Horses - Laura Pittman

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).

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.

Barrel Racing Breakaway Roping Goat Tying Horses Team Roping

Carolina Cowgirls: Joleigh Galloway

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.

Bird Dogs Dogs Horse Training Horses

Hunter’s Creek Kennels: Sammy and Nida Giddens

Sammy and Nida Giddens’ life reflects a journey of loving people and animals well. Living in the moment comes naturally to these two who appreciate the beauty of a classy bird dog, a Tennessee Walking Horse, a well-prepared ( often homegrown) meal, and the fellowship of those who cross their path.

Both eastern North Carolina Natives, Sammy grew up in Newton Grove and Nida in Faison. Their love story started in 1963 when they met in high school. When Sammy and Nida met, Sammy had never seen a bird dog. Nida already appreciated the sport as her uncle and dad both had dogs that they took wild bird hunting. Sammy and Nida began to share this interest and enjoyed time with family pursuing it.

Horses Steer Wrestling Uncategorized

Alabama’s Rising Star: Sam Lewis

Sam Lewis is the steer wrestler you never saw coming who just appears with a buckle on his belt like he was born with it. Born and raised in a small town in lower Alabama, Sam’s family raises beef cattle. He knew his way around a cow, but hadn’t ever done anything with horses. Blessed with very supportive and loving parents, 15 year old Sam went to his mom one day and said he’d like to ride bulls.

He got on his first bull at a rodeo and while it wasn’t pretty, he was hooked. He began practicing during the week and finding ways to improve his rides. Before long, his hard work was paying off, and he found himself winning a year end rodeo in the Mid-south Little Britches Rodeo Association. He went on to be the Reserve State Champion in the Alabama High School Rodeo Association. While he was really enjoying the ride, he hung up his bull rope this past February because a new passion had popped up that he wanted to devote himself to: steer wrestling.