story by by Lindsay King
Korrina Hughes might be from Glenwood, Iowa, but is a die-hard Nebraskan. “I wish they would announce that I am from Nebraska at all the rodeos I go to. We only live three miles from Nebraska and if I could have a Nebraska license plate I would.” Originally from Utica, Nebraska, Korrina always thought she would end up back on the family farm. Allan, her husband, is an auctioneer for the family business and also works in construction and real estate, keeping the family in Iowa. “I did not start rodeo until I was a sophomore in college at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. It was one of those things that if I was going to do it I had to pay for it myself.” A solid year of working with her first barrel horse and Korrina was in the short-go of every round after that. “I could fall of the side of him and he would keep running for me. We were in the short rounds for about the next two years but always short of the money.”
Several finished horses later and Korrina decided to make her own horses. “I was having kids at the time but I needed to sell the finished horses so I would get on the colts. I am running two of the mares from that crop now and have several babies from them.” Rodeo is both a family sport and a 24/7 endeavor, Korrina does the office work for Allan’s family business from home allowing her to manage their crazy schedule. “We rodeo as much as we can both in the NSRA and on the Prairie Circuit. All of our kids go up and down the road with us, they love it.” They are the parents of Logan, 11, Haylee Mae, 9, Kelsey Lynn, 7, and Tessa Ann, 4.
A long-time NSRA member, Korrina likes introducing young horses to rodeos at their venues. “Everyone has their favorite pens just like they have their favorite saddle, we like the bigger pens out in western Nebraska. I am looking forward to hopefully running in Valentine at the NSRA finals this year.” Korrina runs a mother-daughter duo: 19-year-old Miss Geminy Oak and her 12-year-old daughter Streakin’ Miss Oak. “I have always admired my oldest mare, to be 19 and placing at amateur and professional rodeos is amazing. We have all of our eggs in one basket breeding-wise but they are athletes. Allan and Logan can rope off both the mares and the girls run barrels on them.” Korrina’s main goal is to always have a solid horse to make solid runs on and place while doing so. With plenty of colts out of both mares to start working with, Korrina’s kids will have no problem having mounts. “I would not call myself a trainer but I feel like it is an affordable route for our family. If a horse is on our place they better be able to take a lot of commotion.” Sometimes Korrina will flip on the arena lights after putting the kids to bed to work horses.
On the rodeo trail at least three days a week, Allan and Korrina focus on professional rodeos. “The NFR is a big dream of mine but the timing has to be right. For now, I am going to keep training the horses I have and keep doing what we are doing.” A love for everything cornhusker was not all Korrina’s parent’s instilled in her growing up. “A lot of credit goes to my dad for teaching me to work hard for what I wanted. I was blessed as a kid to work for everything, it was frustrating then but I am very appreciative of that now.” With all the good horses on the road right now, Korrina is especially thankful for the ones in her pasture. “It is an art to keep horses happy and let them enjoy their job. I just feel very blessed to have them for what I get to do. And for all the help I have received along the way. All I can say is work hard, stay confident, trust your training, do your homework and let the chips fall where they may.”
