Bronc Kraft
Bronc Kraft was born on March 4, 1983 to Steve and Janice Kraft at Great bend Kansas Hospital. Bronc worked several events at the rodeo including saddle bronc, calf roping, team roping, and his favorite steer wrestling. He went to the National High School Finals Rodeo for two years and was a big over achiever in life. He died in a tragic train wreck while going to Argona Kansas Rodeo. There is a annual memorial rodeo in his name where saddles are given at no cost to the cowboys. His favorite rodeo of all time was the annual Junction City Rodeo and he has never missed a rodeo to date because he hangs at the west end of the arena on the building donated by QSI. He died September 4, 2011. He has a son, Wyatt James Kraft, who is 13 years old and a spitting image of his dad. Bronc is greatly missed by his family and friends.
DJ Prochaska
DJ Prochaska was born Sept.7, 1988 in Beloit, Ks. She was the daughter of Robert and Sara (Wallace)Prochaska. From a very young age she took on the motto to “Dream Big” and she did everything in her power to try to fulfill those “Dreams”, from showing cattle, dogs & horses, competing in Rodeos and achieving her biggest “Dream” to become a Rodeo Queen didn’t come easy. It took her 3 times to finally wear the crown of Junction City Rodeo Queen. The second title she set forth to win was CPRA where she received Miss Congeniality. That title meant the world to her as it was chosen by her peers. She desired to achieve the titles, so that she could proudly carry the American Flag, whenever possible. Her patriotism showed through her clothing and horse attire. She was truly proud to be an American! Her favorite song was Lee Greenwoods, “God Bless the USA”.On Oct. 29, 2002, DJ life on earth was finished but her memory is carried on as an organ donor where her bone and tissue helped 20 people, in the Miss Congeniality award in a few pageants, High point Barrel racing award for youth in EKHA, and every pair of chaps her mother makes is in her memory. DJ told her mother a few weeks before her last pageant that she needed to sew for other people and make Rodeo Queen chaps, but she could not duplicate anything she had created for her. The business should also be named Lazy P Creations. So, her mother has set forth a goal to have a pair of chaps or a special creation in every state in honor of DJ and her “Dream Big” vision for her mom.
Guy Winters, Jr.
Guy Winters, Jr. grew up on the Winters Farm outside of Abilene, Kansas. Ever since he could sit up on his own he was riding a horse led by one of his parents. As soon as Guy Jr. could walk he had a lariat in his hand learning how to rope, which became his passion. Growing up he competed in every rodeo that he possibly could and was a member of the PRCA, CPRA, USTRC, and AQHA. Guy Jr. competed in the annual Junction City Rodeo in tie-down roping and team roping. He even tried his hand at bull riding and steer wrestling a few times, but he especially loved the rodeo queens. Knowing how much he loved the rodeo queens, his mother and sister donated the beautiful Miss Rodeo Junction City traveling crown. Not only was the crown donated in his memory, but it is also in memory of a fallen Junction City Rodeo Queen, DJ Prochaska. In 2012 Guy Jr family donated a set of roping box pads in his memory to the Junction City Rodeo Association. He was a loving son, brother, nephew, uncle, and friend that would give the shirt off his back to anyone. We lost Guy Jr on August 30th, 2009 at the age of 29 years old. He is sadly missed by all who knew him.
Mike Ramsey
Mike Ramsey loved everything about rodeo. He team roped most of his life and announced rodeos for a lot of years, that’s where his passion for the sport really shined. I remember him taking the time to research every contestant and make sure he had something to say about each one. He had a voice that you could recognize from a mile away and so many people knew him through his announcing. Junction City rodeo was one of his longest standing announcing jobs. He always looked forward to it and make sure to mark his book every year when the schedule came out. He enjoyed his time with the committee and community in Junction City. Mike made sure to start every night with the Anthem, the song that should be #1 on everybody’s top ten list, and his version of the Cowboy Prayer. I’m sure when he got to the pearly gates they told him his entry fees had been paid.