Laura Pittman - Keeping Stories Alive

A Heart for Agriculture Education

Amber Davis is a woman passionate about agriculture education. It’s not just a cause she believes in, but something she lives out daily in both her professional and her personal life. Ag education shaped her childhood and now she and her husband Sean are incorporating it into their daughter Oakley’s life as well.

Growing up, Amber was active in 4-H, Future Farmers of America (FFA), and Girl Scouts. Her parents were both 4-H leaders and actually met their Senior year of high school in an ag class. Her father was in the Marine Corps and retired after 22 years and their family settled in the Carteret County area of NC when Amber was young.

Artisan Breakaway Roping Horses

Discovering RD Designs: South Dakota’s Western Silversmith

There’s a brand new jewelry designer in the western industry named Riley Donnelly, and she’s here to stay.

Riley recently opened her business, RD Designs, to provide beautiful western pieces that reflect the rodeo lifestyle and uplift people in their faith. A breakaway roper herself, she offers unique breakaway roping jewelry, entering a niche market that has been greatly underserved in comparison to other rodeo disciplines. In addition to stunning gemstones and rodeo designs, her pieces often include Bible verses that she hopes will inspire the wearer and remind them, wherever they go and whatever happens, their God is there with them.

Breakaway Roping English Riding Horses

Two Disciplines, One Love: Carter Garren’s Horse Journey

17-year-old Carter Garren is a true all-around horsewoman, excelling in both the English and Western disciplines. She climbs in the saddle with a quiet confidence and smile that draws others to her. Her power comes not only from her natural talent but from hard work and a mindset of constant improvement.

Barrel Racing Horses

The Joy of a Horse: Bailey’s Story

Bailey (Foote Blount’s) horse journey has taken her across disciplines, counties, and events, yet a constant thread has shined through: her love for simply being in the presence of these special creatures. She acts on this passion through community involvement supporting the horse industry and is often the first person called when assistance is needed with a horse rescue.

Barrel Racing Horses Rodeo Queen

Sara Richardson

NC State student Sara Richardson was crowned Miss Rodeo North Carolina 2025 this past November and is already working to shine a spotlight on rodeo in NC. Sara is a young woman whose quiet confidence and poise point to her deep-seated intelligence and sense of purpose. Paired with her love of horses and willingness to always put them first, she is a natural fit to represent rodeo and serve as an ambassador for a positive, horse-centered lifestyle.

Barrel Racing Breakaway Roping Horses Rodeo Queen

Rachel Gagliardi: a Queen and a Doctor

Several years ago, a special young woman named Rachel Gagliardi moved to North Carolina, bringing her unique passions and talents to our great state.

Rachel Gagliardi is a breakaway roper, barrel racer, horse trainer, breeding program owner, and veterinarian-in-training. As if she wasn’t busy enough, she recently defended her thesis and graduated from the PhD part of a dual doctorate degree program after doing groundbreaking research on equine osteoarthritis through NC State University. Now, she continues with the program for another two years at which point she will graduate again with her second doctoral degree, a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine (DVM).

Barrel Racing Ranch Rodeo Rodeo Queen

Junior Miss Rodeo NC: Rachel Greeson

A talented young woman from Graham, North Carolina has been named Junior Miss Rodeo North Carolina for 2025. This young lady, 13-year-old Rachel Greeson, is a barrel racer, big loop ranch roper, and all-around advocate for the western ranch horse and rodeo industry. On top of it all, she is a great ambassador for her Christian faith with a desire to encourage others.

Country Singer

Channeling Hank: Garrett Newton and the Lovesick Drifters

I discovered Garrett Newton through his performance with his band the Lovesick Drifters at the R.A. Fountain Country Store in Fountain, North Carolina.

Described as a Hank Williams Sr. tribute band, Garrett and his talented team of troubadours brought life to William’s music while adding some comedic flair and down-home hospitality.

Not only does he sound like Hank vocally, but Garrett also remarkably resembles the late singer, being close in age to the last birthday Hank ever saw and has put in great effort trying to learn all about his life and share his story with the public.

Horses PRCA Steer Wrestling

Duvall and Harrison Win Big at Hooper’s Jackpot

Veterans day weekend in Athens, TX has started gaining attention in the past few years with the growth of Pat Hooper Leatherwrks Annual Veterans Day Steer Wrestling Jackpot.

Pat is a guy who is always looking to provide the best quality possible, and contestants at his event are quick to comment on the tough competition, fabulous arena, and great prizes. This year’s big winners were Riley Duvall and Brandon Harrison.

Fishing Wildlife

Discovering Fish IBX: A Day With Mitchell Blake

When Mitchell Blake looks at the world around him, he sees the life within it, and pieces together the elements like a graceful detective trying to retell the events of a night through obscure clues.

He sees the ripples of fish rolling, the eagle perched in the distant tree, the seagull on a post eyeing our bait. He feels the brisk bite of the wind and asks if I’m okay, if my place in this adventure is still serving me well. If not, he’s going to adapt to make it better for me–just like he does when he sees how the fish respond to his initial lures. Mitchell knows the curves of the river and how each species has changed in the last ten years. He talks about the fish and birds like they are his colleagues, friends for the day whose home he is always welcome at. Through loving this world and living within it, he has become a part of it. With membership comes the hard truth: the only certainty is change.

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