Ahna Fox, from Big Timber, Montana, transferred into the Natural Horsemanship program three years ago from UM. She is a Natural Horsemanship major with minors in Business and Professional Writing. Ahna was the Vice President of the student senate last year and is still involved in Horseman’s Club ad Young Farmers and Ranchers. She likes to spend her time riding, fly fishing, playing guitar, and hiking. Ahna’s goal is to make enough money to feed a couple horses and keep gas in her truck. This is her 2nd year in sales prep and this year she is riding NOBLE CASANOVA, a bay gelding from Jacob Christenson.
Chloe Keith is a junior from Arroyo Grande, California and this will be her 2nd year in sales prep. She is pursuing Bachelors degrees in Psychology and Natural Horsemanship. You have likely seen Chloe at work on campus at the Conferences and Events. Chloe loves singing and playing the guitar and has even sung the National Anthem over 200 times. She enjoys trying new things like cinch making, forging, and learning new languages. After graduation she wants to combine both of her degrees, psychology and horsemanship. Chloe won the Best Horseman Award and placed 4th in last year’s competition. She will be riding PEPPYS PONERA FILLY and WEAVERS CASH INA DOX.
Cooper Weiland is a 3rd year Natural Horsemanship student from Spokane, Washington. You can usually find Cooper fishing the Beaverhead, skiing, or being a great leader as an RA on campus. Cooper travelled to Germany this summer to help teach horsemanship clinics through AQHA’s international programs. Cooper’s goals are to be able to make a horse with a solid foundation, always recognize the horse’s needs, and share his horsemanship with others. This is Cooper’s 2nd year in sales prep and he is riding STARLIGHT RIVETER from the Hirschy Ranch.
Ella Hoffman is a 19 year old Sophomore from Buckley, Washington. She is a Natural Horsemanship and Business major who is involved in the Horseman’s Club and Young Farmers and Ranchers. It is rare to ever see Ella without a big smile on her face. She hopes to teach riding lessons and train horses after her time here at Western. This is Ella’s first year in sales prep and she is riding YELLOW SMOKE SHOW from the Erb Ranch.
Gus Hoffman is a familiar face here at Montana Western’s Colt Challenge and Sale. He’s been a part of the sale for 4 years now and had the high selling colt in last year’s sale. Gus is currently the Vice President of the Young Farmers and Ranchers club on campus and a member of the Horseman’s Club. After graduation, he hopes to continue training horses and be heavily involved in the horse world. Catch Gus and RIDN MRS NU CASH at the competition and sale March 30-31.
Jordan LeCompte is one of our veteran sales prep members, bringing her third colt through the sale this year. She is from Bellingham, Washington and is a senior this year at Western. She will graduate with Bachelor’s degrees in both Natural Horsemanship and Biology with hopes to attend vet school in the fall. She would like to focus on small animal surgery or general large animal veterinary practices. Jordan is an involved member of campus life at Western as a ASUMW Senator and a part of the Vet Science Club, Young Farmers and Ranchers, and Horseman’s Club. She makes nice colts and has placed in two of the past competitions and received the Robert Miller DVM Scholarship at last year’s sale. She will be riding SAK EM TWICE on March 29th and 30th.
Katie Jo Ross is a member of the sales prep class for the 3rd time and a familiar smiling face around here. From Elko, Nevada, she is pursuing degrees in Natural Horsemanship and Physical Education. Katie is a member of the Horseman’s Club and Young Farmers and Ranchers and you will usually find her with a rope or a basketball in her hand. After graduation, she hopes to return home, help run the family ranch, teach PE, and coach basketball. This year Katie will be riding MISSY CEE PONDERA, a sorrel mare from the Hollenbeck Ranch
Madi Foster is from Blackfoot, Idaho and is a Sophomore at Montana Western. She is a Natural Horsemanship major and member of the Rodeo Team. She competes in Breakaway and Team Roping and is involved with the rodeo club. Roping, fishing, snowmobiling, and riding outside horses are some of Madi’s favorite hobbies. Madi’s love for horses is vast as she has competed in High School Rodeo and showed reined cow horses, taught lessons, and worked closely with top trainers. She hopes to become more involved in equine health and therapy and become a part time trainer after her time at Western. This is Madi’s first year in sales prep and she will be showing and selling EH BAYBAY.
Molly Jackson, from Gunnison Colorado, is a familiar face for those that have been following the sale for years. This is her 4th year in sales prep and our reigning champion from last year’s challenge. She is an involved member of the Horseman’s Club and was a past President. She was a member of the team that won the Collegiate Road to the Horse competition last year. This year Molly is riding WEAVERS MITO CASH donated by Weaver Quarter Horses.
Sam McCracken is a sophomore from John Day, Oregon. He is a Natural Horsemanship major with a management option. Sam is the current Horsemans Club President and a member of Young Farmers and Ranchers. He is a 4-time National High School rodeo qualifier and enjoys starting colts, ranch roping, and working cattle. He hopes to make solid ranch horses through Natural Horsemanship. He wants to take what he learns at Western and use it to produce horse that he can use every day and sell them to people that will put them to use. Sam is riding SACOS CHICO from Holland Quarter Horses.
Chayse Chism, from Sun River, Montana, is a 22 year old Sophomore. Chayse is pursuing a bachelors degree in Natural Horsemanship with an emphasis on management, as well as a Associates in Farm and Ranch Operations. He is a member of the Horseman’s Club and Young Farmers and Ranchers and enjoys starting colts and ranching. He is a big fan of Ian Tyson and Don Edwards and will likely be found listening to the cowboy classics. Chayse hopes to one day run his own colt starting business as well as continue ranching around the state with his family. For his first year in sales prep, Chayse is riding SACOS POPCIKE from the Holland Ranch
CJ Benoit comes to us from St. Amant, Louisiana. He is 28 years old and this is his 3rd year in sales prep. Before coming to Western, he spent 6 years in the Army as a UH-60 Blackhawk crew chief with a yearlong deployment in Syria. He will be graduating this year with a degree in Natural Horsemanship with an emphasis on instruction. As our resident cajun, CJ enjoys froggin’, runnin’ crawfish traps, and runnin’ trot lines. CJ hopes to continue progressing everyday and making his instructors proud! This year CJ is riding WEAVERS PERK N BLACK
Elise Brann is a sophomore from Orono, Minnesota and this is her first year in sales prep. She is a Natural Horsemanship major with a minor in Instruction. She is the current Vice President of Horseman’s Club and a member of the Equestrian Club and Vet Science Club. Elise started riding at an early age and began with show jumping, competing in the A Level Mid States Circuit. She still enjoys showing but has now added western disciplines. Elise hopes to collect as much knowledge on horsemanship as possible while completing her degree and then train high level reiners and reined cowhorses. Elise is riding GM RICHOCHET 21 from Jacob Christenson.
Everitt Mauler, from Stevensville Montana, is a 2nd year student at Western and is his first year as a part of the sales prep team. Everitt is heavily involved on campus as a member of the Rodeo team and a Senator for ASUMW. He’s an avid team roper and has worked from Jake Smith, learning from some of the best. He enjoys hunting, fishing, hiking, and spending as much time outdoors as possible. His goal is to eventually start and run a successful business raising and training high caliber rope horses. Everitt is riding THIS CATS A PLAYER.
Jaylee McEwen is a junior at Western from Fallon, Nevada. She began college having already completed an associated degree and is now working to complete her Bachelors in Natural Horsemanship. Jaylee is a member of Horsemans Club and participates in intramural basketball. She loves roping, playing basketball, hunting, and spending her time with family. Jaylee is riding DOCS MONTANA COWBOY from Harrington and Hirschy Quarter horses for her first year in sales prep.
Katherine Bills, from Rockford, Minnesota, is a Junior at Western pursuing degrees in Natural Horsemanship and Business. She is a college rodeo athlete competing primarily in barrel racing. She is a member of Horseman’s Club and Young Farmers and Ranchers on campus. Katherine hopes to go to graduate school for Equine Reproduction and continue rodeoing. This is her 2nd year in sales prep where she is riding OKIE ROYALTY from Harrington and Hirschy Quarter Horses.
Kylie Keating is another one of our transfer students, transferring from MSU in 2022. She is a Junior at Western and this is her first year in sales prep. She is majoring in both Natural Horsemanship and Business and is a member of Horseman’s Club and Young Farmers and Ranchers. Kylie enjoys skiing, hiking, and hanging out with her family and friends. She has started colts at MSU and at her internship at OutWest where she also ran the summer program. Kylie hopes to be an Equine and Ranch Real Estate Agent when she finishes school. Help us cheer on Kylie and MS DRIFTIN BADGER on March 29th and 30th.
Mikala Doss is a senior at Western this year and this is her 2nd year in sales prep. She is from Big Timber, Montana and will be graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Natural Horsemanship with a minor in Farm and Ranch Operations. Mikala is the president of the IT club and a student advocate on campus. She loves working with horses and students. After college she will be getting married and plans to work closely with trainers and business owners to learn successful practices to eventually start or work with boarding facilities in the Bozeman and Livingston area. We wish Mikala Doss and RSRMOLLYSSILVERRIDE luck at the colt challenge and sale.
Molly Johnson is a sophomore from Cottonwood, Idaho and is a member of the sales prep team for the first time this year. She is a Natural Horsemanship major and is a member of the Rodeo team where she competes in Breakaway and Team Roping. She has always enjoyed helping on the family ranch, competing in cutting events, and spending time outdoors. Madi’s goals are to make always make quality horses and eventually take over the family ranch or have one of her own. This year Madi will be riding GC BOONLITE GUN through the competition and sale on March 29th and 30th.
Tymber Burkey is a 19 year old sophomore from Shoshone, Idaho. She is a first time member of the sales prep team. Tymber is pursuing a degree in Natural Horsmanship with an emphasis on Instruction and Equine Studies. She is the current treasurer for the Horseman’s Club and is a member of Young Farmers and Ranchers. She grew up competing in local rodeos and serving as the rodeo queen. Tymber has big dreams of getting her ProRodeo card and making it to the NFR. She also hopes to start and run her own colt starting operation. We wish Tymber and MERLES LIL NELLIE luck in the competition and sale
