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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
When you look at Sara Thigpen’s photography, you can expect to feel something. Her eye for capturing unique vantage points illuminating the action of the western horse world pairs with her editing style of contrasting bright colors with shadows and darker tones for a moody, visceral effect.
A professional photographer and the owner of eastern NC’s Rustlin’ Rose Photography, Sara has been passionate about taking pictures and interacting with horses since she was a child.
Growing up, she remembers her grandpa always carrying his camera around taking pictures and her mom printing some of his pictures out for their home. Her grandpa involved Sara, setting his film camera up on a tripod outside and allowing her to play with it and experience how it worked.
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.”
