The Burwell Tribune

12/24/2025

Woo-hoo! 🎭🤠🐴

🤠 From John Wayne’s Young Cowboy to Rodeo Immortality
The Incredible Journey of Clay O’Brien Cooper

Clay O’Brien Cooper was born on May 6, 1961, in Ray, Arizona—and before most kids ever dreamed of a movie set, he was already riding beside a legend.

At just 11 years old, Cooper made his film debut in The Cowboys (1972), starring alongside John Wayne in what would become one of the Duke’s most emotional and memorable final Westerns. Hollywood took notice immediately. Clay soon appeared in iconic television and film classics including Gunsmoke, Little House on the Prairie, The Apple Dumpling Gang, and more. For a time, it seemed inevitable he would become the next great Western child star.

But life had other plans.

At 16, Clay stepped away from acting—not out of failure, but out of calling. What pulled him away from the screen wasn’t fame or fortune, but a rope and a horse.

And what followed wasn’t just a career change.
It was history.

Clay O’Brien Cooper became one of the greatest team ropers the sport has ever known. Joining the PRCA in 1979, he qualified for the National Finals Rodeo an astonishing 29 times and captured seven world team-roping championships (1985–1989, 1992, 1994), cementing his place among rodeo’s elite.

In 1994, Cooper and partner Jake Barnes set the NFR average record—59.1 seconds on 10 head—a performance that stunned the rodeo world. That same year, the duo also set the PRCA record for most world team-roping titles, a mark that stood unbroken for a decade.

His résumé reads like legend:

ProRodeo Hall of Fame inductee (1997)

7-time World Team-Roping Champion

4-time NFR Average Champion

4-time National Circuit Finals Rodeo Champion

10-time NCFR Qualifier

One of the most consistent competitors in rodeo history

Yet beyond the gold buckles and arena lights, Clay is just as respected for his faith, humility, and dedication to youth ministry. Today, he lives in Gardnerville, Nevada, focused on family and giving back to the next generation.

From a movie set with John Wayne…
to world titles and rodeo immortality…

Clay O’Brien Cooper didn’t just play a cowboy.
He became one.

12/24/2025

Love came down at Christmas,
Love all lovely, Love divine;
Love was born at Christmas;
star and angels gave the sign.

Worship we the Godhead,
Love incarnate, Love divine;
worship we our Jesus,
but wherewith for sacred sign?

Love shall be our token;
love be yours and love be mine;
love to God and others,
love for plea and gift and sign.
~words by Christina Georgina Rossetti,1885

Christina Georgina Rossetti (1830–1894) came from a family steeped in the arts. The author of three collections of mostly religious poetry and several devotional books, she suffered poor health from a young age and found deep solace in her faith and in writing. Though her poems were not composed with congregational singing in mind, one of her most enduring works, Love Came Down at Christmas, was later embraced as a hymn. It first appeared in the Oxford Hymn Book in the early twentieth century and was championed by hymnal editor Percy Dearmer, who believed that English poetry could serve the church’s song. Dearmer later included the text in Songs of Praise, helping secure its place among beloved Christmas hymns. Along with “In the Bleak Midwinter,” it remains one of Rossetti’s most widely loved contributions to the church’s worship.

My children have a favorite picture book called Wag! by Patrick McDonnell. In it, Mooch the cat tries to answer the question: Why does Earl’s tail wag? Earl’s tail wags for chewy toys, belly rubs, snacky-snacks, and hugs from his human, Ozzie. At the end of the book, Mooch finally gives the answer:

“Love.
Love is the answer.”

When Nicodemus—a Jewish Pharisee and religious leader–came to Jesus in the night with all his questions, Jesus told him, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

Later Jesus is asked which commandment mattered most, He answered plainly: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:36-40)

Love is both the reason God came to dwell among us and the purpose of our days here on earth. This is the answer.

To why He came as a baby to such a humble birth.
To why He stooped and washed dirty feet.
To why He healed, why He helped, why He preached.
To why He broke customs, broke bread, broke His body, bled and died the most humiliating, horrible death.
To the resurrection and why He conquered death itself.
Love.
Love is the answer.

This last Sunday of Advent, we light the candle of Love. Beyond all the presents, beyond all the food and festivities, let us remember why Jesus came and what we are to do about it.

Love came down at Christmas.
In remembrance of all He has done for us, let us love one another.

"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."
~1 Corinthians 13:13

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another."
~John 13:34

“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.”
~1 John 4:7

Author: Nicole Louden
Published December 21st, 2025

(Photo from January 2025)

12/24/2025

Ready or not… Christmas is here! (It’s sneaky that way!) 🎄🎁🌟
In the news this week as we prepare for the reason for the season:

—-A Burwell Tribune tradition: Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” 🌲💫👻💤
—-Same century, different story— “Christmas Eve 1864,” by Granpa Jones 🐴🇺🇸🌲
—-Burwell actors shine in BHS play, awards announcements and write-up 📚🎭🥇
—-A Twin Loup triumph ⛹️🏀🙌
—-Artist of the Month… in color!🎨🖼️
—-Santa visits Ericson 🎅🏽🧑🏻‍🎄😀

💫 Thank You to our awesome color sponsors who brought our Christmas issue to life!⭐️Spelts Lumber and HardwareMCMULLEN AUTOMOTIVE, LLC. Feeders Express Burwell Floral and The Bridal Loft The HUB Waters Funeral Parlor ’s Parts House Trotter's Whoa & Go

🎄🎁 Merry Christmas to all, God bless us everyone! 🎄🌟l

12/22/2025

✨🩵💫

12/22/2025

Congrats to all our amazing athletes!😀👏🏻😀

Congrats to our academic all state winners from the fall activities!!

https://nsaa-static.s3.dualstack.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/awards/2025%20Fall%20NCPA%20Winners.pdf

12/18/2025

✨🎄🎶✝️

Come, thou long expected Jesus,
born to set thy people free;
from our fears and sins release us,
let us find our rest in thee.
Israel's strength and consolation,
hope of all the earth thou art;
dear desire of every nation,
joy of every longing heart.

Born thy people to deliver,
born a child and yet a King,
born to reign in us forever,
now thy gracious kingdom bring.
By thine own eternal spirit
rule in all our hearts alone;
by thine all sufficient merit,
raise us to thy glorious throne.
Hymn author: Charles Wesley (1744)

🕯Hymn History: Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus

A prolific hymn author, Charles Wesley wrote “Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus” in 1744 after reflecting on Haggai 2:7—“And I will shake all nations, and the desired of all nations shall come.” Burdened by the poverty he saw among orphans and the sharp class divide in Great Britain, he longed for a Savior who would bring justice, mercy, and restoration. Wesley found a published prayer that included the words “Born Your people to deliver, born a child and yet a King…” and reshaped it into this hymn for his collection Hymns for the Nativity of Our Lord.

This hymn eventually became the first of Wesley’s “Festival Hymns.” Though early Methodist hymnals excluded it because no tune had been formally assigned, it gained wide popularity after Charles Spurgeon included sections of it in his Christmas sermon in 1855. As a result, it was finally added to the Wesleyan Hymn Book in 1875.

“Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus” has been set to a number of tunes. It is not known which tune Wesley originally intended for the hymn, but today it is typically sung to “Hyfrydol,” “Stuttgart,” or Stainer’s “Cross of Jesus” in the United Kingdom. Wesley’s hymn anchors the Christmas story in Advent hope—looking back to Christ’s birth and forward to His promised return.

🕯Reflection: Hope of All the Earth Thou Art

One of the joys of substitute teaching in parochial schools is the chance to step into their religion classes for a bit. Last week while I was subbing, a student raised her hand and asked, “What is Advent?” Her question opened a sweet conversation, and together the kids concluded that Advent isn’t simply the few weeks leading up to Christmas. Advent is a posture of the heart—an everyday waiting, hoping, leaning toward the coming of Jesus.

Advent teaches us to wait with hope, not despair—because the Child who came is the King who will come again. As we sing, “Born to reign in us forever,” we open our hearts for Christ to rule in us even now, bringing His quiet, steady light into all the places we need Him most.

“This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘In a little while I will once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. I will shake all nations, and what is desired by all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,’ says the Lord Almighty. ” — Haggai 2:6-7

“He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming soon.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus" — Revelation 22:20

12/18/2025

🤠🎄🌟

12/18/2025

Our great Sandhills are the perfect backdrop for Christmas thrills aplenty. 🎄⭐️🎁💫
Keeping abreast of the local activities, we have in this week’s The Burwell Tribune:

—-Taylor’s Holiday Extravaganza! 😃🙌🎅🏽
—-Midwest Maker’s Market! 🍞💎🧁✨
—-The American Legion, Clifford Clark Post No. 298, Burwell,NE Auxiliary Christmas Tree Contest!🌲 🏆
—-Story Time with Mrs. Claus! 🤶🏻 📖😃
—- Name a Snow Plow winners! 👏🏻💫⭐️
—- Bartlett High School Youth Group and Sunday School Program (see Bartlett Bits)🎶

… and of course…sports!:

—-Twin Loup Wrestling Invite 🤼‍♂️🐺
—- Bluejays vs. ‘Horns— ladies and gentlemen ⛹️‍♀️🏀 ⛹️
—-Individual wrestling results— Burwell and Twin Loup 🤼
—- A trip down memory lane— electric football, anyone?🏈😅

… and much more!

Thank you to our color sponsors Bluestone Wealth Advisors and Spelts Lumber and Hardware 👏🏻🩵

🌟Keep on enjoying the Season!🌲🌟🎄

12/14/2025

There are some things money can’t buy… 🐎

How much for the flashy golden palomino?

He’s not for sale.

Every horse has his price.

Not this one.

NFR rookie Tricia Aldridge bought Adios Pantalones as a weanling prospect. He was just a baby.

At 5, Adios is still just a baby. He’s also the winningest barrel racing stallion of all time. And he and Aldridge are just getting warmed up.

But seriously, back off with the offers. He’s not for sale. Tricia’s already turned down more than $10 million for her beautiful baby boy.

“I didn’t even consider taking it,” she said. “I can’t spend that money in prison. And the first time I see somebody jerk on him in the warmup pen, I’m going to be in prison.”

Aldridge and Adios have won two rounds and placed in five others here at their first NFR, for $156,080 already in the bank riding into Round 10 tonight. And they’re fourth in the average right now, even with a barrel down in Round 6.

“It feels amazing,” Tricia said after that first victory lap in Round 4. “I knew Adios could do it. He’s been super strong, and my team has been doing an amazing job in the back taking care of him. I joke that he feels like King Kong back there.”

I have been Adios’ mom for a long time, so I’m used to him being more popular than me.”

They struck again in Round 8.

“It doesn’t surprise me at all, because of Adios,” Tricia beamed. “I was really proud of him for taking care of us tonight. He feels amazing, and has stayed so rock solid for me. Adios is a real-life unicorn.”

Tricia talks to her “best boy” coming up the alley, and tells him, “you’re a champion, buddy.” His post-run reward of choice is blueberry Pop Tarts.

If every child was raised with as much love and positivity as this priceless palomino prince, this world would be a happier place. Don’t care for her wild, one-of-a-kind hat? Make jokes about her spilling bleach on it? Don’t like her hashtag, or her willingness to wear it all out there on her sleeve and talk publicly about it—all of it? The joke’s on you.

I don’t yet know Tricia Aldridge personally, but my very strong hunch is that her haters don’t know her either. She dares to be different, and they don’t like that. Why? Variety is the spice of life, folks.

My personal style is Plain Jane, but I can hardly wait to see what Tricia and Adios are wearing when they come flying into that Thomas & Mack Arena in Round 10 tonight—blonde hair flying on the both of them. Tricia and her World Champion Barrel Racer friend Fallon Taylor coordinated 10 outfits for them. Yes, Adios has a personal stylist, too. I was here to witness the blowback Fallon got for things to what Tricia hears about now, including wearing a helmet and being a smart businesswoman. Silliness.

I will leave you with a quote from my old friend Ty Murray. Being King of the Cowboys comes with a bull’s-eye on your back. And during his reign of rodeo terror, I remember it hurting my feelings more than it did his. I would ask him why in the world people would spout lies about him and take cheap shots at him. He would look me in the eye and calmly remind me, “Toots, jealousy is a very ugly emotion.” Ty has thicker skin than a rhinoceros, and it has served him well.

Keep living your best life, Tricia and Adios. You’ve built a beautiful one, and it’s better than most.

Thank You, Las Tunas Performance Horses + Reliance Ranches, for letting me be me!!

12/14/2025

⭐️Wreaths Across America news!:

Help carry out the mission for 2026 to REMEMBER, HONOR, and TEACH.

We thank you for your time and or sponsorship of a wreath in the past. Please remember that wreath match will be taking place in the next few weeks till about the end of December and many times this will let you double your impact for Burwell's Cottonwood Cemetary.

12/14/2025

😮👏🏻🤠!

49 years ago ... Chris LeDoux won the PRCA Ba****ck World Title in Oklahoma City. 🔥

12/12/2025

Elf on the Shelf! 😃✨