For as long as Alexa can remember, rodeo has been more than just a sport – it’s been a way of life. Growing up in a family deeply rooted in the rodeo world, Alexa was involved in it from the very beginning. Her parents were both rodeo athletes: her mom breakaway roped and ran barrels, while her dad turned steers and calf roped. Rodeo wasn’t just something they did on the weekends – it was a crucial part of their family’s daily life.
“I honestly don’t know life without it,” Alexa says. “My mom and dad were rodeoing when I was a kid, so naturally, it was always something I wanted to do too.”
Starting out in junior rodeo, Alexa began with goat tying before eventually finding her passion in team roping during high school. Later, she added barrel racing to the mix. Through it all, her family was by her side, not only supporting her from the stands but helping out behind the scenes with feeding animals, and managing the day-to-day ranch chores. That level of involvement and teamwork became a core part of the family’s rodeo journey, one that would eventually lead them to start their own bucking bull operation.
It was, of course, another rodeo connection that brought Alexa and Brandon together. While she was barrel racing, he was riding bulls. Their relationship began with shared experiences in the arena, but it wasn’t long before they started raising their own cattle to breed and train for the rodeo.
“It was one of those things where we just kind of started small, raising calves, and it took off from there,” Alexa explains. “Then one day, Brandon joked, ‘You might want to learn to flank. You never know when you’ll have to flank a futurity calf or haul some bulls.’”
At the time, Alexa laughed off the idea – there was no way she would be flanking bulls. “Not a chance,” she recalls thinking. But the joke quickly turned into reality. These days, Alexa is often the one flanking the bucking bulls while Brandon is riding. It’s a different world from the barrel racer she once was, but it’s a role she’s grown to love, and it’s all part of the adventure.
When asked what her favorite thing about rodeo is, Alexa doesn’t hesitate. It’s the travel, the experiences, and the places she’s gotten to see along the way.
“Rodeo takes you all over the country,” she says. “I’ve seen big cities with top attractions, but I’ve also experienced the small towns and backroads that you might not know about unless you’re on the road for a rodeo. I’ve had the chance to see more of this country than most people ever will.”
It’s this travel and constant movement that keep her hooked, not just on the sport, but on the lifestyle that comes with it. But it’s not just the places and the people that have left a lasting impact; it’s the sense of accomplishment and fulfillment that comes from raising a bucking bull from a calf and watching it perform on a big stage.
“I think one of the most rewarding parts of it is raising that calf, putting in all the hard work, and watching it turn into an amazing athlete,” she shares. “It’s a feeling of peace to see it all come together.”
If there’s one thing Alexa would like to share with other women in the rodeo industry, it’s a simple yet powerful message: just do it.
“Sometimes, especially in a male-dominated industry like bullraising, it can feel intimidating to take that first step. But I promise you, if you want to do it, just go for it,” she says. “There’s no secret formula, but the reward of seeing your hard work pay off is beyond words.”
Her advice to women looking to break into the rodeo world is to step up and do it, even if it scares you. One of her favorite sayings is, “Do it scared. Do it tired. Do it hungry. But just do it.”
She believes that if you have the drive, the right people will come alongside you to help, and that’s exactly what’s happened for her. It wasn’t always easy, but every challenge has only made her more committed to the sport and the life she’s built.
From being a kid in the arena to now flanking bulls, Alexa has come a long way. But one thing has never changed – her love for the rodeo and her family’s passion for the sport. For her, it’s not just a lifestyle – it’s home.
“God puts people in your life to help you, and that’s what keeps me going,” says Alexa. “You can do it. You just have to go for it.”