Hitting the Books
Like blossoms in spring, the return of bright yellow buses and eager students signal the arrival of another new school year. Although this means that the rodeo season is cooling down, it also means that things are heating up for our studious Utah Cowgirl Collective Ambassadors.
When they are not representing the Utah Days of ‘47 Rodeo, these ambitious cowgirls are hitting the books. Take a look at the university programs each UCC Ambassadors has chosen to pursue as the cowgirls return to the classroom in pursuit of their dreams.
Future UCC Veterinarians
A love for horses and animals is a common theme among the Utah Cowgirl Collective Ambassadors and a couple of the cowgirls are turning their passion into a career.
Bailey Holmes pulled on her trusty Justin Boots to take the next steps toward becoming a certified veterinarian. After graduating from Southern Utah University last spring, Bailey was accepted into the Utah State University Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program.
She has always loved working with animals and helping people. Bailey believes that the animal-human bond is a special relationship and she loves helping people by helping keep their animals healthy.
Bailey currently works as a veterinary technician where she has hands-on opportunities to help many different animals and their owners, but her dream is to become a specialized equine veterinarian.
Starting this next chapter is a big step for Bailey towards her dream career. Bailey is ready to further her knowledge and skills and says that she is looking forward to getting started on her career path and meeting new people within the field.
Paige is a sophomore at Utah State University where she is studying Bio Veterinary Science. She is part of a pre-veterinary program that will help her prepare for a career taking care of the animals she cares about.
Paige chose to study Bio Veterinary Science thanks to a love she has always had for all types of animals. Growing up surrounded by various species gave her first-hand experience with both the joys and challenges of animal care. Paige says that these experiences ignited her passion for helping animals in need.
She particularly enjoys learning how to care for them in a variety of situations. Working with animals during rehabilitation has been especially impactful, as Paige has seen firsthand the benefits of dedicated care.
Paige is eager to combine her passion for animals with a meaningful profession that helps improve their lives and welfare. Her dream is to own a large animal practice where she can specialize in surgeries.
Caring Cowgirls: Helping Humans and Animals
UCC cowgirls are compassionate and dedicated to service. These two UCC Ambassadors are great examples of caring for others and their dedication to helping others has driven them to fields where they can help both humans and animals.
Helping people and animals, that is Falynn’s goal. After graduating from Utah Tech University in 2023, Falynn applied to and was accepted into a Doctorate program for Chiropractors. She is currently enrolled and studying for her doctorate with a goal of helping both humans and animals using her degree.
Falynn says that bones have always been fascinating to her and she has a strong belief in the benefits that come from chiropractic care. Her dream career is to work with the Justin Sports Medicine team providing top-notch care for all of the PRCA athletes, whether they are a cowboy, cowgirl or one of the many animal athletes that make our sport great.
This is Falynn’s first year in this program but she is hoping to jump right in and get to work. She is determined to stay connected to her rodeo roots and make a difference in the health of the people and animals around her.
Madison is a cowgirl with a heart of gold and a passion for helping people. Her passion is what drives her now as she studies Exercise Physiology with an emphasis in Physical Therapy.
Madison chose to study physical therapy because she is passionate about health and wellness and she has a deep love for helping others. Whether she is helping them understand their own body better or helping them heal and recover, she has always loved people and loves helping them improve their lives. Her dream career is to become a Physician Assistant in primary care or surgery.
This year she is looking forward to taking her abnormal psychology class so that she can learn more about people with cognitive ailments over physical ailments. Madison says that most of her education has been focused on physical aspects of health and so she is excited to tie it all back together with the psychological aspects of health.
All About Agriculture
Cowgirls often have a soft spot in their heart for agriculture. Whether you were raised on a farm or ranch or just love the western lifestyle, the agriculture industry is at the very heart of western culture. UCC ambassador Jaid Stowell and myself have a deep appreciation for agriculture and are excited to remain connected to the industry through our education and careers.
Jaid Stowell is one cowgirl whose agriculture roots have driven her to pursue opportunities within the industry. This fall she returned to Southern Utah University where she is majoring in General Agriculture. Jaid says that this program covers a broad range of agricultural topics, and provides a comprehensive understanding of the field that will prepare her for various career opportunities in agriculture.
Choosing to study General Agriculture was easy for Jaid who grew up on an agricultural operation and has been involved in showing livestock from a young age. This background has instilled in Jaid a deep passion for the industry and she says it made perfect sense to continue pursuing this interest academically.
Jaid isn’t sure where her educational goals will take her, but she says her dream job involves being outside, working with livestock and staying active. She has considered a career as a farmer or rancher that would allow her to engage in hands-on agricultural work and maintain a close connection to the land and animals.
With this new school year, Jaid is looking forward to the structure that school provides to her schedule. Jaid says that when she isn’t in school, she feels like she is running around everywhere and trying to manage various tasks without a clear routine. The consistency of a school schedule helps her manage her time more effectively and stay organized. She is also excited about attending the college basketball games and showing her school spirit.
Hi it’s me! Unlike my fellow UCC Ambassadors, I did not kickoff Fall by starting a new school year. I graduated from Southern Utah University in 2021 with a degree in Agribusiness and Communication.
Two weeks after graduation I moved to Bluffdale, Utah where I started my career as a Marketing Content Writer for Intermountain Farmers Association. Thanks to this career, I get to live out my dream of writing about cows and providing resources to agriculture producers, but my love for learning is still very much alive.
I am passionate about education and am excited to apply to a master’s program for Strategic Communication in fall 2025. Communicating professionally and constructing effective messaging is vital to building a brand's identity and creating connections with consumers. By furthering my knowledge in the area of strategic communication, I plan to use those skills that I learn to better connect with Ag producers.
I love helping farmers and ranchers learn about products and management practices and am looking forward to applying to communication programs in the coming months.
Committed to Learning:
As a scholarship program, the Utah Cowgirl Collective is helping cowgirls find success in the classroom by providing financial resources and a network of professional connections. The UCC program champions the grit and determination of women and the commitment of these ambassadors to education is a reflection of those values.
As each cowgirl takes on the classroom, they are paving the way toward meaningful careers and making notable contributions to their communities. Whether it is helping animals, helping people or championing the agriculture industry, the Utah Cowgirl Collective Ambassadors are finding a way to make their mark.
Also This Month
Starting a new school year isn’t the only exciting activity the UCC cowgirls have jumped into. Outside of the classroom these girls are still rodeoing, ranching and of course, serving. During the month of August, the Utah Cowgirl Collective Ambassadors have volunteered their time at local schools, libraries and equine therapy centers.
Since the rodeo, Ambassadors Jaid and Falynn have brought their love of western lifestyle to the Parowan City Library. The cowgirls welcomed children and parents in the Southern Utah community to a fun activity where they read their favorite western children's books and introduced spectators to their horses and dummy roping.
Ambassadors Jaid, Falynn and Paige also volunteered their time at their local rodeos in Parowan, Evanston and West Warren where they helped with special kids rodeos, buckaroo events and Falynn even had the chance to help film for the Cowboy Channel.
