Jennifer's Version

We were at the WRCA rodeo finals in Amarillo, Texas, for the second year in a row. It was Thursday, the first day of the rodeo, and Robb was being kind of a pain and rather grumpy. I was afraid of a re-run of last year, when he was having migraines and was in a bad mood. After we checked out the trade show in the morning, we had hours to kill in the afternoon before the evening show. Robb kept going on and on about how he wanted to go back to Palo Duro Canyon this year, and he wanted to do it TODAY. Well, it was blowing a gale and was about 40 degrees outside, and the next day was supposed to be really nice and warm, so I said we really should go tomorrow and no, I really didn't want to freeze at the canyon. So, instead we went back to the hotel room to relax.

Robb was still grumpy, but then we started having a talk about lots of things. The conversation drifted off to lots of weird questions about whether I had ever thought about us getting married, and could I ever see that happening. I said yes, of course I had thought about it, but I had told him that before. I then got up to get ready for the rodeo, and Robb went out to the truck to get "something". I was about ready to go, when Robb asked me if I had everything that I needed to wear. I said that I might wear my cowboy hat, but I wasn't sure. He then said that he had something else I should wear - and pulled out a little blue velvet box!!! He started to go down on one knee, at which time I about collapsed on the floor, and he caught me since he was down there already. Then he asked me to marry him, at which time I was crying and gasping for about five minutes and couldn't say anything. After a little while, he asked "Is that a yes?" with a bit of a question in his voice. I sputtered out a "yes", and he slipped the ring on my shaking hand somehow. I tried calling Mom and Dad right away, but they weren't home, so we called them later from the rodeo. I couldn't believe it, and was in a daze all evening. All our friends at the rodeo with us were congratulating us, and even managed to get our engagement announced over the loudspeaker at the rodeo.

Later, I found out that he had planned this whole thing for months - going to propose on the upper rim of the Palo Duro Canyon on the last day of the rodeo. He had the ring for months, and was using Matt and Tracy Miesner for moral support. But, when it finally came down to it, he couldn't wait any longer once we got to Texas, so he asked me right away. That's why he was so eager to go to the canyon, even in terrible weather. So now it's my fault!!!

Robb's Version

The engagement process was quite an ordeal. I decided in the spring of 2001 that it was time to ask the big question. Boy, was I nervous!! That might be an understatement; I was a wreck! The first hurdle to over come was getting the permission of Mr. Ivany. I had plans of asking Jenn when we were on vacation in early November, so I had one shot of asking Mr. Ivany in person, when they came to visit in the summer. During their visit, I had two different opportunities, and chickened out both times. I would almost start and then my heart would go racing, so I would talk about farming. When I drove home from Columbus that weekend, I kept thinking that I missed my chance.

After a month or so I had gotten lots of counseling from close friends, they all said it would be ok to ask over the phone, considering the distance. So starts the story of the PHONE CALL! It was October and I had put it off long enough. I consulted with my oldest brother Jim, the lawyer, and he said that it was all in how you phrase the question. Here it is: "Mr. Ivany, I am going to ask Jenn to marry me, and would like your permission. Could I have your permission?" That's all I had to say, easy enough. Wrong!!! I thought to myself, I've never called him before, and he is going to know right off the bat what is going on. So after a sleepless night, the day had come. With sweaty palms I picked up the phone and dialed. Mr. Ivany answers and after he finds out that it is me, I ask the big question, " How's the weather?" I'm not sure what he said. I was thinking about the months of mental preparation down the tubes. To make this long story short I did get the words out and was able to go shopping for the ring. The ring shopping wasn't as bad as was expected, but what a feeling walking into a jewelry shop by myself. I'll never forget it!

The proposal: I was going to take Jenn to Palo Duro Canyon in Texas, and pop the question on the second last day of the rodeo. It was the most romantic place I could think of, and that way, if she said no it would only be a long trip home, and not a long vacation. That was the plan, but of course nothing goes as planned. The first full day in Texas, I was not feeling very well, and I think we all know why. So I asked Jenn if she would like to go to the canyon. She said NO - she had seen it last year! I thought, well the Holiday Inn would have to do, because I was not going to wait one more day! When the ring came out, she had a blank look on her face, and when I took a knee, she dropped like a rock, and started crying. I was not sure how to take her response, so I gave her some time. 5 minutes, still no answer! I was starting to get concerned. The crying stopped around the 8 minute mark, then she started laughing. Still no response. I felt better when she was crying. At the 11 minute mark the answer finally came - YES. My months of planning and preparation had paid off. So that is the whole story, or my side anyway. Hope that you all enjoyed.