Mast returns to farm work after bull-riding accident

| April 21, 2015

FRESNO – The 2014 Coshocton County Fair was one that family and friends of Roy Mast will never forget. Mast had been bull riding for more than 10 years when he was nearly trampled to death during a rodeo at the fair.

“I really don’t remember anything that happened that night,” said Mast. “I was told later when I was in the hospital what had happened, but I really don’t remember anything.”

With his life hanging in the balance, Mast underwent extensive medical treatment and was a patient in Grant’s ICU for two weeks. Miraculously, he began recovering and started physical therapy at Grant, continued therapy at the Ohio State University, and finished in Coshocton at the 311 building.

When he was 16 years old, Mast started as a part-time milker on Bill and Carolyn Daugherty’s farm in Fresno. After one year, he was hired as a full-time farm hand and continued to expand his duties on the farm. Only four short months after his accident, Mast was back to work full time almost as though nothing had changed.

“It’s not necessarily physically challenging since the accident,” said Mast. “I was just off for so long and it took me a while to get back in the groove. I never know what I’m going to do when I get to work and that’s what I like about it. It’s always something different.”

Mast does a wide variety of jobs on the 1,400-acre farm including milking, truck driving, delivering grain, repair work, and anything else that needs done. While he was off, everyone else on the farm pitched in and worked a little harder in Mast’s absence. The Daughertys have other employees on the farm including Mast’s younger brother, and one who has been employed for 44 years.

“We went over the day after the accident and he didn’t look very well at all,” said Bill.  “At that point, we were just hoping he’d survive, let alone thinking about him coming back to work. We’re thrilled about his recovery.”

Mast said that for now, bull riding may be a thing of the past for him.

“Maybe in one or two years, I might try riding again,” he said, “if I’m still interested in it. But it won’t be for a long time.”

Mast is expected to have a full recovery. He still has trouble with his vision, but that is expected to get better with time.

“He had great community support and several benefits,” said Bill. “Not just monetary, but people in the community would pitch in and help out. A lot of prayers went up and we were continued to be amazed.”

“There were a lot of prayers and thought from family and friends,” said Mast. “That’s what helped me pull through this.”

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About the Author ()

I have been employed at the Coshocton County Beacon since September 2009 as a news reporter and assistant graphic artist. I am a 2004 graduate of Newcomerstown High School and a 2008 graduate of Capital University with a bachelor’s degree in Professional Writing. I am married to John Scott and live in Newcomerstown. We have two beautiful daughters, Amelia Grace Scott and Leanna Rose Scott.

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