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.
Rachel grew up in a horse family with deep agricultural roots on her mother’s and father’s side of the family. She started riding as a little girl but thinks her love for horses started as soon as she was born. Rachel remembers going to the rodeos as a child and seeing the barrel racing and the rodeo queens. Always one with determination and drive, she made it her goal to pursue both one day and kept after that dream.
When asked to write a report on somebody famous for her school assignment, she wrote about Taylor King, former Miss Rodeo NC. Horses are her world. From her academic prowess as a consistent A Honor Roll student to her representation of organizations such as Rocket Donkey and Miss Rodeo NC, she works hard at everything she tries, keeping a positive mindset and her faith at the forefront.
Rachel began her riding career by taking English lessons at a local barn. This allowed her to start building a solid foundation with the basics and developing a solid seat. As her riding progressed, she began doing more with her family horseback. Her two older brothers and both her parents rode western and they have an arena and cattle at their home. Rachel found herself learning the basics of the Western discipline from her dad and riding her brothers’ horses around. Her brother roped and began showing her how to handle a rope as well. The emphasis on horsemanship she gathered during this time shines through today both in her riding talent and her horse training abilities.
While she is often horseback in the arena at her house, she is an active competitor and had enough success in the past year that she bought herself a new saddle with her competition earnings. In addition, she has been named this year’s Grand Champion for the Breakaway Big Loop Ranch Roping of the Carolina Ranch Ropers Association, a feat accomplished with true grit–she competed in one roping with a broken tailbone and still won $500.
Last year, she competed with the Benson Buckaroos Rodeo Association and in some fun shows through Cavvietta Quarter Horse and Cattle Company. She’s done it all from goat tying to pole bending. She also barrel races in some pop-up jackpots and National Barrel Horse Association events and hopes to increase her entries in bigger races this coming year. Rachel loves going fast and has a great partner with her barrel mount, a horse named Red that she trained on barrels herself.
Her other horse, Jokko, is also one she has trained. Her brother bought him in 2021 as an untouched two-year-old stud colt for $200. The problem: no one could get near him. However, Jokko took to Rachel and she began groundwork with him. As their bond developed, her brother gave him to her. Her friend Katie Zink and a barrel trainer helped with Jokko some as well and between their dedication and Rachel’s, he has blossomed. Now a gelding, Jokko has won 4 big loop ropings in the past year, taking home over $1,000. He is also the horse Rachel competed on during the Miss Rodeo NC pageant.
When not riding, practicing roping, tuning up her horses, studying, or bedazzling tack, you’ll find Rachel carrying the flag for Miss Rodeo NC and signing autographs (look for her in Williamston, NC, Valentine’s Day weekend at the Old Ford Rodeo). You can also follow her journey through the unique online platform she has created in her YouTube Channel where she documents the ups and downs of rodeo and provides an insider glance into a day in the life of a North Carolina cowgirl.
Subscribe to Rachel’s channel on YouTube: Rachel Greeson
Photography credit to Rustlin’ Rose Photography and to Heidibee Photography.
