Submitted photo Brandy Toomer of New Ulm poses for a photo after earning her OCB Pro Cards, which she earned by taking first in both the Masters and Open class at the OCB Mr and Ms Natural Minnesota event in Bloomington, Minnesota, on Saturday.

NEW ULM — One small bump in the road didn’t stop Brandy Toomer from reaching her goal.

After coming up just short of capturing her IFBB (International Fitness and Bodybuilding Federation) Pro Cards on May 16 at NPC Worldwide Pittsburgh Natural Pro Qualifier, also known as Natural Nationals, the New Ulm resident was quick to move on and prepare for her next show just a week later. There, Toomer shined and earned OCB (Organization of Competitive Bodybuilders) Pro Cards after taking first in both the Masters and Open classes at the OCB Mr and Ms Natural Minnesota show Saturday in Bloomington, Minnesota.

Toomer originally worked to win IFBB Pro Cards at the NPC Worldwide Pittsburgh Natural Pro Qualifier. At that event, she finished second in the Masters 35+ class and third in the Wellness Open Class B.

While she just missed out on securing an IFBB Pro Card in Pittsburgh, Toomer decided to sign up for and compete in the OCB Mr and Ms Natural Minnesota show this past Saturday in Bloomington.

Going into Natural Nationals, Toomer said she already had it in the back of her mind that the OCB Natural show in Minnesota could be a potential third show for her, being in prep since October. She said since different federations have strict rules, earning an IFBB Pro Card in Pittsburgh would have meant the end of her season.

“When I ended that night without the card, my husband and I ordered a pizza to the hotel room and immediately messaged the OCB promoter,” Toomer said. “It was actually the final day of registration for the following weekend’s event. He was amazing — he reopened registration for me and helped coordinate all the last-minute tanning, makeup and polygraph logistics to squeeze me in.”

Toomer said that she wasn’t disappointed with her finish in Pittsburgh until heading home, but she quickly changed gears when she signed up for the OCB show.

“I actually wasn’t disappointed with the Nationals results until the flight home, when I looked at the comparison photos on my husband’s phone,” she said. “That’s when it hit me, and it was a tough pill to swallow. I felt I brought a package that deserved first in Masters, but that is the nature of a subjective sport.

“I can’t control the judges’ perspectives; I could only control what was in my power, and I brought my absolute best look to date. Once I officially signed up for the OCB show, the pressure vanished. I felt a wave of excitement because it became about having fun on stage one last time.”

After heading back to Minnesota and going through one last week of show prep, Toomer’s past Saturday was one to remember.

“Winning that OCB Pro Card gave me an immediate sense of, ‘This is exactly where I am meant to be,'” she said. “The entire energy of the event was incredible — from the promoter to the volunteer staff, it was an unforgettable experience. I went in never expecting gold, because you truly never know who is going to show up on competition day, so to leave as a Pro was amazing.”

While Toomer gets back to her other duties as a mom, trainer and certified surgical technologist at the New Ulm Medical Center, she’s already getting urged to compete and share a stage with some of the country’s best bodybuilders later this year.

“Since the win, I’ve already had multiple people trying to recruit me to compete in the Yorton Cup OCB Pro Show this September,” she said. “My response to them has been, ‘Let me eat first, then I can give you a better answer.'”