When Rylie Eden walks into an arena, she brings the same confidence she shows on the volleyball court or the basketball court back home in Hillsboro, Texas. The high school senior balances nearly every sport her small public school offers while competing at an elite level in the breakaway roping and pole bending.
Eden, who joined Team Cavender’s three years ago, was nominated by longtime friend and fellow competitor Tana Trosper.
“Every year when the seniors on the team graduate, they nominate somebody else to be on it,” Eden said. “Tana nominated me in my sophomore year.”
Since then, Eden has embraced both the responsibility and the opportunity that come with representing one of the Western industry’s most recognized names.
“Team Cavender’s has helped me in so many ways,” she said. “They have this summit every year where different rodeo athletes and sponsors come talk to us, not just about rodeo but about being a better person.”
That annual Team Cavender’s Summit has made a lasting impression on nearly every team member, and Eden is no exception. She calls the experience one of her favorite parts of being on the team.
“You’re there for three days with your teammates just getting to know each other,” she said. “My first year, I didn’t know what to expect. I thought it’d be like a class, but my favorite memory is always the volleyball games we play at the Sonic across the street every year.”
Off the road, Eden’s life is equally busy. She attends the public school where her mother serves as principal and participates in volleyball, basketball, track, cross-country and softball.
“Most schools probably wouldn’t let me get away with all my absences,” she said with a laugh. “But my mom and our school have been really supportive. They even created a rodeo team, so my absences count as school events and don’t go against me.”
Rodeo runs deep in her family. Her mother qualified for the United Professional Rodeo Association Finals in both the breakaway roping and barrel racing, and her father competed in the tie-down roping.
“My mom ran barrels when she was pregnant with me,” Eden said. “I’ve been around rodeo since before I was born.”
By junior high, Eden said she was hooked. She qualified for state and national competitions in the breakaway roping, and began to realize her talent could take her far.
“That’s when I kind of singled out breakaway as what I wanted to focus on most,” she said.
“In barrels, you’ve got to have a really nice horse to win, but in breakaway, even if you’re not riding the nicest horse, you can make it up with your rope.”
Her proudest moment so far came at the Days of ’47 Rodeo in Salt Lake City when she was just 12 years old. “I made the gold medal round, and I was the only kid under 16 or 17 to rope there,” she said. “Even though I didn’t finish how I wanted, it was an amazing experience. The stands were packed, and I’ll never forget it.”
Now in her senior year, Eden said she is looking ahead to life beyond high school.
“I definitely want to pro rodeo and try to make the finals and hopefully win the finals someday,” she said. She plans to attend college online so she can continue competing full-time while representing her future school.
Eden credits several professional cowgirls as role models, especially Martha Angelone and Hali Williams. “Martha sets the bar high,” she said. “She came from nothing and won the world doing it all on her own. That makes me want to work hard so it’s just me and my horses against the world.”
When asked what advice she would give to younger rodeo kids hoping to join Team Cavender’s, Eden didn’t hesitate.
“Think of them more like a family,” she said. “If you ever need anything, you can call anyone on the team and they’ll be there. They really make you feel like family in and out of the arena.”
Photo Courtesy of Rylie Eden
She added a final reminder that reflects her grounded perspective. “Always thank the people who help you,” she said. “One day they might not be there and you’ll realize how much they did for you.” •
For senior cowgirl Jacee Williams, Team Cavender’s feels a lot like home. The Coweta High School student joined the team as a sophomore after watching her older brother, Kade, serve on the original roster. She said the family atmosphere drew her in from the start.
“My brother was actually on the first Team Cavender’s,” Williams said. “I went with him to one of the summits and met Jennifer [Green], who was super sweet. I liked how everything felt close-knit and like family. When I got to high school, I applied and got accepted.”
Now in her senior year, Williams said the experience has helped her grow beyond the arena. Her favorite part has been the Cavender’s Summit held each August.
“I use those three days as personal growth days,” she said. “They bring in leaders from rodeo who share lessons about life and leadership. It’s helped me with interviews and confidence.”
Williams said the summits taught her how to communicate under pressure. “When I first joined, I didn’t know what to say in interviews,” she said. “Now I’ve learned how to talk with people and represent myself well. It’s made a big difference.”
Rodeo has always been part of her life. Her father was a calf roper, her mother a goat tier and breakaway roper, and her grandparents spent decades raising cattle and training horses.
“I’ve always been around rodeo, but in the last 10 years I’ve gotten more competitive,” she said.
Williams competes in breakaway roping, an event she said highlights both the athlete and the horse. “I tried barrels, poles and goats, but breakaway stood out,” she said. “It takes timing and trust with your horse.”
Her most significant influence is her mother, Janna. “My mom has always been my coach and my cheerleader,” Williams said. “She’s the one who got me into breakaway, and she pushes me to get better every day.”
Alongside rodeo, Williams plays volleyball and runs track for Coweta High School. She said managing it all takes strong time management and focus.
“It’s hard if you don’t stay organized,” she said. “I’m taking college classes, so I rope in the mornings before school. During volleyball season, it gets busy, but I make it work.”
Williams plans to attend Northwestern Oklahoma State University in Alva, Oklahoma, where she hopes to major in elementary education with a minor in psychology. She said college rodeo is her next goal, followed by competing professionally.
“I had some college volleyball offers, but roping is what I want to focus on,” she said. “After a couple of years in school, I want to hit the pro rodeo trail.”
Her main horse, a veteran gelding, will retire soon. She’s training a young mare named Jenny to take over next spring, with another two-year-old in the works. “My grandpa starts all our colts,” she said. “It’s special to ride horses our family raised.”
Williams still ropes with her brother when he’s home from college. “He comes home in the summer, and we jackpot and go to some local rodeos,” she said. “It’s something we’ve always done together.”
Her dream is to compete in Cheyenne, Wyoming, a rodeo that’s long been on her bucket list. “It’d be amazing to rope there one day,” she said.
For girls who hope to follow in her footsteps, Williams offers simple advice.
“Be yourself,” she said. “People can tell when you’re genuine, and that’s what will get you far.”
Steer wrestler Rowdy Parrott is no stranger to the ups and downs of professional rodeo. But after a strong showing at last year’s Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, the Louisiana cowboy is carried confidence — and cash — into the end of the 2025 season.
“This is the best position I have ever been in at this point in the year,” Parrott said. “I have never had this much money won this early, and it is just a way better feeling going down the road knowing you can do your job without stressing about every single win.”
Parrott credits much of that success to his partnership with American Hat Company, which signed him just before the NFR last year. He joined through a personal friendship with Jake and Mercedes Bloomer, and the relationship quickly became a natural fit.
“My favorite part of being with American is just the values we share — faith, family, all of that,” Parrott said. “They are always there to help, super easy to deal with, and just great people across the board.”
While Parrott wears several different American hats on the road, he said he is not particular about which one tops his head. “They just send me whatever, and I roll with it,” he said with a laugh.
On the arena dirt, Parrott’s highlight of the season came in Nashville, where he captured the inaugural win at the city’s first professional rodeo. “That one really gave me momentum going into the summer,” he said. “Winning first there set the tone.”
Much of his recent success comes aboard Crush, the standout horse owned by world champion steer wrestler Ty Erickson. Crush was named Steer Wrestling Horse of the Year in 2024, and Parrott says the gelding makes his job easier. “When you are riding a horse like that, you do not have to worry,” he said. “You can just focus on the steer. A huge part of my success has been because of him.”
Parrott often hits the road with Erickson and fellow steer wrestler Gavin Soileau. His brother, Remey, joins them at times as a hazer, a setup that adds comfort to the grueling rodeo schedule. “It is really nice having good friends and especially my brother out there with us,” Parrott said.
The 31-year-old cowboy did not slow down as the regular season wound towards its September finish. With big-money rodeos like Puyallup, Sioux Falls and Pendleton on the line, Parrott planned to “keep the hammer down.”
“At the NFR last year, I won fifth, but money-wise it was not a lot,” he said. “This year, the goal is to win as much as possible going in because it can all come down to those last rounds in Vegas.” Parrott’s career reached a milestone last December when he earned his first NFR round win after three previous appearances in Las Vegas. “That was something I had worked so hard for and envisioned for so long,” he said. “I had been close with seconds and thirds, but to finally get that win was awesome. It just lit a fire knowing how close I was in the average, and it gave me confidence moving forward.” He wears the go-round buckle proudly. “I worked hard for that one, so I am going to wear it,” he said.
Outside of the arena, Parrott and his wife, Lynette, run a family business — Crawfish Outlet to Geaux — which he says had its best year yet. The venture not only provides a steady income but also allows the family to spend time together when he is home. His wife and three children often travel with him during the first part of the summer, though the school year keeps them closer to home in the fall.
With family, faith, strong horsepower and solid backing from American Hat Company, Parrott believes 2025 could be his best season yet. “I am really confident going into the NFR this year,” he said. “I think it is going to be our best year.”
When Tana Trosper talks about her rodeo life, it’s easy to hear the energy and gratitude in her voice. The 18-year-old barrel racer from Texas said she has spent nearly her entire life in the arena, following in the footsteps of her parents while carving her own path as a member of Team Cavender’s.
“I had a pony before I could even walk,” Trosper said. “My parents bought me one for my first birthday, and my dad would lead-line me around while I held on to the saddle horn. That’s really where it all started.”
From those early days, rodeo quickly became central to her life. She said she began entering at local play-days, eventually moving into youth rodeo associations like Winnsboro Youth Rodeo Association (WYRA) and Little Britches, before stepping up to Texas High School Rodeo Association events. Barrel racing became her primary focus, though she also competes in pole bending.
Photo Courtesy of Team Cavender’s
Her family’s rodeo roots run deep. Trosper’s father, Jason, once team roped as a heeler. Her mother, Melinda, grew up competing in barrels and poles in eastern Oklahoma and was crowned Miss Rodeo Oklahoma in 1994. That second-generation influence provided Trosper and her sister, Jada, with a strong foundation.
It was a family friend, world champion tie-down roper Riley Webb, who Trosper said first encouraged the sisters to join Team Cavender’s.
“Riley was like, ‘Y’all need to apply. They’re a great company to represent, very family-oriented,” Trosper said. “So my sister and I both applied, and we were so excited when we got it. Team Cavender’s has been amazing to us.”
Summit Camp, the annual Team Cavender’s gathering, has been her favorite experience so far. But for Trosper, the lessons she learned extend beyond the arena.
“I definitely believe that connections are more significant than I realized,” she said. “The people you meet and the relationships you build matter just as much as what you accomplish in competition.”
Today, Trosper campaigns two horses: Shiny Cartel – or “Shiner,” a tall mare with both Quarter Horse and Thoroughbred bloodlines – and Joker, her steady pole horse. Shiner’s racetrack background means she can be high-spirited, but Trosper calls her “a blessing” and a powerful athlete. Joker, though older, still plays like a colt.
“He’s my trouble child,” she said, smiling. “But you’d never know he’s 20 or 21.”
While barrel racing is her passion, Trosper has not ruled out roping. She began practicing during the COVID-19 pandemic with Webb and other friends, but never found the right horse to compete on. “It wasn’t that I didn’t like roping — I just didn’t have the right mount to keep going,” she said.
Outside of rodeo, Trosper lives a busy life as a senior in public school. She has spent four years on her school’s bass fishing team, pairing with a classmate to compete in statewide tournaments. What started as a self-taught hobby in middle school grew into another competitive outlet.
“I learned how to fish by watching YouTube videos in eighth grade,” she said. “Then my best friend and I joined the team once we got to high school, and it’s been such a fun experience.”
She also hunts and fishes recreationally, and works odd jobs for local farmers to save money for college. That’s because she has another passion outside of the arena: aviation.
“I’m going to apply to flight school,” Trosper said. “Within four years, I hope to have my commercial license. Then I plan on trying to pro rodeo after that.”
She said she is considering programs close to home, though Oklahoma State University (OSU) is also on her list. Her sister, Jada, who is two years older, is currently on the rodeo team at OSU.
Trosper’s long-term dream is to balance both aviation and rodeo, but she doesn’t underestimate the challenge. Still, the mentors she admires in the sport, like professional barrel racers Lisa Lockhart and Emily Beisel, remind her that humility and persistence go a long way.
“They’re both so humble, and I love the way they compose themselves,” she said. “That’s the kind of presence I want to have in rodeo.”
For Colee Cox, rodeo runs in her veins. The high school senior, breakaway roper and goat tyer has carved her path into the arena as she looks ahead to the professional ranks.
Cox, 18, joined Team Cavender’s in 2023 with the help of fellow competitor and friend Sage Galliard. The sponsorship program, considered one of the premier youth rodeo teams in the country, has given her more than just backing in the arena.
“Team Cavender’s is one of the most prestigious youth teams out there right now, and they’ve taught me everything from social media to resumes and job applications,” Cox said. “They’ve brought in pro athletes and industry professionals to guide us, and I’m truly honored to be part of it.”
Photo by Jennings Photography
Her favorite memories come from the team’s annual summit, a gathering where members train, learn and bond. This year, as a senior, Cox designed and customized a pair of boots — a standout moment in what she calls one of her most meaningful experiences.
But what she values most from the program may surprise some.
“Definitely the social media aspect,” Cox said. “Before Team Cavender’s, I was terrible at it. They showed me how to be professional online, and since social media is one of the biggest things in our industry, it’s been huge for me.”
Unlike many competitors, Cox did not grow up in a rodeo family. Her father, Chad, was a drag racer who showed horses, while her mother, Holly, played nearly every sport from volleyball to basketball. Cox said she showed horses and played youth sports before discovering her true passion almost by accident.
Photo by Jennings Photography
“I took my show horse to a local rodeo one day and won it,” she recalled. “I told my dad, ‘I have the need for speed,’ and I’ve never looked back. Rodeo has become my life.”
With the help of mentors such as roper Chad Detweiler and goat-tying coach Kassidy Eakin, Cox developed into a well-rounded competitor. Friendships with professional cowgirls also gave her valuable insight into the rodeo lifestyle.
Her parents, despite not having a rodeo background, quickly became her biggest supporters.
“My parents haul me up and down the road every weekend,” Cox said. “If I say I want to enter, they’ve got me entered. I couldn’t ask for a better set of parents.”
Photo Courtesy of Colee Cox
A homeschool student, Cox has built her schedule around both academics and competition. She also competes on the Childress High School golf team, thanks to a Texas law allowing homeschoolers to participate in University Interscholastic League sports, and she shows pigs through 4-H.
After graduation, Cox plans to attend college, where she said she hopes to balance academics with professional rodeo. Long-term, she has her sights set high.
“I want to make the NFBR one day, and I’d love to be an all-around champion at the College National Finals Rodeo,” she said. “One of my biggest goals is to rope at Calgary when I get my pro card.”
Cox’s string of horses reflects years of dedication. Her go-to breakaway mount, Rouge, has carried her on some of the biggest stages. Fly, a sorrel gelding, is equipped for fast setups, while Tag, a buckskin, recently helped her win the Texas Cowboy Reunion. Ruby, her only mare, handles goat tying with the same grit she once used in steer wrestling.
Together, the lineup has helped Cox secure a growing list of titles, including back-to-back junior world finals championships in breakaway roping (2022 and 2023) and the 2023 Texas High School Rodeo Association Rookie of the Year award.
Her time competing in Las Vegas has given her a taste of what lies ahead.
“Vegas is such a different atmosphere,” Cox said. “Getting that experience now makes it easier to handle the nerves when we get to the pro level.”
Photo Courtesy of Team Cavender’s
For Cox, success in rodeo is about more than buckles and saddles. She carries a personal motto with her into every competition: JISTA — “Jesus Is Still The Answer.”
“You’ll see that or the ‘God is greater than the highs and lows’ logo on all my stuff,” she said. “That’s what keeps me going in this crazy world.”
As Cox looks toward her future, her mix of faith, family support and relentless drive suggests that her name may be one rodeo fans will see at the top of results for years to come.
Nineteen-year-old Pecos Tatum might be young, but his rodeo résumé already reads like that of a seasoned pro.
Hailing from La Plata, New Mexico, Tatum said he has been roping and riding nearly all his life.
“Everybody in my family has always rodeoed or had something to do with rodeo,” Tatum said. “It’s the only thing I’ve ever wanted to do.”
A longtime supporter of the American Hat Company, Tatum’s relationship with the brand began early.
“I think I was like seven or eight when Mr. Keith gave me my first hat,” he said, referring to the late Keith Maddox, owner of American Hat Company.
“Before he passed away, he was always just a great guy to me and my family. It’s very easy to support a company with such a great product and great people.”
That early connection sparked a partnership that continues to shape Tatum’s professional image and confidence, both on and off the court.
Now a full-time professional cowboy, Tatum bypassed college to hit the road and chase his dreams.
“Last year was my rookie year,” he said. “I didn’t go to school. I finished high school and left home to go rodeoing.”
Homeschooled since the first grade, Tatum credits that flexibility with helping him build the skills and experience he needed to excel.
“It opened up a lot of opportunities,” he said. “Being homeschooled let me rope with more people and go to more rodeos.”
Last year may not have ended the way he hoped, but Tatum views it as a learning experience.
“It taught me a lot of things I could do differently,” he said.
Now ranked in the top 25 in the world standings, Tatum is focused on qualifying for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.
“My goal is to get to the NFR this year,” he said. “There was a big learning curve last year. I had to figure out how things worked and improve my mental game.”
Tatum said he currently splits his time between Texas and the rodeo trail, with a dependable string of horses behind him. His central mount is a horse he purchased during his junior year of high school.
“I bought him right before state finals and made it to nationals on him,” Tatum said. “It’s kind of just gone on from there.”
His secondary horse, a sorrel named Raymond, was purchased from a family friend in Arizona.
“He’s really strong in long setups like Cheyenne and Salinas. He’s my go-to for those,” Tatum said.
Outside the arena, Tatum said he also enjoys auctioneering, a trade passed down from his grandfather, who spent years selling at local livestock barns.
“He started teaching me when I was six or seven,” Tatum said.
“I’d go to the sale barn with him and get to sell a few things, just messing around. I’ve been doing it ever since.”
Despite his age, Tatum speaks with the quiet confidence of someone who knows the value of hard work, support from family and mentors, and the importance of staying grounded.
“It’s been a blessing,” he said. “There are so many people who’ve helped me, my parents, my grandparents, friends; I wish I could name them all.”
With ProRodeo at its peak and eyes on Las Vegas in December, Pecos Tatum said he is focused on two things: roping smart and staying consistent.
At just 17, Harley Pryor has spent nearly half a decade as a member of Team Cavender’s. What started as an invitation back in middle school has turned into something much more than a sponsorship.
“It’s like family,” Pryor said. “You don’t just sign up to be on Team Cavender’s. They hand-pick people, and that makes it feel more personal and meaningful.”
Now entering her senior year of high school, the Florida native says she is splitting her time between her hometown of Moore Haven, Florida, and the heart of Texas rodeo country—Stephenville, Texas—where she trains and competes full-time.
Though she has been part of the Cavender’s team for four years, Pryor said her favorite memories come from the annual team summit, where members gather for a few days of connection and education.
“They bring in speakers like Amy Wilson, fitness coaches, social media experts—just people who help us be better in and out of the arena,” she said. “Plus, it’s a lot of fun. We hang out at the pool, have dinner with the Cavender family, and get to see the main Cavender’s building.”
Pryor’s journey into rodeo was not a matter of if—it was a matter of when. Her family has been rooted in Florida ranching and rodeoing for generations. She said her dad wrestled steers, his mom and grandparents roped, and she was roping calves by the time she could walk.
“If I didn’t rodeo, I was going to be working cows the rest of my life,” she said. “We live on a big ranch and everyone ropes. My grandpa taught me, and he is still my biggest supporter.” Despite being raised on a Florida ranch, Pryor knew early on that Texas was where she needed to be to take her career to the next level.
“Florida is more cowboying. Texas is rodeoing,” she said. “People don’t realize how different it is until they come out here.”
These days, Pryor said she is homeschooled through Florida’s system, with plans to graduate and hit the professional rodeo trail full-time after filling her permit. She has already made a name for herself on the amateur circuit and once competed at The American at just 13 years old aboard her standout horse, Jol.
“She tore both her deep flexors, and they told me I’d never ride her again,” Pryor said. “But she came back. I only haul her to the big ones now.”
Pryor said her current string of horses is carefully selected to match different setups: Muffin, a go-fast horse; Tick, who is versatile on speed and timing; Jolene, an up-and-comer still in training; and Jol, who remains a cornerstone of Pryor’s story.
“My grandpa always said you are only as good as your horsepower, and I have been blessed with great horses,” she said.
When she is not in the arena, Pryor said she enjoys hog hunting and collecting gator eggs back home—a nod to her roots on Florida’s rugged ranchlands. And even with big dreams ahead, she carries her upbringing with her into every competition.
“I told myself I wanted to get out of Florida and make a name for myself,” she said. “I’m still working on that, but I’m getting there.”
For Kash Loyd, rodeo is more than a passion—it’s a path shaped by family, tradition and professional ambition. The high school junior from Rio Vista, Texas, has been competing since he was 3, and for nearly three years, he has proudly worn the Team Cavender’s patch—something he said he once only dreamed about.
“I have been around rodeo for quite a long time,” Loyd said. “I saw people wearing the Cavender’s brand and thought, ‘How do I get there?’”
With encouragement from friends already on the team and a good word from past team member Cooper Lane, Loyd said he earned his spot. Since then, he has grown not only as a rider but also as a young professional.
“Team Cavender’s teaches you how to be a professional—how to act in public, how to eat properly, how to handle social media and sponsors,” he said.“It’s real-life training that’s incredibly beneficial.”
Lloyd said his favorite memory has been the Team Cavender’s Summit, an annual gathering in Tyler, Texas, that brings together all team athletes.
“You’re not just spending time with rough stock riders,” he said. “You’re with team ropers, breakaway ropers—everybody. It feels like a family.”
Loyd said his rodeo journey started early. His dad, Kevin, was a bronc rider, and he followed closely behind—first on sheep, then on mini ponies as that division gained popularity in 2015. He won his division at the Junior World Finals in 2016 and has not looked back.
“Growing up, that’s all I wanted to do,” he said. “Still is.”
After briefly experimenting with saddle bronc riding, Lloyd said he found his groove in the bareback riding, where he blends techniques from top ProRodeo athletes into his evolving style.
“If I take one thing from R.C. Landingham and another from Bradlee Miller, that style becomes Kash Lloyd,” he said. “You tweak the little things until it works for you.”
Lloyd said mentorship from top riders, like Tilden Hooper, and his parents’ support has been crucial.
“They help me keep a level head and focus on the mental side of the game,” he said.“Everything we do, we do as a family.”
That includes his 12-year-old twin brothers, Kane and Crew, who ride mini ponies. Lloyd said he helps when he can, though he admitted his dad does most of the coaching.
“I can point you in the right direction,” he added. “But I’m not the best at explaining it in detail.”
Lloyd attends Rio Vista High School, a small class 2A school where he competes on the golf team and helped start a rodeo team. He added that balancing both sports can be tough, but his priorities are clear.
“I let the golf coach know from the start—I won’t be at practices or tournaments on the weekends I’m rodeoing,” he said.
Lloyd plans to attend Tarleton State University in the future. He said he is drawn there due to the strong rodeo program and family ties—his mom is an alumna. He added that he hopes to study agricultural business, eventually run his own company, and—if all goes well—make a living through rodeo.
“That’s the goal,” he said. “To rodeo professionally and not need a ‘real job.’ I want to be known for doing it the right way.”
As for his brothers, Lloyd hopes they’ll join him in the arena one day. “If we could all make the NFR in the same year,” he said, smiling, “that would be cool.”
In a sport defined by toughness and tradition, Natasha McCann is carving out a new path for rodeo athletes — especially women — where strength, longevity and intention are front and center.
McCann, a coach for Champion Living, works with Western and rodeo competitors to bridge the long-standing gap between performance and health. “I’m more on the ranching side of the world regarding the Western industry,” she said. “I worked on ranches and cowboyed for most of my adult life.”
McCann said her fitness journey began after years of physical wear and tear from riding colts and a serious accident that ended her professional basketball aspirations.
“I got injured in a motorcycle accident in high school, then later broke my back and neck in a wreck on a colt,” she said. “That sparked my interest in sports medicine for rodeo.”
McCann became an EMT and then earned multiple personal training and clinical rehabilitation certifications, including a dual board certification in orthopedic manual therapy. Her current work focuses on injury prevention, recovery and performance optimization for rodeo athletes.
“There’s such a hole in the Western world for long-term care,” she said. “Justin Sports Medicine is great for acute injuries, but rodeo athletes need more. Their demands aren’t the same as traditional athletes.”
From barrel racers to rough stock riders, McCann believes fitness is not just about aesthetics—it is about functionality.
“Fitness is an ever-changing thing. You reach a pinnacle, then realize there’s another peak behind it,” she said. “You have to want it. There has to be intrinsic motivation, or you’re doomed to fail.”
McCann said her training methods emphasize realism.
“You’re not going to eat clean 100 percent of the time when grabbing Chick-fil-A at 2 a.m. on the road,” she said. “But if you can be perfect 80 percent of the time, that’s a win.”
She encourages clients to prepare ahead—packing coolers, stocking high-protein snacks and avoiding processed food traps.
“Protein is the most satiating nutrient and essential for building muscle,” she said. “Even just planning a little will help keep your goals on track.”
Rodeo athletes, especially women, face the added pressure of societal beauty standards. McCann, who is 5’10” and strong-built, rejects that narrative.
“I’m built like a two-by-four,” she laughed. “But I want muscle. I want big shoulders. I work out to look the way I do.
If you feel good and confident in your skin, who cares what anyone else thinks?”
For women in rodeo, the gym does not always have barbells. McCann said resistance bands, bodyweight exercises and simple movement routines offer flexibility on the road.
“Movement can be anything,” she said. “Even a 20-minute walk after a 16-hour drive helps.”
McCann also warns against the “all or nothing” mindset that plagues many in rodeo. “It’s not one catastrophic event—a thousand small ones build up. Address the little issues before they become career-ending,” she said.
Ultimately, McCann’s message is about sustainability and support.
“Put the pride aside,” she said. “Talk to someone. Take care of yourself—because your body is your only tool outside your horse.”
Her work bridges the chasm between traditional sports medicine and rodeo reality, empowering women to ride longer, stronger and smarter. What is next? “Just helping more folks stay in the game,” she said. “That’s the goal.”
For Erda, Utah, cowboy Cooper James, rodeo has been more than just a sport — it has been a way of life. From an early age, James said he was captivated by bull riding, an obsession that grew stronger as he developed into a skilled competitor in the rodeo world.
James’ journey in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) is one of challenges and triumphs. However, one partnership has truly stood out: his collaboration with American Hat Company, a relationship he said feels more like family than a sponsorship.
“I’ve been wearing American hats since I could walk,” James said.
“I have pictures in their hats from when I was a little kid, but I’m still just getting on sheep.”
His connection to rodeo started in his early childhood when he dreamed of becoming a bull rider. Over the years, that childhood dream evolved into a successful rodeo career, and he said his relationship with American Hat Company became an integral part of his journey.
“I met with the team at the Hondo Rodeo in Phoenix,” James said. “My buddy, Lefty Holman, is sponsored by them too, so he introduced me to the team.
“It’s been great to have them on board and be a part of their team,” James said. “It’s like a family over there.”
James added that the relationship with American Hat Company goes beyond sponsorship.
“Anything I need, I know I can call them,” he said, underscoring how much the company feels like a support system.
While James’ partnership with American Hat Company has been a cornerstone of his career, his rise in the rodeo world has not come without its challenges.
Early on, James said he faced difficulties navigating the rodeo circuit.
“It was tough at the start,” he said. “You don’t know where to enter and have no real qualifications.”
But through persistence and hard work, James found his footing. After competing in smaller rodeos, he qualified for the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo, where he said his career started growing.
“I qualified to go to San Antonio, and that’s where it took off,” he said. From there, he made his way into the top 25 and, later, the top 15 in the PRCA world standings.
Photo Courtesy of American Hats
James said a key part of his success has been his mental approach to rodeo. He credited much of his calm demeanor to the guidance from seasoned mentors, including Josh Frost, Sage Kimsey and Clayton Sellars.
“Clayton Sellars knows he’s showing up to win no matter what,” James said, highlighting Sellers’ strong mental game, which he admires and works to emulate in his career.
That mental toughness helped James during his first trip to the National Finals Rodeo, where he placed third in the world, second in the average, and was crowned the 2024 Resistol Rookie of the Year in the bull riding.
“Everyone going to the finals wants to win the world title,” James said. “It was such a good feeling, and you feel like you can carry that momentum for the next year.”
James said he is determined to continue building on his success. While focusing on bull riding, he is also interested in expanding his repertoire.
“Shoot,I haven’t been on a saddle bronc horse in a little over a year now, but that’s a dream I want to come true,” he said of his dream of making the NFR in multiple events.
However, he added that his love for bull riding stays at the forefront of his career. “Whenever people think rodeo, the fan favorite is the bull riding,” he said. “It’s the most action-packed, the adrenaline rush.”
In the heart of America’s rodeo culture, where grit, determination and horsemanship collide, two organizations quietly cultivate the next generation of professional rodeo talent: the National Junior High Rodeo Association and the National High School Rodeo Association. These organizations are more than youth rodeo associations — they are the training grounds for many of today’s and tomorrow’s rodeo champions.
The NHSRA, founded in 1949, and its junior counterpart, the NJHRA (established in 2004), were created to provide structured competition for young rodeo athletes. With divisions starting as early as sixth grade, these organizations offer a pathway for youth to develop skills in traditional rodeo events like barrel racing, bull riding, steer wrestling and team roping.
What began with a handful of competitors has grown into a global movement, with over 12,000 members across the United States, Canada, Mexico and Australia. These athletes compete throughout the school year in district, state or provincial rodeos, hoping to earn a coveted spot at the National Junior High School Finals Rodeo or the National High School Finals Rodeo.
Photo Courtesy of Katie DeLong
The reigning 2024 NJHRA Ribbon Roping Champions, Henry Buchanan and Louise DeLong, hail from the Silver State of Nevada. As a multi-event cowgirl, DeLong said she used every year of eligibility in the NJHSRA. After just completing the eighth grade, she has one more shot at another world title, while Buchannan is running for his first shot at an NHSRA champion buckle.
Buchanan says, “High school rodeo has taught me to focus on my job, not winning. I’ve learned that I need to focus on techniques and getting the job done instead of the results on paper.”
The competitive structure and support systems built into NJHRA and NHSRA closely mirror the professional circuits run by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association. This familiar framework gives aspiring athletes early exposure to the expectations, travel demands and mental preparation needed at the pro level.
Kash Loyd, a sophomore from Texas who won the bareback riding at the 2024 NHSFR, said he feels the NHSRA is setting him up for a future in pro rodeo.
“High school rodeo puts you in front of the guys that go down the road now — whether that’s judges, stock contractors, other bareback riders — people are going to see your name,” Loyd said.
Photo by 807Sports Photography
“It publicizes my name. That makes people, other bareback riders, want to go down the road with me. If they see that I can do that, they know I can ride bareback horses well. They see that I have a good attitude. They see my relationship with God, and that’s what I want. That’s what’s been the best part of the NHSRA.”
2024 All-Around and Goat Tying Champion Drew Ellen Stewart said the NHSRA prepares students for the high-pressure situations faced by professional rodeo contestants.
“National High School Rodeo sets a kid’s goal — like, ‘Oh, I want to go to nationals. I want to be a national champion.’ That’s the ultimate goal over any other high school event,” Stewart said. “That national title is one of the highest titles as a high school rodeo athlete. And with it being so high, it puts you in high-pressure situations that prep you for what it will be like when you go into pro rodeo.”
Participation in junior high and high school rodeo builds more than just rodeo champions — it builds character. Competitors must manage their livestock, maintain equipment, balance travel with academics, and often help finance their careers through sponsorships or part-time work. Responsibility, discipline and resilience are ingrained in every aspect of a young rodeo athlete’s life.
Photo by Jennings Photography
Stewart said she knows the challenge of balancing elite-level rodeo with life as a full-time student.
“It’s difficult because I still go to public school, and I’m one of the few rodeo athletes who still don’t homeschool,” Stewart said. “My family helps a lot, though, because it takes a whole village to allow me to be a four-event all-around cowgirl and a cross country and state track athlete.”
Many NJHRA and NHSRA alums have gone on to dominate professional rodeo stages. Trevor Brazile, an NHSRA alumnus, is widely regarded as the “King of the Cowboys” and holds the title of the winningest cowboy in PRCA history, with an astounding 26 world championships, including 14 all-around titles.
Sage Kimzey, who also competed in the NHSRA, has become one of the most successful bull riders in recent history, with an incredible seven PRCA World Champion titles. His journey from youth rodeo to professional rodeo stardom exemplifies how the skills and mindset developed in high school rodeo can propel an athlete to greatness.
Jackie Crawford, an NHSRA alumna and one of the most decorated cowgirls in the WPRA, has amassed more than 20 world titles in the all-around, breakaway, tie-down and team roping. Crawford has spoken often about how the high school rodeo experience helped her develop the competitive edge and mental toughness needed to thrive in a male-dominated sport.
These athletes prove that the path to the Thomas & Mack Center often starts in the arenas of state fairgrounds and high school rodeo events. Their stories testify to how the NHSRA and NJHRA are launchpads to greatness.
These youth associations are now key recruiting grounds for sponsors, scouts and coaches. Rodeo camps and development programs are often held alongside NJHRA and NHSRA events to identify and nurture top-tier talent.
The National Junior High and High School Rodeo Associations are doing more than hosting rodeos — they are building the future of the sport. Through structured competition, life-skill development and real-world experience, these organizations play a vital role in curating the next generation of pro rodeo stars.
As long as there are young rodeo athletes with big dreams, NJHRA and NHSRA will be there, helping them prepare for success.
For Lufkin, Texas, cowgirl Mallory Moore, the rodeo was not something passed down—she discovered, nurtured and turned it into a way of life. From her first horseback ride at age 4 to her senior year on Team Cavender’s, Moore has grown into one of Region V’s standout high school rodeo competitors, fueled by grit, family support and a deep love for the sport.
Moore said she began working at the Cavender’s store in Lufkin in August 2023, unaware that the opportunity would lead her to become part of the Cavender’s legacy in a much larger way.
“I was interested in Cavender’s being one of my sponsors,” Moore said. “I didn’t even know about Team Cavender’s until I started looking into how to get sponsored, and my store manager told me about it. I applied in time for my senior year and was thrilled when I got the email saying I made the team.”
Though she only spent one year with Team Cavender’s, Moore said she loved every minute of it. She highlighted her favorite memory as their yearly summit meeting.
“It was a good mixture of rodeo, friendships and business,” she said. “It wasn’t just about being in the arena—it was a life perspective. I made some great friendships, and it gave me a broader view of what it means to represent something bigger than myself.”
Moore competes in barrel racing and pole bending. While she once entered nearly every event—team roping, breakaway, goat tying, even cutting—she is now focusing her energy on the two events closest to her heart.
“As I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized training barrel horses is where my main passion lies,” she said.
Photo Courtesy of Mallory Moore
That passion did not come from family tradition. “None of my family rodeoed,” Moore said. “My dad did some cutting, and my uncle runs cattle, but I was the first to get into rodeo.”
Her journey started with riding lessons from a local woman who did not run barrels but taught her the fundamentals. “I kind of took it from there and trained my horses over the years,” Moore said.
Moore added her most influential horse was a gelding named Hershey. “I got him in eighth grade, and he took me farther than I ever imagined,” she said. “He won me my first saddles and broke the arena record in Lufkin. He taught me everything I know.”
Today, Hershey carries a new rider—Moore’s nine-year-old sister Remy.
“Watching them together makes my heart so happy,” she said. “He knows when to go fast and when to take care of her. Remy has seen what I accomplished with him and wants to do the same.”
With three younger siblings—two who dance and one who rides—Moore said her parents spend most of their time supporting their children’s passions on the road.
“They’ve always pushed me to be my best and be the best sportsman I can be,” Moore said. “Their support, along with my grandparents and that first riding coach, has made all the difference.”
Now preparing for life after high school, Moore said she plans to attend a community college this fall and plans on buying her permit.
“Eventually, I want to go pro and PRCA rodeo. I’ve always dreamed of getting on the road and seeing how far I can go in barrel racing,” she said.
One of Moore’s proudest moments was receiving the Legend Williamson Award from the Piney Woods Rodeo Association. The award is named for 10-year-old Legend Williamson, who died in a horseback riding accident in 2021.
“Legend was a friend of mine who passed away. He never met a stranger and always shared God’s light,” she said. “Receiving that award meant the world to me. I want to carry that light and support others like he did.”
Whether in the arena or in life, Moore rides with heart, faith and a fierce determination to make her mark on the rodeo world.
