Breaking the Barrier

Casey Rae Sellers is fourth-generation rancher in northern Wyoming, a decorated college rodeo competitor, and now the assistant rodeo coach at Gillette College. Her journey blends grit, curiosity, and a passion for helping young athletes discover who they are: both inside and outside the arena.

Growing Up on the Ranch

“I count it as one of my biggest blessings,” Casey says, sitting on the same ranch her great-grandfather bought after moving from Eagle, Colorado, in the early 1970s.

From her earliest memories, she was horseback—either trailing cattle or chasing barrels and calves. The rural neighborhood she grew up in still operates on community cooperation: neighbors helping gather cattle, brand, and ship livestock together.

“That family-type feel has fallen away in a lot of places, even in rural areas,” she says. “It definitely molded me into who I am.”

From Little Britches to College Arenas

Casey’s competitive streak runs deep. As a kid, she joined the Little Britches Rodeo Association, winning her first saddle at just six years old on a scrappy little Mustang that could fly through the pole pattern.

“We’d compete over about anything,” she laughs. “Race to the barn, see whose horse walked fastest… it’s just kind of bred into me.”

That drive carried through high school and into college. Though she looked at programs across the country, she ultimately stayed close to home at Gillette College (45 miles from the ranch) so she could keep developing the family’s young horses.

It proved the right call: she qualified for the College National Finals Rodeo five times, earning a reputation as a versatile, all-around competitor.

Coaching the Next Generation

Casey’s path to coaching began as a student coach under University of Wyoming’s Beau Clark. Working with athletes her own age taught her early lessons in leadership and communication.

When the chance came to return to Gillette College as assistant rodeo coach, she jumped at it.

With a smaller roster (just 20 athletes total) Casey takes a highly individualized approach.

“It’s not a one-size-fits-all situation,” she says. “They have to trust me enough to expose their flaws, because that’s the only way to improve.”

The results speak for themselves: of the five women on her team last season, four qualified for CNFR.

Advice to Live By

Her parting wisdom is simple but powerful:

“Step back. Laugh at yourself. Keep perspective. We’re more blessed than we think. There’s more to the world than me, myself, and I, and if you can see that, you’ll do well.”

Haiden Thompson is a true competitor. The Yoder, Wyoming cowgirl began rodeoing at a young age, and took to it like a moth to a flame.

The recent Gillette College graduate has garnered over 75 trophy saddles in her career, including many youth rodeo championships. Most notably, Thompson was named the All-Around Cowgirl at the College National Finals Rodeo twice, and also won the WPRA Women's All-Around Championship in 2024.

Thompson's dominance began early, and has followed her at every level of rodeo. She credits growing up in a large family for helping her hone in on her competitive nature at a young age.

"I have seven siblings and all of us are very competitive," she said. "Having seven siblings to push you, whether its in the arena or not, is definitely where I'd say my competitiveness comes from."

These days, she's pursuing a career in professional breakaway roping and is chasing the 2025 Rookie of the Year title while traveling with esteemed mentor Martha Angelone. When asked why she decided to dive head first into the ProRodeo scene, her answer was simple.

"Honestly, I've worked my whole life to be this good. I haven't come all this way just to stop now."

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From childhood horseback riding lessons dismissed as “just a phase” to becoming a leading voice in the Western industry, Allison Welling’s journey is one of passion, perseverance, and community. A first-generation college graduate who moved from Reno to Texas, Allison immersed herself in the cutting horse world and quickly rose to become Executive Assistant to the General Manager at Teton Ridge.

Beyond her professional role, she’s a dedicated communicator and founder of the Weatherford Run Club—bringing together diverse communities through shared passions. Tune in to hear Allison’s inspiring story and how she’s bridging the gap between rural traditions and urban connections.

When it comes to horse tack, the curb strap is a relatively overlooked piece of equipment. Erin Christopher, a barrel horse trainer from Georgia, asked herself: "How can I make these better?"

After asking herself this question, Christopher sprung into action. Her first protype was made with materials from Hobby Lobby and a leather shop. These days, her patented curb straps are nearing large scale production.

From rodeo arenas to training pens, Boca Brand's innovative, rider-tested curb straps are making waves- even being utilized by three barrel racers at the 2024 National Finals Rodeo. Erin shares the story behind the brand, how it all started, and why passion and practicality drive everything she does.

Whether you’re a weekend warrior or a seasoned competitor, you won’t want to miss this conversation about horsemanship, entrepreneurship, and building a brand from the barn up.

Tune in to hear:

- What makes BOCA straps different

- How Erin turned an idea into a booming business

- Advice for aspiring equine entrepreneurs

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Boca Brand Instagram: @boca_brand

Website: https://bocabrand.com/pages/which-boca-curb-do-i-need

In this episode of Breaking the Barrier, we're joined by Callie Boevers, Director of Media & Communications for the National Reined Cow Horse Association! Callie shares her inspiring journey in the western industry, gives us a behind-the-scenes look at the exciting growth of the cow horse world, and offers valuable advice for young professionals carving their own path western media.

Callie's passion for storytelling and events, combined with her real-world experience in the show pen, makes her a powerful voice for the reined cow horse industry. Learn all about the growth of the sport, NRCHA's media strategy, and some of Callie's career highlights in this episode.

Whether you’re a fan of reined cow horses or just love a good success story- this episode is for you!

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In this episode of Breaking the Barrier, we’re joined by Becky Pearson and Destri Millsap, the passionate minds behind Pivot Point Equine.

With a mission to serve both the horse and rider, Pivot Point is revolutionizing equine wellness by offering innovative bodywork, therapy, and education designed to enhance performance, prevent injury, and promote long-term health. Becky and Destri dive into the unique approach they take to support the physical needs of their clients—both two-legged and four-legged—and how their backgrounds in therapy, horsemanship, and entrepreneurship came together to build a business that’s making serious waves in the industry.

In this inspiring conversation, you’ll hear how Pivot Point Equine is challenging the status quo of horse care, emphasizing the importance of treating the entire team—not just the athlete. Becky and Destri's story will leave you thinking differently about the connection between horse and human. Tune in to learn how they're helping riders and horses feel their best, perform at their peak, and thrive together.

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@breakingthebarrierpod

Chyanna Black wears many hats: rodeo competitor, nonprofit leader, and advocate for agriculture students. As the co-founder of Ranchers Helping Ranchers and Executive Director of the Panhandle State Foundation, she’s making a lasting impact in the Western world. Since 2022, her team has secured a $930,000 scholarship endowment for ag students, all while serving as the Women in Ag advisor and volunteering with the Guymon Pioneer Days Pro Rodeo Committee.

In this episode, we dive into her journey from growing up in Colorado to shaping the future of agriculture and rodeo. Plus, hear how she balances it all—including her laser therapy business for horses!

Codi Miller grew up on a cattle ranch in rural North Dakota. The cowgirl quickly found her home in the arena, and not long after, found a second home on the pageant stage.

Miller's story is one of persistence, as she competed for the Miss North Dakota USA crown seven times. After initially "aging out" of the system, the Miss USA organization removed their age limits for competition, and Miller threw her name in the hat once more- this time without telling her family. Ultimately, Miller won the crown and became the oldest woman to hold the title at 31 years of age. In this role, she is able to share the cowboy lifestyle with audiences of all kinds.

These days, she is finishing up her reign and recently began a new role with an organization that is near and dear to her heart: the North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame.

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@breakingthebarrierpod

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The King Ranch Institute for Ranch Management was created in 2003 with the vision to mold the next generation of ranch managers. In collaboration with Texas A&M University - Kingsville, the institute offers the only Master of Science in ranch management in the world.

To learn more about the King Ranch Institute for Ranch Management, listen to the latest episode of Breaking the Barrier, featuring Executive Director, Dr. Rick Machen.

2008 World Champion Tie Down Roper Stran Smith wears a lot of hats- literally and figuratively. The Childress, Texas native has developed his brand beyond the arena with a simple mission statement: Be Strong. Be Real. Be true to who you are.

After losing his best friend and horse in separate car accidents, and suffering a life-threatening stroke at the age of 32, Stran is no stranger to hardship. Through hardship, uncertainty, and recovery, Stran has kept his faith in God at the center of his pursuits.

Since retiring from rodeo, Stran and his wife Jennifer (Miss Rodeo America 1995!) have gone on to build a beautiful family, become involved in their community, and run a successful company, STS Ranchwear. The brand produces high quality apparel, outerwear, handbags, and more. All apparel is tested personally by Stran on the ranch, and all handbags are hand-designed by Jennifer herself.

Stran and Jennifer's hands-on approach to the business does not stop there. The pair undertook the renovation of a historic building in their community to open a retail concept store called 1930 Remnant, carrying STS Ranchwear products and more!

As if they weren't busy enough, the couple also has spearheaded a luxury fragrance brand, 1930 fragrances. Currently, there are two fragrances on the market: 1930 Black and 1930 Crimson.

But wait- there's more!

Stran and his close friend, Colonel J. Craig Flowers teamed up this year to put pen to paper, reflect on the parallels of their life experiences, and share wisdom in a newly released book, A Colonel & A Cowboy. The book officially released December 2, and is available for purchase here: https://bit.ly/4ieRSrR

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