Published: August 13, 2009 06:42 am      

Schultz is Freedom's Old Cowhand

By Michelle Seeber

Staff Writer



Ask Phillip Schultz about his most fond memory, and he’ll tell you a story about when he worked calves in the spring and fall near Freedom,

“I remember how all the neighbors got together,” he said. “We would help each other out.”

Seventy-four-year-old Schultz is this year’s Honored Old Cowhand for the Freedom Rodeo and Old Cowhand Reunion, which will be held this weekend.

The Freedom Chamber of Commerce selected him for this honor because he is a long-time area rancher “of excellent character and accomplishment and because he sets a good example for the rest of us to follow,” said rodeo spokesman Brett Smith.

Schultz said, “I was a rancher all my life until I was 74 and retired. Now I’m not doing much of anything.”

The Coldwater, Kan.-born rancher may not think he is doing anything, but he has impacted his community of Freedom.

Schultz was picked for the award by the community, Smith said.

“It was a pleasant surprise,” Schultz said.

Schultz will ride on a horse around the Rhodes Arena located on the edge of Freedom, where the rodeo is being held tonight, Friday and Saturday night. He also will attend the Old Cowhand Reunion at noon Saturday at the town park .

The rodeo begins at 8 p.m. all three nights.

“This year is the first for it to be billed with the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association,” Smith said. “All our cowboys will be professional. It’s similar to the Woodward Elks Rodeo.”

All day activities will be held Saturday at the town park, including a 5K run and a fun run, which begins at 8:30 a.m.

At 10 a.m., the Western Arts Show will open in the American Legion building and continue until 4 p.m. The free chuckwagon feed will be held in the park at noon.

Smith said a full meal of brisket, beans, mashed potatoes and gravy will be served.

“There’ll be live entertainment in the park at 2:30 p.m.,” he said, “followed by the Great Freedom Bank Robbery and Shootout on Main Street.”

“It’s like an old time melodrama involving 35 outlaws with men, women and children,” he said, noting, “There will be a posse.”

“It’s quite a show,” he said, “a big shoot ‘em up.”

Each night after the rodeo is a dance, he said.

The one tonight will begin about 10:30 p.m. in downtown Freedom. The other two will be held at the American Legion after the rodeo.

Tickets to the rodeo can be purchased at the gate. Children six years old and younger will be admitted free, Smith said.