Instead of slowing down at 60, Dona Kay Rule charged ahead into professional rodeo, proving that audacity and a growth mindset are key ingredients for achieving greatness at any age. 

Dona Kay Rule is a cowgirl, wife, mother and grandmother and now she is among the top barrel racers in the world and has qualified for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (NFR) four times. 

Dona Kay travels with her horse Valor and Rosie. It’s hard to say who is more famous, Valor, Dona Kay, or Rodeo Rosie, a miniature Australian Shepherd.

The year gone by has been Dona’s best rodeo season so far, even though it hasn’t been the easiest. At the 2021 NFR she was struggling with hip pain and soon after setting a new arena record at 13.96 seconds she made the decision to have surgery. Within 7 weeks of a total hip replacement, Dona loaded up her great horse, High Valor, and headed to Canada, won the 2nd at the Calgary stampede and proceeded to lock in the No. 2 position in the WPRA World Standings. 

This trio has put smiles on the faces of rodeo fans across North America since she qualified for her first Wrangler NFR in 2019.

Key themes emerging out of our conversation:

• Leadership lessons from horsemanship
• Building trust and team loyalty 
• Vulnerability and understanding what’s important
• Being deliberate and visualizing
• Recognize your calling
• Success doesn't necessarily have to do with you.
• Doing it right when nobody's looking

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