a farm dog—or any dog, really—you need to be aware of the dangers lurking in everyday foods. Some of the biggest culprits include:
Chocolate – The darker it is, the worse it is. Even a little can cause vomiting, seizures, or worse.
Grapes & Raisins – No one’s exactly sure why, but they can cause kidney failure fast.
Onions & Garlic – In large enough amounts, these can destroy red blood cells, leading to anemia.
Xylitol (Found in Sugar-Free Gum & Candy) – This artificial sweetener can send a dog’s blood sugar crashing and cause liver failure.
Alcohol – Even small amounts can be deadly to dogs, affecting their nervous system much more than it does ours.
Bones from Cooked Meat – While not necessarily toxic, they can splinter and cause serious internal injuries.
Macadamia Nuts – These can lead to weakness, vomiting, and even paralysis in dogs.
What to do if your dog eats something toxic
First, don’t panic—but don’t ignore it either. If you know your dog ate something dangerous, call your vet immediately. They can tell you whether to induce vomiting or if it’s something that requires urgent care. If it’s after hours, contact the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (888-426-4435) or the Pet Poison Helpline (855-764-7661).
Prevention is always the best medicine, so keep toxic foods out of reach. That might mean keeping the trash can secured, making sure kids don’t slip the dog a treat under the table, or just being more mindful of what’s left on the counter.
Our farm dogs might have been lucky, but luck isn’t a great strategy when it comes to their health. A little awareness goes a long way in making sure they stay happy, healthy, and ready for the next day’s work.
For more information
ASPCA Animal Poison Control: www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control
Pet Poison Helpline: www.petpoisonhelpline.com
Visit www.akc.org/expert-advice/nutrition/foods-your-dog-should-never-eat
Country Lifestyle
Summer Squash and Corn Chowder

By Lacey Vilhauer
Total time: 40 minutes
Servings: 6-7
Ingredients
- 6 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled and 1 1/2 Tbsp rendered bacon fat reserved
- 1 1/2 lbs yellow squash, chopped (about 3 medium)
- 2/3 cup thinly sliced celery
- 1 cup diced onion
- 1 Tbsp flour
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 3/4 cup milk (I used 1%)
- 5 cups canned or fresh cut corn (from about 6 ears corn), divided
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1 1/2 tsp chopped fresh thyme (or 1/2 tsp dried)
- 3/4 tsp salt, then more to taste
- 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper, then more to taste if desired
- 3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese, for serving
- Chopped green onion for garnish (optional)
Instructions
Heat 4 tsp reserved bacon fat in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add celery and onion and sauté 2 minutes then add the squash.
Saute until tender, about 6 minutes, adding in garlic and flour during last 2 minutes of sauteing. Reduce heat slightly.
Add 1 1/2 cups milk, 2 cups of the corn, thyme, salt and pepper to the sauteed veggies.
To a blender add remaining 3 cups of corn, remaining 1 1/4 cups milk and the cream. Process in blender until nearly smooth (about 30 seconds).
Add pureed mixture to pot and stir to blend. Cook until mixture reaches a light boil.
Serve warm with shredded cheese, crumbled bacon and sliced green onions if desired.
Country Lifestyle
Western Housewives – May 2025

By Summer McMillen
All my married life I have thought that when husbands all got together horseback after a hard days work they were probably rating their wives on a scale from one to ten based on their various capabilities. Did Wife A have a good hat crease? Was Wife B good help in the branding pen? Was Wife C an excellent mother? Was Wife D hospitable to everyone? Could Wife E make a decent gallon of sweet tea? Did Wife F keep a tidy saddle house?
Presumably, when Wife B did not live up to Wife A there was a fist fight followed by wife shaming of Husband B. His status amongst the cowboys immediately fell and he would be behind for the rest of his life in his cowboy career.
He would come home ashamed his wife couldn’t flambé a decent bananas foster and she couldn’t hoolihan either. He would be distraught and said wife would feel his pain.
Of course, this never happened to me like I thought it would. My husband always came home with a smile on his face and I’m pretty sure “flambé” isn’t even in a cowboys vocabulary.
Nonetheless, these imaginary fights and social rankings have plagued my brain for years. It has caused me to always be in competition with myself to be the very best at everything I did. Which I have eventually realized is a trait of women all around the world.
While we are cooking a four course meal for our families we start to think about how we actually should be practicing heading steers instead.
While we are practicing our horsemanship we start to think about how we should actually be preparing a nutritious and elaborate meal for our families.
It is a constant battle that women have created and proceeded to fight for centuries.
One day the inner battle got to me and I finally broke down as we were riding wheat pasture and confessed to my husband my guilt. I was so sorry that I wasn’t a better cowgirl. I was so sorry that the house was a mess. I was so sorry that I would never be on The Cowboy Channel. I was so sorry that I had lost his good pair of gloves. (Except I didn’t actually mean to confess that last part. Some things are just better left unknown.) I apologized again and again and told him I was sorry and he probably never wanted to bring his friends over for supper ever again.
Instead of consoling me, he just started looking at me like I was crazy. Which is what all good husbands do.
He stopped his horse and looked at me and said “Do you know how cowboys rate each other’s ranch wives?”
So many thoughts started filling my brain. Was it looks? Gentleness? Laundry speed? Work ethic?
Then he revealed their secret. “Cowboys rate each other’s wives by how well they can cook eggs for breakfast.”
His point of course, was that men don’t think about each other’s wives. As long as they get their eggs for breakfast. In another twist of irony, my husband taught me how to fry the perfect egg. What can I say? It’s a man’s world.
Since then, I have let go of my irrational fears and doubt and have simply been living life. It’s all anyone can do. I may not team rope the best. I may get my fingers when I’m trying to dally and I may not have the tidiest saddle house. But I try hard at everything I do and I do it all out of love for my family and finally, myself.
So, if you’re a woman this Mother’s Day and you catch yourself feeling down amongst life constant pressures just remember you are not alone. You can almost guarantee there is a woman in every household that needs a little pick me up. Maybe you should just go outside. Maybe you should sit down and count your blessings. Or, maybe you should have your husband fry you some eggs.
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