Small-town football standout balances ranch life with state-title expectations

Junior Carter Kuchenbuch handles lots of responsibility around family estate - and hopes he can deliver Okanogan a WIAA championship this fall

Most summer days, Carter Kuchenbuch rides either of his horses, Kramer or Banner, at a moderate giddy-up into the timber hills on his family's 6,500-acre ranch in north central Washington's Okanogan County.

The teenager has a lot on his plate daily: He herds 500 head of beef cattle. He bales hay. He chases water for agriculture. And he often operates heavy equipment for seasonal crop harvest.

These days, the multi-sport standout at Okanogan High School also has plenty on his mind. At the forefront - football.

"Football is my first love, 100 percent," he said. "Every year, I miss football season. I feel like I can look at any part of the season and remember it."

Heading into his junior season, Kuchenbuch (pronounced "Kook-en-boo") once again is set to be a prominent piece in the perennial Class 2B contender's attack.

Only this season, it is slated to come in different ways.

After starting every game at quarterback for the Bulldogs during their run to the WIAA title game last fall, the 6-foot-5, 230-pounder will move predominantly to tight end on offense, allowing Brennen Smith to move under-center.

"We had Carson (Boesel) and Jaden (Radke) - two big targets - to throw to last year," Okanogan coach Erick Judd said. "Coming into this season, we just don't have big wide receiver types except (tight end) Austin Morgan. We needed to have one more weapon."

And yet, listening to Judd explain the move, it's clear he is torn on cementing Kuchenbuch's role in one manner. He warned that his leader could play anywhere along the formation - and still play some quarterback.

Photo by Joshua Hart

"He is pretty much going to be on the field somewhere," Judd said.

Even with a big frame, a lighting-bolt arm and massive all-state potential, Kuchenbuch understands moving along the line of scrimmage might be the best long-term decision for his college recruiting.

"I honestly saw this coming a while ago," Kuchenbuch said. "I am trying to play college football somewhere ... and tight end or defensive end is the best route for me."

And yet, much of spring and early summer, Kuchenbuch was still taking snaps and leading the team at quarterback.

It changed quickly after Okanogan arrived for the Eastern Washington University team camp in late June.

"We got to camp and coach said, 'Hey, check that, you are playing tight. end now,'" Kuchenbuch said. "And I got my first catch in one of the scrimmages ... against Kamiakin."

Kuchenbuch is well-equipped to make adjustments on the fly - he's been doing it his whole life on the ranch, located 10 miles outside of town.

He is usually up before 6 a.m. doing chores with his father, Casey, who graduated from Wilbur High School and was a walk-on linebacker at the University of Idaho in the late 1990s.

By mid-afternoon, Kuchenbuch is either playing basketball at open gyms or getting football work in before lifting weights and returning home for dinner and an early turn-in.

Photo courtesy of Nicole Kuchenbuch

"It's year-round for me," said Kuchenbuch, who is part of a local Christian home-school co-operative. "This is my lifestyle. This is what I do - every day."

There are days that are extra special: Kuchenbuch can shift into disc-jockey mode.

He started his own event DJ business three years ago at the family HJ Ranch LLC, which is a popular wedding-party venue.

"It is in our 'Party Barn,' and we will do weddings or whatever party you want," Kuchenbuch said.

Kuchenbuch also DJs school events, including father-daughter dances - and an annual on-site school prom at the ranch.

"It's a fun way of making money he said. "We get to party along while we are working."

Kuchenbuch is hoping there is a bigger party awaiting the football team come December - a state championship.

"This is probably the first year I feel comfortable in the situation I am in looking ahead," Kuchenbuch said. "Freshman year on varsity was scary. Sophomore year being a first-time quarterback was also scary. But this year, I know what I am doing."

Photo courtesy of Nicole Kuchenbuch