Wade and Sandra Hanson are the trailer winner’s proud parents. The Hansons also have four other children, including a set of triplets, of which Davis is a part. Taylor is the oldest by one minute, Alexis is the youngest by one minute, with Davis being the middle triplet. Each was introduced to cattle at a young age. Two adopted younger brothers, James and Jacob, complete the family.
     Davis has been showing cattle for five years including steers, heifers and a bull he named Almaty, after the city his two adopted brothers lived in before joining the Hanson family. “My dad has taught me to love cattle and has supported me in traveling. I love working with my dad and learning from him. I have liked messing around on the ranch with cattle, tractors and tools since I could walk. My dad makes it fun. Mom helps make sure I keep up with schooling when I get back from a few days off showing cattle and she packs great snacks!” says Davis.
     Wade is a strong supporter of his children’s involvment in the cattle industry and other activities. The Hansons have raised Hereford and Red Angus cattle for many years.
     Wade Hanson grew up on a ranch in northern South Dakota near Pollock. A love for Hereford cattle prompted him to start his own herd once he had a ranch and family of his own. In 1997, a job opportunity relocated Wade and his family to Houston, Texas. While in Texas, he began researching how to breed and raise cattle in the southern climate. That’s when he found DeShazer Cattle Company who was raising Herefords near Franklin, Texas. Wade and five-year-old Davis drove two hours from Houston to Franklin to meet the DeShazer managers to learn more about raising cattle in Texas.
     That meeting began a great friendship with the DeShazers. Davis always remembered to take his cowboy boots and hat with him on the visits so he was prepared for any cattle work that might come his way.
     When Davis was in third grade, the family had a chance to move out of Houston to ranch country since Wade could work remotely most of the time. The beautiful scenery and the great people they met when visiting the Franklin area led the Hansons to choose it as the location of their next ranch. Sandra liked the school district and noticed how even the local Dairy Queen had photos of local kids showing at the county fair. The Hansons thought Franklin would be a great place to raise their children in a ranching lifestyle and could see a lot of support for youth activities in town. As Davis, Taylor and Alexis entered third grade, they joined the 4-H program to start showing cattle.
      They began with showing Herefords and switched to Red Angus before friends introduced the family to the Maine-Anjou breed.
     Davis said he enjoyed learning the traits of the various breeds and learning how they handle differently. Davis believes the Maine-Anjou breed is great to show and enjoys showing them.
A Pleasant Surprise
In August 2003, a surprise was awaiting the Hanson family. They agreed to host a child from Kazakhstan for two weeks during the summer. They would show the child what American family life was like, then the child would return to Kazakhstan. James ironically arrived on August 3rd, the triplets’ birthday. After two weeks with James, the family knew they had found a brother for Davis, Taylor and Alexis.The adoption process then began. James came to live with the Hansons in 2004 as a 10-year-old. That addition made four 10-year-olds in the Hanson household!

James loved looking at the animals on the ranch, but was a bit fearful at first. Once, he told Wade in broken English, “Cows! Oh! Big, scary. Like Jesus!”
     Six months after James was adopted, Wade and Sandra flew back to Kazakhstan to adopt another boy — Jacob. Wade and Sandra had met Jacob while going through James’ adoption process. The Hansons couldn’t resist the chance add one more to the family and Jacob was a perfect fit.
     Jacob, 7, arrived in Franklin on Mother’s Day of 2005. He came excited, happy to experience ranch life and insisted he wanted to be a rodeo cowboy when he grew up. The family jokes that Davis would raise cattle, Jacob would ride bulls and horses, while James would be the barrel clown who helped keep the cowboys safe – quite a team!
     The Hansons are teaching James and Jacob to care for animals on the ranch, to speak English (their native tongue is Russian and Kazak) and to be a part of their new family. Both boys are planning to show goats their first year of 4-H. The whole family pitches in to maintain the animals and spread in Franklin.
Family Friends
     Davis and his family have a strong relationship with Kent and Rayne (Theeck) Stewart, Franklin, Texas. The Stewarts are a well known and respected name in the cattle industry. They became great family friends after Rayne befriended Sandra when the Hanson family first moved to Franklin. Sandra went to the open house for their first year in the school district and Rayne took notice of the “new mom on the block.” She made sure to introduce herself and answered Sandra’s questions about the town and the school district. The Hansons relationship with Kent and Rayne’s family continued to grow as the two families participated in Texas cattle shows together. Rayne’s son, Blane Theeck, and Davis became good friends in and out of school. Both boys are in eighth grade at Franklin Middle School.
When the going gets tough…
     In June of 2006, Wade was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Fighting the battle with cancer, he has outlived the doctor’s prognosis by six months. Rayne and Kent were the first to understand the five Hanson children would need help to maintain a sense of normalcy in their lives since their daily routines would have to change significantly. Rayne and Kent help the Hanson’s work with the cattle whenever Wade’s strength is limited because of treatments. They want Wade’s dream of having his children grow up with a love of cattle to be realized. They are helping the Hanson children learn important life lessons taught by working with the land and animals.
     Rayne’s family; the Steve and Celina Shultz family, also from the Franklin area; and Stephanie and Matt Harris pulled together to keep the kids interest in and ability to show possible. Davis has gone on numerous road trips throughout Texas with Rayne and Kent. The couple treats Davis like their own and he loves it. “Davis has become our surrogate show child,” said Rayne. Davis has traveled with the couple to shows in Houston, San Antonio, Brenham and Oklahoma.
And The Winner Is …
     The trip to Lawton, Okla., for the 2007 National Junior Maine-Anjou Show was by far Davis’s favorite show so far. He loved meeting people from all over the U.S. “I thought it was a great experience meeting new people and spending time with friends,” said Davis. Rayne’s son, Blane, had encouraged Davis to get a heifer for the 2007 National Junior Maine- Anjou Show. Blane wanted Davis to travel with them because of the great contests and the big “water fight” that goes on every year! Davis enjoyed the numerous events held for the juniors. He even enjoyed a dance or two! His mom told him dancing was the best way to meet girls. “Learn to dance and they will all want to talk to you, ” Sandra told him.
     “When we first got to Lawton, I tried to get Davis and Blane to participate in the public speaking contest,” said Rayne. “They said they didn’t want to and I gave them a pass that time, but I said they had to do it next year.”
“I don’t know what will happen next year," Davis replied. However, after Davis received his awards at the banquet, he told Rayne he was going for the sweepstakes in 2008!

Davis Hanson

     It only continued to get more sweet for Davis when his named was drawn for the trailer. “I didn’t believe it at first,” said Davis. “Rayne and I were checking out the trailer earlier and teased how we were going to call dad when I won to tell him we were out buying a truck to pull the trailer home that I won.” Twenty minutes later, Rayne gave Davis the good news that he had won the trailer! “I thought she was joking until I saw she was crying! Her face looked like she had just experienced a miracle,” said Davis. “Then I couldn’t believe it. I had to call dad right away. He didn’t believe me so I gave the phone to Rayne and he didn’t believe her either,” reported Davis. “Finally, Rayne gave the phone to a show worker and Dad finally believed the good news.”
     Davis is an inspiring young man who has a great love for the cattle industry. He is a wonderful asset for the Maine-Anjou breed. He credits his ability  to overcome whatever obstacles may come to the strength provided by his fathers support. Now his dreams of showing will be accented by a shiny new trailer to haul his prize-winning cattle to the next show.