Mackenzie Geesen is proud to be chosen as an American Hat ambassador. “I will be encouraging to the younger people and set an example. This will be part of my life for a long time, so I take pride in what I’m doing every day.”
Mackenzie Geesen has been involved in rodeo her whole life. “My parents have been involved in rodeo their whole life too,” said the 13-year-old from Kersey, Colorado. “They started hauling me and my little pony, Poncho, when they were still competing.” At first, she was led around, and then she got to the point when she went to a little local gymkhana and started doing the events by herself. She moved up in horses as her ability increased, and each horse had a special place in her life. “Pistol was a big step up and got me where I am now.” She and her family traveled to Georgia for the National Junior High School Finals and the trip continued to family memories. “We got to go to the beach for the first-time last year – getting to go in the ocean, even though it’s scary … and collect sea shells. I made a seashell necklace out of a breakaway string.”
She plays basketball and volleyball and for the first time this year, she did track. “I did the mile and 800 – both of those are hard because you have to figure out your pace.” She learned a lot about herself during those long runs. “If you say you can’t do it, your body will give up. By the time you are running around the track for the fourth time, you want to quit. But you have to finish, and that’s in your mind. If you say you can’t do it, then you won’t.”
Kersey is east of Greeley by about 20 miles. “Kersey is staying small,” she said of the town. “Mom (Heidi) works at the sale barn on Wednesday. My dad shoes horses. They work for Randy Miller and we work his cows in Colorado.” The family runs through the herd often, checking for salt, water and mineral as well as rotating between pastures. “My brother and I work out there too.” As much as she loves the country, Mackenzie loves the bright lights and the travel. “Winning is fun, but getting to meet all the new people. I was working my horse in the round pen (during the National Junior High Finals), and this girl came up and we started talking. Now she’s my friend – that’s what’s fun about it.” She is like her mother in that regard. “At some of the barrel races we got to, she is talking to everyone, and we can’t get out of there,” she laughs.
Those same people are what are shaping Mackenzie and her younger brother, Cooper’s lives. “What’s helped me the most are the people that helped me – my family and Laura Lambert and the Terrells (owner of Pistol), and Erin Johnson. The tradition of rodeo is once again being passed through to the next generation. “We always give the glory to God – I wouldn’t have any of this without God.”
