By TISA MASON
FHSU President
Fort Hays State University (FHSU) has a new reason to celebrate as Hailey Witte makes her mark in the world of rodeo. Hailing from Crookston, Nebraska, Hailey is not just an aspiring athlete but a true hometown hero who recently qualified to compete at the National Rodeo. Her achievements reflect the spirit and excellence that FHSU instills in its students.
From a young age, rodeo has been at the heart of Hailey’s life, influenced heavily by family. With a father who was a team roper and bull rider, and an older sister who competed in high school rodeo, Hailey picked up the reins of the family legacy. “I’ve been around rodeoing my whole life, but I didn’t start competing until 8th grade.” With a major in Animal Science/Pre-Vet and a passion for barrel racing, Hailey is not just a competitor, but a rising star in the sport.
“I found FHSU through a friend on the rodeo team who shared wonderful stories about the program. I was eager to take my rodeo career to the next level, and FHSU felt like the perfect place to do that."
Competing in barrel racing, one of the fastest-paced events in rodeo, requires incredible skill and synergy between horse and rider. “In barrel racing, we have to navigate three barrels set in a cloverleaf pattern as quickly as possible. It takes a lot of training and precision,” Hailey said.
Preparing for national competition brought its own unique set of challenges. “I treated it like any other rodeo and just practiced my normal routine.” The key is being consistent. Hailey has a piece of advice for young athletes aspiring to compete at the national level. “The more consistent you can be, the easier it is to perform at places like nationals.”
During the preliminaries at the nationals, emotions ran high. “I had no idea what to expect, especially since the arena setup was different from what I was used to. But after the first two runs, I was really happy with how things were going.” It takes a very well-trained horse and rider to run at a barrel full speed and still run around the barrel without tipping it over.
Although a slip-up in the third round resulted in .04 seconds short of making the short go (the top 12 and the final round). “I was already so proud of my horse, Hummer. Nationals is a big stage with a lot of pressure. This experience showed me just how competitive we can be, even against the best.”
Looking ahead to the next season, Hailey is eager to return to nationals and improve in the upcoming rodeos. “I plan to make 75 percent of the short goes and showcase my other barrel horse, Billie. I’ve trained Billie for four years.”
Being part of the rodeo team has positively influenced Hailey’s college experience. “It has helped me create a structured schedule, balancing homework with practice. The friendships I’ve made, both within my team and with other students, have been incredible.”
Above all, rodeo is more than a sport for Hailey; it is a central part of her identity. “Rodeo has been my whole life since I was little and has shaped me into the person I am today. Without this sport, I don’t know who I would be or what I would be doing. I have been on a horse before I could walk, and I have spent more time in the practice pen than I have spent anywhere else.”
One of the greatest lessons that rodeo has given Hailey is the ability to keep going until she achieves the result she wants. Working with horses and training young colts teaches patience.
Hailey shows her appreciation to the people who have shaped this journey in a heartfelt acknowledgment. “I’d like to thank my coaches, especially Coach Meier, for his unwavering support, and my family for always believing in me. And a special nod to Jerry and Sandy Harms for their guidance with my horses."
As Hailey continues chasing dreams and setting goals, Tiger Nation takes pride in having such an inspiring representative in the rodeo world. In fact, I have been told that this is only the fourth time FHSU has sent a student to the national rodeo – and the first time in more than 20 years!
The passion, determination, and grace shown during this journey will undoubtedly lead to more accomplishments in the future. Here’s to a promising hope for the next national rodeo and beyond—a true hometown hero, Hailey Witte