Keeping Stories Alive
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.
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).
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.
Joleigh Galloway has a knack for learning new things quickly and then turning around to teach someone else and pass that knowledge forward. A high school junior from Liberty, SC, Joleigh competes in breakaway roping, barrel racing, goat tying, pole bending, and team roping. In addition, she does leatherwork under her business Diamond G Leatherworks.
Joleigh has been around rodeo for many years. She was running barrels on a leadline at 2 years old and sat on a whole bunch of horses before then. Her dad is a long-time pickup man with several different rodeo associations and also judges some. Before she was born, he traveled on the team roping circuit as well. With her dad’s fine teaching, Joleigh began competing in the Foothills Youth Rodeo Association at around three years old.
When Sam Hamilton discovered she could blend her love of horses and of shooting, she didn’t think life could get much better. As an avid hunter and horsewoman, she was delighted to find a way to blend her passions and quickly became heavily involved with mounted shooting events.
Mounted shooting continues to be a strong passion of hers, but is a piece of her larger journey. She started with barrel racing and has recently begun pursuing breakaway roping. It is the breakaway roping that has led to the most growth, frustration, and desire to encourage others to never give up.
Julie’s Smith’s story is one of pursuing passions and leaning on a foundation of faith to overcome the daily battles that fear can bring. A barrel racer, mother, wife, and owner of “Be Fierce”, Julie lives with her family in Travelers Rest, South Carolina.
Julie fell in love with horses at 4 years old and when she turned 5 years old her Papa bought her one. She focused on trail riding and western pleasure work, enjoying the companionship of her horse above all else. When she was 10 years old she tried Hunter Jumper and English riding lessons but just didn’t feel that the culture fit her, so she returned to her beloved western world.
There was one discipline that had caught her eye and held it: barrel racing. At the time, barrel racing wasn’t as big as it is now and when she told her Papa about her interest he told her that barrel horses were crazy and she’d just get hurt.
You may remember hearing about the versatile talents of saddle maker and steer wrestler Pat Hooper. In addition to his successes, he and his wife are passing their legacy on to their two young children and encouraging them to follow their dreams.
Pat and April Hooper’s daughter, Avery, is ten years old this year and has more self-motivation and drive than plenty of adults. Whether she is in the classroom, on the softball field, on the dance stage, or on her barrel racing horse, Avery is going to put on a show.
Avery excels in school and has a special interest in science. She’s polite and smart, and as her dad says “She’s just a good lady.”
Leah Hunter Hare is a natural leader whose care and desire to build others up has shined through the business she and her two younger sisters proudly run.
The Greer, South Carolina breakaway roper and barrel racer didn’t grow up in a horse family and hopes to be an example for others that you don’t have to have been born into it to make it. You just have to have the desire and drive.
Leah was the first one in her family to ride horses. When she was two years old she adored horses and not long after her Poppy Gene bought her one. Her first horse, Rosie, taught she and her sisters how to ride. Later, they bought a step-up buckskin pony mare named Prissy that Leah and her sisters learned to barrel race on.
Gracie Fritts attitude and faith are as notable as her roping talent. The Lexington, North Carolina cowgirl has had her fair share of setbacks on the rodeo road. Rather than become discouraged, she has allowed it to shape her outlook in a way that lets her enjoy the game and appreciate her horses and the God-given opportunities before her.
This past weekend, talented cowboys and cowgirls from around the country gathered in Topeka to compete and connect with old friends during the 60th annual United Rodeo Association (URA) Finals. With the support of businesses and individuals sponsoring events, the hospitality of the staff at the Stormont Vail Events Center, and the devoted attitude of its members, the weekend was full of high-quality stock and professional competition in a family friendly environment.
