This series features Gavin French '25 and Madalyn Richards '25. She is a 5th generation Texas Aggie and daughter of good friends of mine.

That's some great work and long overdue for all the rodeo athletes at A&M, so glad they are finally being recognized at our University! Been following these kids for a while, we have some great new up & coming rodeo stars this year and hopefully it will continue to grow!

Thanks for posting these!
Not gonna lie, I got a little teary-eyed. The drive, grit, and grace of these two is pretty inspiring.
My husband and I did not grow up rodeoing but our 13-year old has loved it since she was little. This is her third year competing and she's come so far in a short time.
She set some big goals at the beginning of this season that quite honestly I thought might be just a little "too big" (I did not tell her that) but she is in the top 10 in all 5 of her events, including first place in two of them, plus she's sitting second in all-around with only 2 rodeos left. She's got a real shot at winning all-around. I'm so proud I can't stand it!
At times, she can get in her own head though so I had her watch these videos.
She told me she liked their positive attitudes and how they didn't dwell on mistakes (something she sometimes struggles with) and now she's even more fired up and feeling like she can win it all.

Side note, we use to live in Hereford (my daughter was born in Amarillo) but moved out-of-state when my daughter was a year old (she doesn't remember it at all, obviously, but is quick to tell everyone she is a Texan)
She thinks it is cool that she and Madalyn are both from Hereford.

Not sure why I rambled on other than to reiterate the resources shared on this forum can have a positive impact on people.

Rocky Top Aggie said:

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Thanks for posting these!
Not gonna lie, I got a little teary-eyed. The drive, grit, and grace of these two is pretty inspiring.
My husband and I did not grow up rodeoing but our 13-year old has loved it since she was little. This is her third year competing and she's come so far in a short time.
She set some big goals at the beginning of this season that quite honestly I thought might be just a little "too big" (I did not tell her that) but she is in the top 10 in all 5 of her events, including first place in two of them, plus she's sitting second in all-around with only 2 rodeos left. She's got a real shot at winning all-around. I'm so proud I can't stand it!
At times, she can get in her own head though so I had her watch these videos.
She told me she liked their positive attitudes and how they didn't dwell on mistakes (something she sometimes struggles with) and now she's even more fired up and feeling like she can win it all.

Side note, we use to live in Hereford (my daughter was born in Amarillo) but moved out-of-state when my daughter was a year old (she doesn't remember it at all, obviously, but is quick to tell everyone she is a Texan)
She thinks it is cool that she and Madalyn are both from Hereford.

Not sure why I rambled on other than to reiterate the resources shared on this forum can have a positive impact on people.

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I'll be sure Madalyn sees this post. She'll be glad to know that her experience is helping someone to be the best they can be. We are so grateful to you for watching and taking the time to comment.

Rocky Top Aggie said:

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That'd be great! Please also let her know that my daughter followed her example of writing a note as if she had already won and hung it on her wall.

Are you affiliated with the rodeo team? My undergrad school has a strong and longstanding rodeo program (University of Tennessee at Martin; only school east of the Mississippi River to win a National Championship). My sister and brother-in-law were on the team back in the early 2000s.
When I was on the faculty there, I enjoyed having the rodeo athletes in class as they were hard workers and respectful. That seems to be pretty universal.

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We are Madalyn's parents and also class of 94. She'll be thrilled to learn that her habits have been passed on.