story by Kelsey D’Ann Smith
Eleven year old, Marcie Mudd, looks up to “Amberley Snyder because she keeps going and never gives up.” Marcie met Amberley at a rodeo in Des Moines, Iowa, where she obtained her idol’s autograph. That autograph is now carefully tucked away in a folder as a reminder to keep going.
At age five, Marcie started competing in every event at the Choupique Youth Rodeo on her horse, Whitey. Marcie and Whitey did “poles, goat ribbon pulling, stick horse racing, barrels, flags, oh, and even roped the dummy.” Her horse, Whitey taught her older sister, Bailey, to ride. “She can be a little goofy in the alley but she’s a good horse.” Marcie still compete on the now, 17-year-old, horse in goat tying. Her favorite rodeo memory goes back to the Choupique Youth Rodeo where they “would always get together to cook, hang out, [and] eat food.” She loves hanging out with her rodeo friends and family.
Rodeo runs deep in this family from Lake Charles, Louisiana. Marcie’s father, Bobby, is a calf roper. Her mother, Leslea, was 2001 Miss Rodeo Louisiana and 1996 High School Rodeo Queen in addition to her competition in roping, showing cutting horses and running barrels. Today Marcie continues their equine participation as a LJHSRA member along with her older sister, Bailey. Marcie’s 7-year-old brother, Bransyn, gets to carry on the Mudd’s rodeo legacy as well. You can always “find him roping something at any rodeo” when he is not playing football.
Rodeo might be in her roots but it is certainly not Marcie’s only talent. She also grew up in gymnastics and tumbling. She can “do a round off back hand spring on the ground right now”, if asked. This cowgirl gymnast set a goal of “getting gold because it’s the top.” She achieved her aspiration and received a gold medal in the All-Around for beam, bars, floor and vault. Marcie transitioned from gymnastics to cheerleading and really enjoys the teamwork involved in being on a squad. Marcie is also involved in the Cameron Parish 4-H Club and furthers her academics with the Jr Beta Club. This 6th Grader at Grand Lakes High School aspires to be a nurse or an ultrasound tech when she grows up. “I just feel like I would be good at it.” But for now, Macie can be found jumping on the trampoline, hanging out with friends and “polishing off the whole plate” at any Mexican food restaurant on the way to a rodeo. This will be her first year to compete with LJHSRA and she hopes to make it to the finals in goat tying.
