Hannah Simon
Reporting 1 Student
When you think of sports you probably think of football, volleyball or basketball but not Patrick Olson. You might know Olson by “Cowboy,” “Rhinestone,” “Yee Yee” or that guy that wears a cowboy hat around campus.
Olson came here to judge livestock with the Butler agriculture judging team. Olsen is not like some of the other kids on the team; for instance, he is not on scholarship.
“The way I got my spot on the team was I walked into Mr. (Taylor) Frank’s (Livestock Judging coach) office and said, ‘I want on the team, [and] I need a second chance,’” Olson said. “I came to Butler because I knew that they could give me a second chance in life.”
Originally from Randolph, Nebraska, Olson played football, wrestled, golfed and did FFA and 4-H throughout his high school career. Throughout high school, he was placed second at state wrestling and qualified to go to nationals for FFA.
“The thing that I miss most about home is family because I was the oldest of six, so I am used to never being alone,” Olson said. “Plus they are my siblings, so I have to love them anyways.’’
Olson came to Butler to have a second chance in life. He graduated from Randolph High School in 2015. He planned on going to Northeast Community College in Norfolk, Nebraska right after graduating high school. While at Northeast, he also attended auctioneer school in St. Louis, Missouri at the Missouri Auction School in 2016. Life ended up getting in the way. He ended moving to western Nebraska while working three jobs. During the weekdays, he worked as a brand inspector and a teller at Homestead Bank in Cozad, Nebraska and, on the weekends, he worked at a feed yard, driving feed trucks and road pins.
“I chose to come to Butler because this school has a good reputation for their ag and judging team,” Olson said.
“He is one of the most passionate and hardworking people that I know,” said friend John David Schlenz.
Other than ag, some of Olson’s hobbies include watching Nebraska football and hanging out with friends, but most of his hobbies are ag-related.
Olson plans on graduating in the spring of 2020 with an associate’s degree in livestock merchandising. After graduation, he plans on going back to live in Nebraska and working in South Dakota at Stockmen’s Livestock Auction as an auctioneer.
“One thing that I like about ag is the challenge,” Olson said. “You really have to think when you are judging live animals, and livestock judging teaches you real skills that I will need in life.”
Right now, Olson is focusing on his college career and working at El Dorado Livestock Auction as an auctioneer every Thursday.
