Happy Trails To The Colorado State Fair Begin With Denver Rustlers Brunch
This year, Denver Rustlers are celebrating their 40th annual trip to the Colorado State Fair, y’all. Though they do their important, hands-on good work in Pueblo bidding at the Junior Livestock Sale, great things also happen at their pre-roadtrip brunch in Denver. For instance, the folks who gather at brunch all get the memo to wear the iconic, custom Rockmount Western shirt and straw hat, and add their own denim accents. And they comply! Maybe dressing alike isn’t a first choice, but everyone knows there’s strength in that Western uniform—it easily identifies them as Denver Rustlers, the largest buying group at the sale.
U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper (left) and Colorado Gov. Jared Polis
Additionally, these busy Denverites are willing to spend an entire day for the cause, taking time for brunch, the 100-mile bus trip to Pueblo, time at the sale, then the return excursion to Denver. Most miraculous? These people are elected officials, sponsors and other well-known supporters from all parties and competing viewpoints who unite for a day every year with one agenda: to get those 4-H and FFA junior exhibitors to college with high bids for their animals. Denver Rustlers are a convivial group. Pretty uplifting to see!
Current Denver Rustlers principals (l to r): Josh Hanfling, Tim Schultz, Larry Mizel, Katie Kramer
On Tuesday, Aug. 27, Denver Rustlers met up at Shanahan’s Steakhouse for three hours of the restaurant’s delectable food, beverages and atmosphere. The annual agenda is simple: register, chow on tasty brunch offerings, mix and mingle, hear the gameplan from organizers and board the buses—then it’s State Fair or bust. Well-known names we spotted in the brunch crowd: U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper, U.S. Rep. Joe Neguse, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, Colorado Commissioner of Agriculture Kate Greenberg, Denver Mayor Mike Johnston and original Denver Rustlers co-founder Eddie Robinson. The current four principal organizers are: Larry Mizel and Tim Schultz (both, original co-founders), Josh Hanfling and Katie Kramer.
Denver Rustlers has raised more than $3 million used at the Junior Livestock Sale—and counting. To learn more, go to: https://www.denverrustlers.org/.
-
- (l to r): Denver Rustlers principals Katie Kramer and Josh Hanfling, with State Sen. Kevin Van Winkle
-
- Guests begin to arrive for the pre-roadtrip brunch at Shanahan’s Steakhouse.
-
- (l to r); Jeannie Vanderburg, John Cooke, Alison Morgan
-
- Talking over a cup of coffee
-
- Bert Vescolani (left) and president of Rockmount Ranch Wear, Steve Weil. The iconic Denver Rustlers shirt is from Rockmount.
-
- JJ Ament (left) with Shanahan’s Steakhouse rep Millie King
-
- A mimosa toast with Katie Kramer and friends
-
- (l to r): Morgan Biddison, Alison Morgan, Samantha Nuechterlein, Jeannie Vanderburg
-
- Shanahan’s owner Marc Steron (left) and Stanton Dodge
-
- For guests who didn’t have their own cowboy hats.
-
- Generous event sponsor
-
- (l to r): Norm Franke, Andrew Feinstein, JJ Ament
-
- Frances Koncilja, JJ Ament
-
- Mark Truax, Tricia Oakes
-
- At the patio reception
-
- John Cooke (left), Colo. Sen Kevin Van Winkle
-
- Three of the four current Denver Rustlers principals (l to r): Tim Schultz, Katie Kramer, Josh Hanfling
-
- Carolyn Zbavitel, David McReynolds
-
- (l to r): Barb Kirkmeyer, Stanton Dodge, Katie Behnke
-
- Brent Neiser
-
- Volunteer Lily Ortega shows the Denver Rustlers 40th anniversary pin
-
- Josh Hanfling (left) and Tim Jackson
-
- (l to r): Josh Hanfling, State Sen. James Coleman, Josh Miller
-
- Matt Johnston and Sarah Gist
-
- Josh Miller (left), Mike Stratton
-
- (l to r): Lisa Roy, Angie Paccione, Dannette Smith
-
- (l to r): Joe Kramer, Tim Schultz, Tim Jackson, Colorado Sen. James Coleman
-
- (l to r): Dannette Smith, Kevin Patterson, Debbie Brown
-
- (l to r): State Sen. Rhonda Fields, Angie Paccione, CSU President Amy Parsons, Andres Carrera
-
- Selecting items from Shanahan’s brunch buffet
-
- Becky O’Brien (left), Alejandra Major
-
- (l to r): April Jones, John Faught, Kevin Patterson
-
- Morgan Biddison (left), Janel Forde
-
- (l to r): Maria Garcia Berry, Rick Stott, Katie Behnke
-
- Getting her nametag and a 40th anniversary pin
-
- (l to r): Ray Gonzales, Ellie Reynolds, Matt La Crue
-
- Stephen Brody, Susan Hertzberg
-
- (l to r): Clare Wilson, Tim Craft, John Fabbricatore, Bob Martin
-
- (l to r): Abe Laydon, Nikky Patel, Dan Gibbs
-
- (l to r): Melanie Pearlman, Chelsea Carver, Christine Benero, Bert Vescolani, Doug Tisdale
-
- Larry Mizel (left) and Mark Truax
-
- Current Denver Rustlers principals (l to r): Josh Hanfling, Tim Schultz, Larry Mizel, Katie Kramer
-
- Denver Rustlers principal Josh Hanfling (left), with Gov. Jared Poiis
-
- (l to r); Sarah McCarthy, Esther Lee, Erin Flores
-
- U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper (left) and Colorado Gov. Jared Polis
-
- Everyone wants to be in a photo with Gov. Jared Polis (third from left).
-
- (l to r): Andrew Feinstein, Eddie Robinson, Josh Hanfling
-
- Gov. Jared Polis, Eddie Robinson, Josh Hanfling
-
- (l to r): Katie Kramer, Gov. Jared Polis, Eddie Robinson, Josh Hanfling, Tim Schultz
-
- Frances Koncilja with Colorado U.S. Rep. Joe Neguse
-
- (l to r): Colorado Commissioner of Agriculture Kate Greenberg, Taylor Szilagyi, Morgan Biddison
-
- Colorado U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper (left), CSU President Amy Parsons, Colorado U.S. Rep. Joe Neguse
-
- U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper chats with CSU President Amy Parsons
-
- Gov. Jared Polis (left) and Denver Mayor Mike Johnston chat before the program.
-
- Denver Rustlers original co-founders Larry Mizel (left) and Eddie Robinson, with Sen. John Hickenlooper
-
- Gov. Jared Polis chats with guests.
-
- U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper
-
- Colorado Gov. Jared Polis
-
- Denver Mayor Mike Johnston
-
- Tim Schultz
-
- (l to r): Tim Schultz, Josh Hanfling, Shanahan’s owner Marc Steron, Larry Mizel
-
- Colorado Sen. Rhonda Fields (seated) and friends
