For Colee Cox, rodeo runs in her veins. The high school senior, breakaway roper and goat tyer has carved her path into the arena as she looks ahead to the professional ranks.
Cox, 18, joined Team Cavender’s in 2023 with the help of fellow competitor and friend Sage Galliard. The sponsorship program, considered one of the premier youth rodeo teams in the country, has given her more than just backing in the arena.
“Team Cavender’s is one of the most prestigious youth teams out there right now, and they’ve taught me everything from social media to resumes and job applications,” Cox said. “They’ve brought in pro athletes and industry professionals to guide us, and I’m truly honored to be part of it.”
Photo by Jennings Photography
Her favorite memories come from the team’s annual summit, a gathering where members train, learn and bond. This year, as a senior, Cox designed and customized a pair of boots — a standout moment in what she calls one of her most meaningful experiences.
But what she values most from the program may surprise some.
“Definitely the social media aspect,” Cox said. “Before Team Cavender’s, I was terrible at it. They showed me how to be professional online, and since social media is one of the biggest things in our industry, it’s been huge for me.”
Unlike many competitors, Cox did not grow up in a rodeo family. Her father, Chad, was a drag racer who showed horses, while her mother, Holly, played nearly every sport from volleyball to basketball. Cox said she showed horses and played youth sports before discovering her true passion almost by accident.
Photo by Jennings Photography
“I took my show horse to a local rodeo one day and won it,” she recalled. “I told my dad, ‘I have the need for speed,’ and I’ve never looked back. Rodeo has become my life.”
With the help of mentors such as roper Chad Detweiler and goat-tying coach Kassidy Eakin, Cox developed into a well-rounded competitor. Friendships with professional cowgirls also gave her valuable insight into the rodeo lifestyle.
Her parents, despite not having a rodeo background, quickly became her biggest supporters.
“My parents haul me up and down the road every weekend,” Cox said. “If I say I want to enter, they’ve got me entered. I couldn’t ask for a better set of parents.”
Photo Courtesy of Colee Cox
A homeschool student, Cox has built her schedule around both academics and competition. She also competes on the Childress High School golf team, thanks to a Texas law allowing homeschoolers to participate in University Interscholastic League sports, and she shows pigs through 4-H.
After graduation, Cox plans to attend college, where she said she hopes to balance academics with professional rodeo. Long-term, she has her sights set high.
“I want to make the NFBR one day, and I’d love to be an all-around champion at the College National Finals Rodeo,” she said. “One of my biggest goals is to rope at Calgary when I get my pro card.”
Cox’s string of horses reflects years of dedication. Her go-to breakaway mount, Rouge, has carried her on some of the biggest stages. Fly, a sorrel gelding, is equipped for fast setups, while Tag, a buckskin, recently helped her win the Texas Cowboy Reunion. Ruby, her only mare, handles goat tying with the same grit she once used in steer wrestling.
Together, the lineup has helped Cox secure a growing list of titles, including back-to-back junior world finals championships in breakaway roping (2022 and 2023) and the 2023 Texas High School Rodeo Association Rookie of the Year award.
Her time competing in Las Vegas has given her a taste of what lies ahead.
“Vegas is such a different atmosphere,” Cox said. “Getting that experience now makes it easier to handle the nerves when we get to the pro level.”
Photo Courtesy of Team Cavender’s
For Cox, success in rodeo is about more than buckles and saddles. She carries a personal motto with her into every competition: JISTA — “Jesus Is Still The Answer.”
“You’ll see that or the ‘God is greater than the highs and lows’ logo on all my stuff,” she said. “That’s what keeps me going in this crazy world.”
As Cox looks toward her future, her mix of faith, family support and relentless drive suggests that her name may be one rodeo fans will see at the top of results for years to come.
