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Bonsall Bio

www.x2dhorses.com - 05/14/2007
by Doreen Shumpert

Sandie grew up in the small town of Burwell, Nebraska, where thousands of cattle would pass through the Burwell Livestock Market, which made an ideal social gathering for buyers, sellers, brand inspectors, and every kind of western personality imaginable.

Combined with this was the atmosphere of "Nebraska's Big Rodeo," it was pure heaven for young aspiring cowboys.

"It was larger than life for a small boy, with all of the Indians from the Rose Bud and Pine Ridge Reservations, the horse races, trick riders, chuck wagon races, and the likes of great cowboys like Casey Tibbs, Jim Shoulders, and Willard Combs doggin' off the legendary Baby Doll," Sandie recalled. "The arena was three acres, and required two announcers for the bedlam of action and 20,000 spectators. The night shows would feature cutting horses, fighting bulls, and country music singers. The whole town would close during the day, but for the bars and saloons," he said.

If all of this wasn't enough influence on young Bonsall, the ranch he was raised on bordered another than often served as a rest stop for the stock contractors, Beutler and Son, to drop off rodeo bulls. Bonsall remembers trying to pick out the legendary bull "Old Spec" amidst them.

Eventually the community left its mark, and through the years Sandie became a brand inspector, broke horses, drove trucks, flew planes, sold animal health supplies, rode pens in the feed yards, rodeoed (including bareback, steer wrestling, calf roping) and team ropes and steer ropes to this day. But given his choice, you won't find him very far from the bucking chutes.

"I love it all, and if possible, I'll be a part of it some way—up to when they close the lid," he said.

In 2000, he found another way to stay involved, after inquiring about a certain little white calf with an occasional black spot, owned by Lynn and Rosemary Rice.

"As they say, the rest is history," Bonsall said, and the Bonsalls are fixin' on makin' more history together in the bucking bull business.

"Right away I could see a way to add to my little cow herd some 'value added' beef, to use an industry term," he said. "This is where my life and business partner of 25 years gets involved and shines," he said. "No one knows better than me what a good girl is worth, Muriel proves it daily and reminds me that the female is nowhere to cut a corner," Sandie said—a concept that resounds through their breeding program as well.

That life partner, Muriel, grew up in Belleville, Kansas, dreaming of an agricultural career. While she didn't have constant access to the lifestyle like Sandie did, she was one of the first girls to join the FFA, and ultimately graduated from Kansas State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science. She was the first girl to be on the meat judging team, and was one of the only and currently one of the longest female employees of the USDA Meat Grading Agency. She has also been a beauty queen, massage therapist, and a barrel racer. Not knowing a thing about the sport, she bought a truck, trailer, and seasoned barrel horse while in college and randomly dialed up former World Champion WPRA barrel racer Joyce Loomis Kernek for riding lessons. Not only did Muriel learn to ride, she formed a close and lasting friendship with Joyce and credits Joyce for leading her to the Lord.

Prior to meeting Sandie, Muriel had no experience with cattle or ranch work, and he taught her everything she knows in that regard. But, she had come to realize on her own what elements made a good horse.

"The horse has to be a good prospect, but what brings them to completion and excellence is the mixture of training, feeding, exercise, vet care, etc. When all of these are applied to a great prospect, the results are awesome," she explained.

Consequently, this insight fit perfectly into the way the Bonsalls breed and raise their cattle. Not only does Muriel handle the "paper shuffling" duties, but she's become actively involved in the breeding process with Sandie.

"Old timers used to say you can't mix chicken poop with mayonnaise and produce chicken salad," Muriel said. "That's my theory for researching and buying the best proven genetic cows and bulls to begin my bucking herd foundation. I understand the high importance of the maternal genetics. As they say, it's not all bull," she added.

By day, Sandie remains a sales representative for Roto-Mix, and Muriel still works as a meat grader—but she's eyeing retirement and likes nothing better than to sit on the porch and watch her herd of cows she calls the "Dream Girlz," all of which are ABBI registered, with proven genetics of the best buckers in the industry.

"When we decided to invest in the bucking bull business, I knew we wanted quality over quantity," she explained. "We also believe in the importance of building a herd foundation of high-profile female genetics, based in statistical proof that maternal genetics are 80% of the influence of heritable traits."

Currently, the Bonsalls sell some bulls at the major sales, and they have a few bucking on the PBR circuit. But before cattle go anywhere, they go through training at home, including chute work, alley work, exercise in a freestyle horse-type walker, they are handled and live with the roping steers as yearlings, and constantly exposed to horses and chute help.

"This all helps insure the bull and competitor have equal status," Sandie said. "The bull will stand in the chute, take your rope, and give you a fair shot."

No longer does Muriel aspire to be a beauty queen; she now dreams of being the "bull queen." With years of experience and desire teamed together, the Bonsalls are well on their way to making that happen.

"I have found my passion and purpose knowing my Creator and taking care of His cattle," Muriel added. "It's pure joy to sit on the porch with an iced tea and to watch the baby buckers jump, kick and play in the front pasture," she said. "Forget TV—I have my own entertainment."

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