Katie & Cole
June 28, 2025 • Stuart, NE
64 Days To Go!
Katie & Cole
June 28, 2025 • Stuart, NE
64 Days To Go!
Wedding Party
Sarah Mumm - Matron of Honor
Sarah and Katie initially met at the Gosper County Fair when Sarah was showing cattle and Katie's grandma had her handing out ribbons while she was Nebraska Hereford Queen. Later, Sarah was matched as Katie's little sister as a legendary Sigma Alpha big/little pair. The two became inseparable, sharing their love of cattle and western fashion. From study sessions in the Animal Science complex to sleepovers, and from McAlister's dates to their adventures in Nashville, Sarah proves that sisterhood is for life.
Cole Werner - Best Man
Cole was Cole's best friend before they knew it; from mutton busting to playing tractors at Finnessy grain it began. Buddies before kindergarten started, then “Sproles” got Cole to wrestle in middle school and the friendship grew even more. From there it was one cheering on the other whether it was big Cole pulling for Sproles in a tough championship match or Sproles pulling for Cole to maybe make it to the medaling round. After many hours spent on the golf course together late perfecting their game Cole was always there for Cole whether they were in Plainville or miles apart. And now they get to stand up together where the best man role is swapped and this Cole hopefully won't drop the rings. Proof that friendships last a lifetime.
Emily Wendland - Bridesmaid
Emily and Katie met in Burr Hall the first week of college. With similar class schedules and being only children who grew up on farms/ranches, they quickly became best friends. From commiserating at the Dairy Store after AECN 141 quizzes to sharing stories about teaching and learning how to adult, they have been through it all together. Living in The 225 showed them both what it is like to have a sister, even unintentionally showing up to class in matching outfits! Em is like a sister, and her kids only know the bride as Aunt Katie.
Luke Rush - Groomsman
“I basically raised that kid off and on for 6 years" is how Luke thinks about Cole. From the guy who used to pick him up crying after he got bucked off as a chubby 10 year old to the man who put him through the ringer teaching him how to ride colts at 18, Luke was instrumental in Cole's upbringing. He is always there for Cole whether it was Luke calling about buying Smith & Sons bulls or just giving life advice. Luke has been a steadfast friend and role model for Cole.
Hollie Kummer - Bridesmaid
Hollie is one of Katie's oldest friends, having known each other since kindergarten. They became besties in high school and shared many sleepovers through the years. To this day they still laugh about their FFA and speech team journeys; from competing on the Ag Issues team at national convention to forgetting their duet lines at the first speech meet of the season and making it up as they went, it's safe to say these two know each other well. How can they not, when their birthdays are only four days apart? A dearly treasured friendship that has stood the test of time, we have gone from Newport basketball to couples dates and planning showers for special occasions!
Jonah Smith - Groomsman
Cole has known Jonah since Day One. From doing a happy dance in his grandparents' kitchen when he found out he was getting a little brother when grandma spoiled the surprise, to now the “big” brother as a standout academic athlete for the FHSU football team. The two have done everything from showing together, roping together and butting heads working for Smith & Sons Cattle Company. They may be 10 years apart on paper but are as thick as thieves in real life. Bo and Luke Duke cannot touch the Smith boys, especially when it comes to Jonah working on a good gen 2 Dodge with Cole, or slinging twine in the pasture.
Kendi Miigerl - Bridesmaid
Kendi and Katie's friendship began when Kendi bought a heifer from Katie's family. These two Hereford girls have spent many hours together in the barns talking cattle, and they can be found on the halter when one of them needs an extra showman. Affectionately referred to as "Princess," the Hereford royalty program solidified Kendi's spot as Katie's little sister, and the two were by each other's sides when they each served as Hereford Queens.
Miles Pearson - Groomsman
Miles “tiny hands” Pearson met Cole as an AGR brother. Miles proves that that you don’t have to be blood to be brothers. From their wild days of thinking they were both Frank the Tank from Old School, to Miles marrying the love of his life Rachel where Cole was given the honor of best man. Cole can always count on Miles for a phone call to catch up and discuss everything from life to coaching to the cattle market to anything in between.
Ashley Olson - Bridesmaid
After meeting at the Nebraska Ag Youth Institute, Ashley and Katie quickly formed a friendship once they started college. They later became roommates and shared many random notes of encouragement with Bible verses left around the apartment and late night life chats in the kitchen. The resident parliamentarian of the bridal party, she is always there to hype up the ag teacher bride. From bingo at Barry's to talking leadership theories and God's works, Ashley is a radiant friend who does it all!
Andrew Malleck - Groomsman
“Cowboy John” Malleck is part of the "Big 4" cousins. A successful farrier now, Andrew and Cole cut their teeth working the ranch with Uncle Mike together. From sneaking many a pinch of Skoal from Uncle Mike to Grand Theft Jeep, to finally working together as real “cowboys.” Andrew and Cole made countless memories at the ranch including but not limited to forming the first Codell Public Pool at Andrew's ranch house, and delivering impeccable karaoke in the shop that only they heard. Now it's continual talks about Andrew's girls and debating cattle prices, discussing forging and the farrier lifestyle, and Andrew always entertains…until they start talking about fishing.
Chyann Milliren - Bridesmaid
Chyann is Katie's Sigma Alpha big sister who easily became a real life big sister. After realizing that Chyann chose cattle costumes for their big/little reveal, Katie knew she had the best match! They spent many hours in college looking at calves online, shopping while sipping coffee, and enjoying Chinese food and wine at one of their houses. Chyann has been there for working hair on Herefords and many phone calls as the girls navigated the adult world together. From life chats to giving honest opinions on each others' cattle, Chyann is a sweet sister who always leaves Katie smiling!
Aaron Crawford - Groomsman
Aaron and Cole are part of what Cole calls the “Big 4” of cousins. Aaron and Cole were definitely a rougher part of that group, seeing no problem fighting it out as kids. As they grew up Aaron and Cole found a mutual love for football and hard rock (to which their parents are not fond of thanks to the amount of Limewire downloads). Craw has always been there for Cole debating football and classic PlayStation games, coupled with plenty of Facetimes with Cole's god daughter Natalie and her siblings.
Audrey Dougherty - Bridesmaid
Audrey is Cole's cousin who is more like his sister, and she quickly stepped into that role for Katie when she and Cole started dating, often reminding Cole "we love her, don't mess it up." Audrey helped welcome Katie into the Crawford women, sitting in the kitchen and sipping wine at family get togethers. She graciously lets Katie be "Aunt Katie" whenever she is around the kids. As one of the couple's biggest hype women, she brings the fun energy wherever she goes. Whether they are fishing, enjoying a lake day together, or tailgating with the family at Jonah's games, they always have a blast!
Carson McMullen - Groomsman
Carson and Cole's relationship goes way back, but their friendship really deepened during high school. Carson pushed Cole through wrestling and Cole cheered him on as he made a run to state. Also a member of their friend group, "The A Team," there were many hours spent going through countless rounds of ammo together. Little did they know Carson would eventually work the same ranch and ride colts with Cole, and later on they would be roommates at K-State where Carson got his masters and taught Cole efficient beer math. Cole and Carson enjoy discussing cattle gains and nutrition where Carson loves to test Cole and tell him how his math is wrong.
Sarah Schuelke - Bridesmaid
Sarah was Katie's roommate freshman year in Burr Hall. After putting up with Katie constantly being gone for state office and National Hereford Queen duties, she showed her kind heart through and through by always including her in study sessions and dorm adventures. Bound by their love for Jesus and animals, the two could be found singing VBS songs or showing their lack of artistic skills by drawing cattle and sheep on their dorm door. Dr. Sarah can always be counted on to tell it like it is and encourage all who she meets.
Wyatt Schumann - Groomsman
Gus and Cap, Sunny and Pepper, Chet and Monty, Wyatt and Doc are a few of the dynamic duos that come to mind when you think of Wyatt and Cole. When Cole said “I'll be your hucklebearer” during an AGR roll call the friendship was solidified. These two have been through it all from Wyatt selling bulls at the LR Bar bull sale to Cole picking him up after a date party and Wyatt saying “ that’s Jesus in a long bed Ford.” They survived Amarillo living in one suit bag and coined the phrase “we have three dollars cash left Amarillo didn’t break us and genny light tastes tough now.” They went from learning you cannot in fact make great potato skins in a microwave as roommates in the Ponderosa, to ranch rodeoing together to sharing legitimate phone calls discussing the cattle market and Cole working on his chant trying to auctioneer with Wyatt. Their friendship has stood the test of time, unlike zebra cakes and goldfish crackers.
Kirbie Day Sims - Personal Attendant
At Katie's first Junior National Hereford Expo, Kirbie was assigned to be her mentor. She shared showmanship and life advice, and even raised Katie's famous Daisy cow. Kirbie inspired Katie to run for National Hereford Queen, having worn the white boots herself. What was meant to be a week-long mentorship program developed into a beautiful sisterhood!
Eleanor Aufdenkamp - Personal Attendant
Eleanor and Katie met competing on the livestock judging team in college. They navigated the judging schedule and the teaching block together, and had plenty of fun along the way! A fellow HOC winter and curly girl, she can always be counted on for fashion advice and to hype people up!
Wayde Pickinpaugh - Personal Attendant
Wayde and Katie met in FFA and later found themselves as Sigma Alpha sisters. But it was the UNL Livestock Judging team that really brought them together. From online shopping in the van to looking for dogs to pet at workouts and sleep talking as all four girls shared a hotel room at contests, they formed a strong friendship. Always up for a prayer and a talk about faith, Wayde is one of the sweetest people Katie knows!
Emilye Yowell - Personal Attendant
Emilye and Katie grew up showing cattle together, but spending copious hours in a 10 passenger van while on the livestock judging team at UNL is what sparked their friendship. Borrowing accessories and sharing phrases for reasons all while making it through the teaching block together made for many incredible memories. Now, the two enjoy catching up at FFA events for their students and sharing teaching stories, while still judging shows as their time allows.
Garrett Lister - Usher
"Papa" Lister is Cole's fraternal big brother through AGR. Garrett was always trying to help Cole succeed during undergrad and provided a standout role model as a PSO and big brother. He tried his best to impart at least some of his incredible knowledge on Cole, however at times Cole made it more apparent he absorbed more of Garrett's impeccable taste in music by blaring Hollywood Undead before chapter, along with shenanigans through room wars in the house. Garrett was the absolute cornerstone in Cole pulling off the best proposal ever in the history of cute PSO proposals in MHK. Proving that even though years and miles can separate individuals, brotherhood is forever especially when you are as high a caliber man as Papa Lister,
Jess Page - Usher
Jess, Jesse Ray Page, is another of Cole's fraternity brothers. The two struck up an instant friendship when Jess joined AGR after transferring from junior college. Such a good friendship, in fact, they became roommates, founding "The Ponderosa" in room 208. Home of the Titanic loft, thanks to Jess's superb craftsmanship and Cole's ability to stand there and supervise. From the days of Aggieville tours to the two celebrating Jess marrying the love of his life, they have remained great friends with many miles of strong memories formed.
Jared Bourek - Usher
"J. Biebs" is yet another fraternity brother of Cole's. They struck up an immediate friendship based on their mutual love for animal science and all things in the western lifestyle once Jared arrived at the house. The two even spent a magical summer together as roommates in the historic purebred barn at K-State. Many fond memories were built, from roping the dummy in their yard, countless hours watching Vines and YouTube videos in the barn office, and of course the trials and tribulations of working in the hay field. He is hands-down one of Cole's most intelligent friends who can always be counted on for a mentally stimulating conversation or just all-around good time when the two get a chance to catch up. The only thing they never accomplished in their friendship was becoming Vine famous, despite their best efforts that summer.
Colt McCune - Usher
Colt graciously took Cole under his wing as Cole entered high school, a senior-freshmen duo the likes of which the world may not have been ready for. A fellow member of "The A Team," these two went through enough .22 shells to sink a battleship together. Bonding over a mutual love for Guy's Barbecue potato chips, Dr. Pepper, and the Tremors franchise, the two were utterly inseparable. Countless hours spent in the wheat fields listening to the Blue collar Comedy Tour during harvest where Colt served as Cole's grain truck driving instructor and boss account for some of their fondest memories. While the two definitely have settled down and don't enjoy the same old hijinks, they still enjoying catching up on the phone discussing life and the glory days, and really enjoy a good FHSU tailgate before cheering on Jonah and the Tigers.
Flower Girls
Phoenix Wendland
"Niece" of the Bride
Benelli Dougherty
Cousin of the Groom
Natalie Crawford
God daughter of the Groom
Ring Bearers
Eli Werner
Friend of the Groom
Hayes Kummer
Friend of the Couple
Whitten Kummer
Friend of the Couple
Roran Wendland
"Nephew" of the Bride
Day of Coordinators
Renae Schroeder and Nevada Mastny
Katie's FFA State Officer teammates were a natural choice to manage everything on our wedding day. From the age of 18 we were planning and facilitating large events, and Katie trusts them completely. Renae and Katie met showing cattle and were delighted to find themselves on the same state officer team. Their friendship progressed through Sigma Alpha, livestock judging, grad school for both girls, and has stood the test of time. Nevada and Katie got through their physics class and being on convention staff together, and Katie was honored when Nevada asked her to be her confirmation sponsor as she joined the Catholic Church. These girls (and the rest of their team) have the most special bond, and it is so sweet to have a nod to FFA as part of our wedding.