Milton Rink, of Bristol, was honored during the annual Bent-Prowers Cattle & Horse Growers Association banquet April 7 at Inspiration Field in La Junta. Rink was selected as the association’s prestigious Honorary Life Member Awardrecipient.

Rink is a third-generation farmer/rancher. He served as Sand & Sage Fair beef superintendent and on the fair’s livestock committee for more than 10 years. Rink has been an active volunteer on the Bent-Prowers Cattle & Horse Growers board of directors since the 1980s, including service as president in both 1997 and 1998. He also has been a Colorado Cattlemen’s junior advisor for the past 20 years. 

Rink’s surprise honor highlighted the evening, which drew about 125 ag supporters from across Southeast Colorado. The night also included cowboy punch bowl, auction, and cowboy poetry and music by Tom and Donna Hatton during the prime rib supper. The auction, which included framed artwork and signs, radio advertising, necklaces and a Priefert squeeze chute, raised more than $4000 for Bent-Prowers Endowment Trust.

Outgoing President Nolan Davis of Lamar presented the traveling buckle to incoming president Matt Neuhold, also of Lamar. Neuhold takes over the helm of the nearly 300-member association, which was named for the original southern counties of the then-Colorado Territory. Nolan, in turn, was given a custom-made buckle set for his service to the association, which serves the Baca, Bent, Crowley, Kiowa, Otero and Prowers county agricultural community.

Photos courtesy of Susan Russell. Top: Amber Freouf gives her father, Milton Rink, a hug as she announces Rink as the Bent-Prowers Honorary Life Member award recipient. Freouf, incoming first vice president, had the privilege of announcing the surprise. Bottom: Outgoing 2017/18 president Nolan Davis, right, presents incoming president Matt Neuhold with the association’s traveling buckle (a cowboy equivalent of the passing of a gavel). In turn, Davis was presented a buckle set with Davis’ brand that Don Albert of Walsh created to commemorate his year at the association’s helm.