story by Lily Weinacht
Reagan Hildre represents rodeo and the nation she loves when she steps into the arena. Whether she’s competing in the NLBRA in five events or singing the national anthem at local rodeos or the NLBFR, the 16-year-old from Velva, North Dakota, feels the significance of the traditions she loves. “Everybody has always asked me when I’m at a rodeo to sing the national anthem, and then two years ago I tried out for singing at the National Little Britches Finals and I got it,” says Reagan. She takes after her mom, Jennifer, and has been singing since she was a little girl. She also sang before several performances during the 2019 NLBFR. “It was amazing to walk down into that arena and sing the national anthem, and it was really special seeing the (American) flag and grand entry. Being a singer has always been important to me. My uncle Jake is in the Navy—he left three days before I was born and he’s still serving—and when I’m singing, that hits me and it’s really special.”
Rodeo also has family ties for Reagan, whose grandpa Jim Hystead started the family tradition as a bull rider before becoming a pickup man and stock contractor. He continues to run his J Bar H Ranch today, while Reagan’s dad, Marty Hildre, is a team roper. She and her 12-year-old brother, Carson, and their 18-year-old sister, Kylie, love carrying on the family tradition. “I have been riding since I could walk, so it’s something I’ve grown up around my whole life and something I never take for granted. It’s always been such a big passion for me.”
The Hildres learned about the NLBRA through another rodeo family several years ago while Reagan was junior high rodeoing, and they joined the Northern Plains Little Britches Rodeo franchise. “It’s more family oriented, and Little Britches is competitive too, but you’re also cheering on all your friends. I fell in love with the atmosphere and how you can be in a ton of different events,” says Reagan. She competes in barrel racing, pole bending, team roping, ribbon roping, and breakaway roping, but particularly loves barrels and poles. “It’s an adrenaline rush, and being able to figure out a horse and stick with it is amazing, even though it can be really frustrating at times.”
Reagan qualified for the 2019 NLBFR in pole bending, and she and Kylie met their parents in Huron, South Dakota, to head south for the NLBFR after Carson competed in the NJHFR. “We’re in Guthrie for two weeks, and then my sister qualified for the National High School Finals in cutting and team roping.” Reagan also hopes to enter the IFYR in the future, and enjoys heeling for her dad or sister at Rough Rider Rodeos.
Her barrel and pole horse, Peppy; breakaway horse, Jobie; and team roping horse, Vegas, have all helped Reagan’s rodeo career, as have her friends and family. “My dad’s been my coach and taught me how to rope, and I’ve gone to a bunch of clinics, like with Lisa Lockhart for barrels, Ken Smith for pole bending, Shelly Effertz for barrels, and Barb Waagen,” she adds.”
A junior at Velva High School this fall, Reagan is active in FFA and her high school choir, while she’s working toward her dream of auditioning for The Voice. “That’s been a big dream of mine since I was little, and I taught myself to play guitar.” She also recently started playing violin, and wants to write her own songs. “This year, especially for the Little Britches Finals, I want to be in the top ten in one of the rounds of pole bending, and for future goals, I would love to make it to The American in barrels.”
