My Kids

Christmas 2004 Elizabeth, Angela and Daniel
Daniel, 11 years
Angela 4 years
Daniel 6 years
Elizabeth 4 years
Daniel 5 years
Angela 3 years
Elizabeth 3 years
Christmas 2002 in Denver Angela, Daniel and Elizabeth
Elizabeth and Angela (8 years)

 

Farm

Besides teaching at California State University, Stanislaus, I have a commercial rabbit farm, Kralek Farms, Inc. (Kralek is Czechoslovakian for rabbit).  We raise rabbits for meat, breeding stock and to provide animals to the biomedical research community.  In the later area, we supply major research institutions such as Stanford, UC Berkely and the University of San Francisco.  Typically we house 1000 New Zealand White breeding does that produce 30-35,000 rabbits a year.  We also maintain a small herd of Dutch belted rabbits and New Zealand Reds.  Below are a few pictures of some of the facilities we use.

New Zealand White rabbits

We raise predominantly New Zealand White rabbit

Inside of our A-frame barns

This is the inside of our A-frame barns. Basically, the barn is a roof under which the cages are supported. The roof provides shelter from the elements. There is a black pipe that is suspended above the cages that is a fogger system to keep the rabbits cool on those 100 degree days.

Our breeding cages

Our breeding cages all have drop nestboxes. The wire baskets that hang below the cage floor is where a nestbox is placed when a doe is ready to kindle (give birth).

Horse Polo Days

Dr. Grobner polo days

While at Colorado State University, I played on the men's intercollegiate horse polo team. Here, I line up as we prepare to face off at the start of a chukker (a 7 minute period in polo).

Polo days: Two teams

The two teams are lining up to receive the ball. The men's team is playing the best players in our club including our coach Richey Carroll in preparation for our tournament play at the men's intercollegiate horse polo tournament in Darien, Connecticut.

Dr. Grobner polo days

I'm returning to the center to line up after having scored another goal.

CSU team lining up against the San Luis Obispo team.

Here is the CSU team (in green shirts) lining up against the San Luis Obispo team at the men's intercollegiate championships in Connecticut.

Polo days

I am the number two player in the middle of the pack trying desperately to defend our goal.

Polo days

Here I take a backhand to drive the ball away from the goal we are defending. The picture is blurry because of my quick reflexes.

Polo days

Here I am turning after yet once more clearing a ball with a backhand. I seemed to do that a lot during the match. Unfortunately, we lost 7-6. We outscored them in the second half, but they outscored us the first. This ended our tournament play.

Polo days

Here I am turning after yet once more clearing a ball with a backhand. I seemed to do that a lot during the match. Unfortunately, we lost 7-6. We outscored them in the second half, but they outscored us the first. This ended our tournament play.

This is a team photo from the Eugene exhibition.

This is a team photo from the Eugene exhibition.

Refereed at an exhibition that we put on in Eugene Oregon

While at Oregon State University, I continued playing polo as well as coaching the women's intercollegiate team. Here, I refereed at an exhibition that we put on in Eugene Oregon.

Norman, Oklahoma

This picture was taken in Norman, Oklahoma where I spent my summers playing professional polo. In the middle of the picture you can just make out a few people on horseback (one of which is me). Outdoor polo is played on a field that is three football fields long (300 yards) by three football fields wide (150 yards). I found the game exciting, but too many people were getting seriously hurt. When my boss took a ball in his good eye that nearly blinded him, I decided to go back to school.

 

Updated: March 21, 2022