November 18, 2020 Issue, Page 1 of 12

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Wednesda November 18,2020 Beckham County cowboy celebrates 74th Elk City graduate birthday and remembers famous horse stars in movie filmed “Yes, you can ask how old I am,” he quipped. “I am proud that I in Oklahoma have made it to 74.” In September, 2018, he and his beloved equine best friend Huey went internet viral after a photo was snapped of him taking the horse through the checkout line of Elk City’s Tractor Supply. Decked out with his signature starched clothes, he and Huey’s image set social media ablaze. The photo graced both the Beckham County Record and Elk City News, was covered by multiple state wide news channels before being featured on Good Morning America. Olla- homa Farm and Ranch also agreed that the story was worthwhile for media coverage, writinga full feature. Hodge has worked with the likes of famous cowboys and stock breeders such as Roy Cooper, five generations of the Beutler family and Hall of Fame horseman Walter Merrick. “Walter is the best friend I ever had,” Hodge said. Born and raised in Willow, Hodge knew he would spend his life working with horses by the time he was 12-years-old. After Willow's public school was closed, he graduated from Granite High School. “L had teachers who said I wouldn’t amount to nothing because I was so focused on horses. I had a couple of teachers who really believed in me and helped me get the right start,” he recounted. Kambra Potter shares a Kenneth Hodge with beloved equine Huey take ‘At 14, a local man named George Wootton also helped get him behind the scene shot. a visit to local Tractor Supply. Submitted photo. started working in what would eventually blossom into his long Submitted photos. time career shoeing horses. By Shonda Little “He always believed in me, too,” Hodge recalled. “He taught me how to trim horses and do it right.” Beckham County horse whisperer Kenneth Hodge doesn’t know While he was already active breaking and training horses, he ex- By Shonda Little exactly where to say he lives. Wherever his little piece of Earth may panded that work at about the age of 25 when he took up shoeing. be categorized, horses will be close by. “In 1972, a good friend showed me how to nail a shoe on right. Before Kamba Potter graduated from Elk City High School in “Well, live off McLemore Sand Pit Road,” he joked. “I have an Elk A good shoe makes a difference in how a horse performs and how 2008, she knew her life was slated for adventure. On a childhood City address, a Sayre phone number, I'm in Merritt School district sound they stay. If it isn’t done right, you can cripple a horse,” trip to California, she recognized that she wanted to live there. In and my county commissioner lives in Erick.” Hodge explained. her teenage years, participating in an acting workshop in a pageant ‘That variety seems fitting for a man with a storied life like Not long after, Hodge went to work for Merrick, the famed race- made her feel like she wanted to pursue the entertainment indus- Hodge's. As he celebrated his 74th birthday last week, he reflected horse breeder best known for the prize winning horse Easy Jet. upona life that seems almost tailor made for a Hollywood western. See Birthday page 2. ‘She has made good on both and now her acting career has brought her full circle working on a movie filmed in Oklahoma. Her adventure began just a week out from graduation when she Elk City mother tells harrowing story of loaded her tiny car and headed out west to San Diego State Univer- sity to study broadcast journalism. “The irony was that I had been in the pageant world for years and premature birth for awareness month finally won Miss Oklahoma Teen right before I was moving to Cali- fornia,” she recounted. Hailing from a small western Oklahoma town, Potter admits that adjusting to life at San Diego State was not without hiccups. Still, Ina two-part series, Jordan Sullivan is thankful for the miracle of she forged forward — knowing she enjoyed life on the west coast her living daughter while honoring the short life of the daughter she and longed for a career in the film and movie industry. After graduating from SDU in 2012, she made the move to Los Angeles. The rough and tumble life of acting did not dissuade her. lost after giving birth prematurely. “[ am grateful to get to live in Los Angeles now,” she said. “So many people I know waffle between the good parts and the bad parts and you see people get burned out. I’m not anywhere near that yet, but See Potter page 2. 39th Annual Oklahoma National Jr. Heifer Show | month to highlight the babies who both survive these incredible odds and those who are lost. For 30-year-old Elk City mother Jordan Sullivan and her husband Jon Mark, life is currently a complicated mix of grief and gratitude as they are currently working through the extreme emotions of ex- periencing both. Earlier this year, their twin daughters Sawyer and Scout were born at just 23 weeks gestation after their pregnancy ‘The Elk City Chamber of Commerce invites everyone to the 39th was diagnosed with a condition that had one twin gaining all the Annual Oklahoma National Jr. Heifer Show Nov. 21 starting at 9 benefits of their mother’s placenta while the other was slowly dying a.m. This year’s event will be held at the Elk City Convention Center in the womb as she was blocked from these benefits. South Building at 1016 East Airport Industrial Road. ‘The first-time parents have been married for eight years. Their ‘There will be over 100 entries from Oklahoma and Texas and path to parenthood has been full of complications with Sullivan suf- usually 14 different breeds. Prizes range from buckles to cash. This fering multiple obstacles. year's judge will be Joel Judge. By Shonda Little “We tried and tried to get pregnant. Then I would and kept hav- Everyone is invited to come out and watch this great show and ing miscarriages. I guess my motherly instinct is pretty good be- enjoy an onion burger prepared by the Elk City FFA Alumni. cause I would be feeling fine and then just all of the sudden know Nearly 90 years ago, President Frankdin D. Roosevelt established something was wrong,” the soft-spoken new mother said. “Istarted 2020 Elk City Chamber of Commerce Jr. Heifer Committee mem- the March of Dimes, a non-profit organization devoted to improv- thinking my body was broken.” bers include: Brent Meador, Lake Carpenter, Darla Rogers, Jeff Con- ing the health of newborns with a heavy emphasis upon premature Nine months after her last miscarriage, Sullivan discovered she ner, Larry Long, Greg Mouse, Ridge Lowrance, Sharon Carpenter infants. In that time, the group has help fund countless develop- was again pregnant. Though she had taken no fertility medicines and Susie Cupp. ments that have improved survival rates for babies born before their that would cause twins, she and her husband were shocked to find For additional information please contact the Elk City Chamber due date. Every November, the group declares November a special See Sullivan page 2. of Commerce at 580-225-0207. Weather Vol. 118, No. 91 Mail delivery View online AMAA tomorrow 75 / 75 cents, 12 pgs. 580.225.3000 elkcityoknews.com