A champion mindset with the Texas Aggie Rodeo team

Madalyn Richards ’25 was no stranger to the pressure of the rodeo arena. After years of competing, she has faced countless nerve-wracking moments. Yet before her final appearance at the College National Finals Rodeo in Casper, Wyoming, a rare feeling of nervousness came over her.

It was an unusual feeling for someone who had competed so many times that it had almost become second nature. But this time it was different. The stakes were higher, the title was within her reach, and the weight of everything she had worked for seemed to rest on her shoulders.

In that tense moment, Richards knew she had to rely on everything she had learned – from the mental toughness her mother had instilled in her, to the rope skills her father had taught her, to the years of The experience she had gained competing across Texas and beyond.

She also relies on a personal ritual: before each competition, she writes down her objectives, reads them and firmly believes in them. This practice helps him focus and stay grounded. When she achieves her goals, she can refer to these notes, a tangible reminder of her journey.

With her heart racing, she entered the arena on her trusted horse, Dually, and in the next few seconds, she secured her place as national breakaway roping champion. To this day, she still stands tall with her College National Finals Rodeo goals, a testament to her mental preparation and perseverance.

Learn the tricks of the trade

For Richards, rodeo isn’t just a sport: it’s a lifelong passion that began for her at the age of 6, living in her hometown of Hereford. Growing up in the agricultural industry working in her family’s feed yard, with an accomplished rodeo competitor father, she learned early, starting with barrel racing and quickly moving on to breakaway roping under the direction of his father.

Despite his deep love for the sport, Richards chose Texas A&M University as much for his education as for a career in rodeo.

“I came to Texas A&M to go to school, not just to rodeo,” she said, a sentiment that underscores her commitment to her academic and athletic pursuits.

Richards is expected to graduate in December from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences with a degree in agricultural communications and a minor in agricultural economics. And in January, she will begin her master’s degree in agricultural economics with the goal of protecting the only way of life she has ever known through a career in agricultural policy.

His time at Texas A&M was marked by an incredible balance between his academic responsibilities and his rodeo career. Competing in five college rodeos each in the fall and spring, Richards consistently proved himself in the arena. A notable moment occurred at the first rodeo of that season at Texas A&M-Commerce, now East Texas A&M University, where she won both the breakaway and goat-mounting events as well as the title of the all-around – a feat she had never accomplished before.

As the season progressed, Richards continued to accumulate points, eventually winning the Southern Region championship in breakaway roping, placing third in goat tying, and securing the all-around title for the region.

These victories gave her needed momentum as she headed to the College National Finals Rodeo, where her championship victory would become the crowning achievement of her college rodeo career.

The road to a national title

The College National Finals Rodeo is the pinnacle for many college rodeo athletes – a stage where the best of the best come to compete. For Richards, the stakes were high and the pressure immense. Normally calm, she found herself unusually nervous before her last race, a departure from her usual calm.

“I was nervous waiting for my final attempt,” she said. “I’m usually not nervous because I’ve done it a million times.”

His coach, Roger Hanagriff, Ph.D., was even more nervous knowing how much this final performance mattered. But as Richards entered the arena for her final attempt in the breakaway roping event on Dually, a horse she had trained since she was 11, the nerves began to dissipate. At that moment, everything clicked. She ran, hit her target and as soon as the rope tightened, she knew she had won the national championship.

Richards’ journey to the national title was captured on camera by Texas A&M AgriLife in a three-part video series, documenting the highs and lows of his season.

“When they started filming at the beginning of the season, I didn’t expect it to end in a win,” Richards said, reflecting on the whirlwind experience.

This victory was the culmination of years of hard work, countless hours of practice and a deep bond with Dually, who had grown up alongside him through the ups and downs of his rodeo career. In goat tying, she rode another trusted horse, Chanel, whose strength and agility were instrumental in helping her achieve top results in both events, allowing her to win the all-around title.

Looking to the future

With two years of college rodeo eligibility remaining, Richards plans to continue competing, but she is also considering a career in agricultural policy. She has already begun laying the foundation for this career through an internship with the Texas Real Estate Advocacy and Defense Coalition, where she advocates for rural landowners and defends against land rights encroachments.

His goal is to use his education and rodeo experience to make a difference in the agricultural community.

“I want to do everything I can to protect this way of life throughout my career,” she said.

With a deep-rooted background at the intersection of ranching and rodeo, coupled with a rigorous academic education, Richards is uniquely positioned to become a strong advocate for the agricultural industry.

Despite his many accomplishments, Richards remains humble and grounded.

“For some people, rodeo is everything,” she said. “For me, I know Texas A&M is preparing me for the path I choose to follow.”

Although rodeo will always be a part of her life, she is determined to make a lasting impact in the world of agricultural policy, ensuring that future generations can enjoy the same opportunities and freedoms that she had.

A family tradition continues

As Richards looks to the future, she is also excited to welcome her younger sister, Lucy ’28, to Texas A&M this fall. Lucy will compete alongside Richards in tying goats and escaping, adding a new dynamic of sibling rivalry to the rodeo team.

“Being Aggies is a true privilege for us,” Madalyn said, reflecting on the deep connection between their family and the university. As a fourth-generation Aggie, the Richards’ pride in their alma mater runs deep.

The Texas A&M rodeo team, which has won the South Region the past three years, will undoubtedly benefit from the addition of another Richards sister. But for Madalyn, it’s not just about winning; it’s about continuing a legacy that honors one’s family’s history while forging a future of its own.