story by Michele Toberer
Although riding and horses have been a big part of Elizabeth and Colby Galloway’s upbringing, the siblings from Allen, Kansas didn’t step into KHSRA rodeo competition until last year. Fourteen-year-old Elizabeth just completed her 8th grade rookie season with the Kansas Junior High Rodeo Association and 16-year-old Colby competed as a rookie sophomore in the Kansas High School Rodeo Association. Elizabeth competes in pole bending and barrel racing, and Colby competes as a header in team roping.
Elizabeth Galloway – Jeff Frazell
Their mom, Julie Galloway, works in human resources for an insurance company, and before his passing two years ago, their dad, Kevin, worked at feed lots and as a farrier. Kevin was a team roper, and Colby enjoys competing as a team roper now as well. He had pasture roped for several years but it wasn’t until he was 12 or 13 that he roped in an arena, and just last year that he competed at rodeos. “Heading is really a lot of fun, and I like traveling to all the different rodeo arenas to compete in the KHSRA.” He competes on one of the family’s ranch horses, a 15-year-old sorrel mare named Margaret, and will be heading for the second year in a row for Mason Gibson in the 2020/2021 KHSRA season. Colby also follows in his dad’s footsteps as he has worked for Log Chain Creek Ranch the past 3 summers in their feed lot and helping gather and doctor cattle.
Elizabeth graduated from Americus Junior High/Elementary School recently, where she played volleyball, basketball, and track. She also competed in scholars bowl competitions. She is looking forward to math and science classes as Northern Heights High School this year, where she’ll be attending with her brother. “I really like anything to do with science because animals and nature really interest me. After high school, I’d like to study to become a veterinarian or work in animal rescue. Animals have always been a part of my life and I’ve realized how much I like helping animals if they end up in a bad situation. It’s very rewarding to help them get better.”
Colby enjoys his math classes and plans to become an engineer in the future. He has played football since the 7th grade and enjoys playing as a fullback and linebacker for the school. If he’s not roping, working, or at school, he likes to hang out with friends and hunt or fish. After graduating, he will first attend Flimp Hills Technical College to obtain a welding degree before going on to earn an engineering degree.
Colby Galloway – Jeff Frazell
Elizabeth enjoys spending her free time painting. “I like to paint so much that I painted my whole room! I really like to paint with acrylics and enjoy painting landscape silhouettes and horses when I find one that I think I can recreate.”
Family friends, Sadie Bathurst and her mom, Cindy, were very instrumental in helping Elizabeth get started in rodeo and she is incredibly grateful for all of their help. She competes on a 5-year-old bay ranch horse named Cinco that her dad purchased. “She has a black mane and white blaze and can be very stubborn and really sweet. She’s calm all the time though, and I can sit sideways or backwards on her and she doesn’t care. She is very adaptable and anything I ask her to do, she doesn’t hesitate to try it. Our favorite event is barrel racing.” Elizabeth is also thankful to Amy Williams for giving her many barrel racing tips and coming over to help her with her riding skills. “I’ve really enjoyed competing in the KJHSRA and can’t wait for next season. All the people are very welcoming and super nice, so it makes the rodeos really fun.”
