Beyond the Saddle

Kelley Ranly serves as an Extension Program Specialist, Leadership Coordinator for Texas 4-H and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension where she is responsible for coordinating and organizing statewide agricultural leadership programs for high-school-aged youth across Texas. In this role, she also oversees Texas 4-H Horse Validation and is on the leadership team for the Texas State 4-H Horse Show. Kelley began working for Texas A&M AgriLife Extension and Texas 4-H while she was a student at Texas A&M. She worked in Texas Steer and Heifer Validation for two years before moving into the role of assisting with youth leadership programs. She continued to work in this capacity for about three years before moving into her current position. Kelley recognized her love for agriculture and the western way of life at a very young age. She grew up showing livestock and rodeoing, but really found her niche in the horse world while attending college at Texas A&M University. Kelley obtained a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science with a minor in Business Administration at Texas A&M University before going on to complete her Master of Agribusiness, also at Texas A&M. While completing her degrees, Kelley was a member of the Texas A&M Ranch Horse Team for four years, which uncovered her deep love for reined cow horses. In her spare time, Kelley also enjoys working with livestock and hay producers to maximize profitability on their pastures, serving at her church, and watching Aggie sports. Kelley has been recognized as part of COWGIRL Magazine's 30 Under 30 Class of 2024.

Tune in to hear Katie and Kelley talk about building relationships, taking advantage of opportunities, and appreciating the chapter of life where you are working towards getting horses again.

As a young girl, Megan Ray was enamored with watching bulls at Ellensburg Rodeo’s Xtreme Bulls performance, so it’s only fate that she finds herself working for the top bull riding organization in the world. Megan is the Social Media Coordinator for the Professional Bull Riders. She is accountable for strategically planning, creating, and executing social media content across a multitude of platforms and has achieved significant follower growth to expand the reach of the PBR. Megan is passionate about creating captivating and engaging content that shares the stories of the Western industry with potential fans. Megan developed her niche in social media by building the Ellensburg Rodeo social media channels from the ground up back in 2019. Four years later, as the Digital Content Manager, she strategically planned and executed a dynamic campaign in celebration of the Rodeo’s centennial anniversary. In her free time, you can find Megan on the back of a horse and actively volunteering with the local 4Hhorse program. Megan has also been honored as part of COWGIRL Magazine's 30 Under 30 Class of 2024.

Tune in to hear Megan's take on work-life balance in the western industry and for one of the most in-depth application and interviewing conversations we've had on the show.

Sidney Abbott serves as Head of Research and Cattle Management at OT Feedyard & Research Center, where she is responsible for executing protocol, maintaining animal welfare, data collection, and corresponding with scientists and product developers for some of the world's largest pharmaceutical companies. Additionally, she is the 51% owner of Abbott Hay Co., making it a majority minority-owned agriculture company. Together with her husband, their company produces 22,000 tons of roughage and market to dairies and feedyards across the Texas Panhandle. Sidney is also an honoree of COWGIRL Magazine's 30 Under 30 Class of 2024.

Tune in to hear Sidney's take on horses in the feedlot and her advise for women in male dominated industries.

Growing up showing Western Pleasure Quarter Horses and raising Black Angus cattle she exhibited across the West Coast, Megan Silveira knew from a young age the agriculture industry was home. Following graduation with her Masters, she started a full-time position with The Angus Journal, a publication that's shared Angus members' stories for more than a century. Megan proudly labels herself a fan of the beef industry, consistently looking for ways to advocate for farmers and ranchers in her everyday life. Megan is also an honoree of COWGIRL Magazine's 30 Under 30 class of 2024.

Tune in to hear Megan and Katie talk about the horses that made them and for a dose of "adulting" including Megan's advice on moving away from home for your career.

As the General Manager of the Wyoming State Fair, Courtny's career has been deeply rooted in preserving Western lifestyle and promoting equine events – areas that are not just professions but also personal passions for her.

Growing up with a strong connection to Western heritage, she's always been drawn to the values and traditions it represents. This affinity naturally led her to a career in fair, rodeo, and event complex management, where she could actively contribute to preserving and celebrating this unique culture. Courtny's role involves not just overseeing the operational aspects of these events but also ensuring that they continue to be vibrant, relevant, and true to their roots.

She is particularly passionate about equine events, which are a cornerstone of Western lifestyle. These events are not just competitions; they are gatherings that celebrate skill, heritage, and the deep bond between humans and horses. Courtny's work allows her to be closely involved in these events, from planning to execution, ensuring they capture the spirit of the Western way of life. Courtny has been recognized as part of COWGIRL Magazine's 30 Under 30 class of 2024.

Tune in to hear Courtny's take on leadership responsibilities, the future of events, and more!

Alexa Major Wilcox grew up on a cattle ranch in southeastern Colorado and was actively involved in 4H and FFA throughout her childhood. She found a passion for horses and rodeo early on and continued to pursue that passion, rodeoing in high school and in college at both Texas Tech University and Oklahoma State University. While finishing her master’s at Oklahoma State, Alexa also coached the rodeo team. She has a passion for leadership and following her master’s graduation, spent five years serving with the non-profit Field of Hope in Uganda to empower others through agricultural education and extension. She is proud to now serve as the Women’s Rodeo Coach at New Mexico Junior College while still breakaway roping at amateur and professional rodeos and American Quarter Horse (AQHA) shows. Alexa married CD Wilcox in 2018 and enjoys working and training horses alongside him. In 2021, Alexa submitted a rule change to the AQHA to add the Open Breakaway class to the show docket. After over a year of campaigning and collaborating with other breakaway ropers, AQHA approved the class. Alexa was honored to be the inaugural Champion of the Open Stakes class at the 2022 AQHA World Show. Alexa has been recognized as part of COWGIRL Magazine's 30 Under 30 program in 2024!

Tune in to hear Alexa's advice on how to stay involved in the ag and western industries even when your path feels unconventional.

Growing up, Hannah was always around agriculture and the western lifestyle. Her biggest regret, even now, has been not rodeoing herself or being involved in a more ‘hands-on’ way. However, through that, she's found exactly where she belongs. She has found herself sharing the unique and moving stories of all those directly involved every day, and she gets to travel to events, meet some truly amazing people and share with the world why we shouldn’t, and simply can’t, let this lifestyle die out. For Hannah there is something so fulfilling about preserving and promoting our western heritage on a daily basis; and she hopes to continue sharing her love for this way of life with others for years to come!

Hannah works full-time for the North Texas Fair & Rodeo in Denton, Texas, and she writes and creates content for various western publications and brands within the industry, including Cowboy Lifestyle Network, The Arena Press, Cutting Horse Chatter, Quarter Horse News, Western Horseman and Cavender's.

Tune in to hear Hannah and Katie to talk about finding your place in the industry!

Sierra Jepsen is the owner, meat scientist, and lead butcher for Butcher Solutions, LLC –a traveling butcher school and meat science education consultancy that visits individual facilities and trains personnel in-house. Butcher Solutions, LLC strives to build skills and confidence for meat cutters while saving meat processors valuable production time, turning out higher quality products, and retaining a skilled labor force. Sierra has been recognized as part of COWGIRL Magazine's 30 Under 30, class of 2024.

Tune in to hear Sierra talk about how all the wrong paths lead her to right where she is supposed to be! We may talk a lot about the science of meat, but Sierra is horse girl at heart!

Ashley Starrett, is a Doer, a Dentist, and a purveyor of all things Denim. Hence the name of of her equine dental business, ‘Denim Dentistry.’ She's a real-life tooth fairy, but for horses! Ashley is from the small rural community of Unionville, Missouri where everyone knows everyone, there are more cows than people, and one blinking stop light reminds you of a slower pace. It’s rural as rural can be. From a young age she was surrounded by community and service-led individuals. These people taught her to serve in 4-H, FFA, churches, civic clubs and become an agricultural entrepreneur. They each helped instill a doer mentality into her life. They taught her to act locally and think globally. With this mindset Ashley graduated college with not one, but two bachelors. She also has a master’s of Science in Agriculture degree and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. at Texas Tech School of Veterinary Medicine in Amarillo, Texas. Ashley is also a three-time published equine researcher and author to the children’s book, “A Tale of the Horse Tooth Fairy.” Additionally, Ashley has been recognized as part of COWGIRL Magazine's 30 Under 30, class of 2024.

Tune in hear about Ashley's travels around the country and to be inspired to DO those things you've been dreaming about!

Callie Masar, a member of the Programming and Partnership team at the Colorado State Fair and Rodeo, collaborates with private renters and organizations throughout the year to coordinate and schedule horse shows and rodeos. The overarching objective is to expand the presence of Western sports in the community while offering a top-notch equestrian venue. During the 2023 fair, Callie, working alongside the rodeo committee, successfully coordinated and produced four sold-out PRCA performances, Ranch Rodeo, and Celebración de los Charros. Looking forward, her aim is to contribute to the growth and enhancement of the rodeo program while nurturing partnerships vital for supporting her home state's fair. Callie is responsible for managing sponsorship and rodeo personnel agreements, drawing upon her passion for promoting the Western Industry, cultivated through her participation in youth horse shows and rodeos, which she has continued throughout her career. Her experience extends to her time at Cinch Jeans and Shirts, where she handled sponsorships benefiting various organizations and individuals in the Western industry, offering monetary support and in-kind assets to rodeo athletes and organizations nationwide. Previously employed at Professional Bull Riders, LLC, Callie played a pivotal role in promoting the Western lifestyle by organizing behind-the-scenes experiences for ticket holders and sponsors, aimed at exciting and educating attendees about the Western industry. Her event planning efforts consistently received positive feedback.

Tune in to hear Callie reflect on her career journey to date, and for a good does of all things Colorado rodeo and agriculture! Callie and host Katie will have the chance to meet at the COWGIRL Empowered Gala as honorees of the 2024 class of Wrangler COWGIRL 30 Under 30.