2024-2025 Graduate Spotlight

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As a young girl Maggie’s two favorite things were gymnastics and cheer. She was always hollering out a cheer with a loud clap, or doing hand stands and flipping everywhere she went. As Maggie got older, she developed a love for riding horses. At first, she wanted to combine her two loves and become a trick rider, but that all changed after her first rodeo. At that point our world was turned upside down. Our prissy, tumbling, little girl was becoming a tough little cowgirl. The rodeo life became a lifestyle the entire family welcomed. Maggie was growing into a strong, independent and responsible young lady. She embraced the challenges, became very disciplined, and made lifelong friends. Maggie learned that everything in life does not come easy, and anything you must work hard for is so much more rewarding. She has had her ups and downs and shed many tears, but she wouldn’t change it for anything. Maggie has learned to support, love, and cheer on her competitors, and celebrate each other’s wins. She has competed in several different events including barrel racing, goat tying, pole bending, breakaway roping, and team roping (heading and heeling). Her favorite event has always been barrel racing. She loves the excitement of going fast and learning to trust her horse to make every turn with precision. She also loves the excitement of jumping off of a running horse and goat tying. She had to take a break from this event after a hard fall and a concussion. As Maggie got older, she started focusing more on her roping events. Her weekdays are busy with practice and caring for her horses. Then when the weekends come around, she is on the road traveling to a rodeo or a roping. Sometimes there are long days and long nights, but when she makes a trip to the pay window it is all worth it. She has had the privilege of being coached by one of the best Hall of Fame, eight-time world champion team ropers, Speed Williams, and his daughter Hali Williams, a champion breakaway roper. Maggie has spent time at their ranch in Texas and become close friends.

Maggie has competed in several different associations. She has been a member of Alabama Junior Rodeo, Alabama High School Rodeo, Southeastern Rodeo Association, Little Britches, and the Professional Cowboy Association. Maggie has competed in US Ropings and at PCA rodeos. She has traveled and competed in some exciting places. She competed this year at the USTRC finals in Ft Worth. She has qualified 3 times as a national qualifier with Alabama High School Rodeo, Little Britches national qualifier, and she was in the top 10 with Southeastern Showdown in breakaway roping. She has won money, and several buckles, but she is still striving for a champion saddle.