story by Riata Cummings
Jake and Suzzanne Huffman are the proud parents of three girls, Katelyn, Dianne and Elizabeth. Katelyn and Dianne are attending Utah State University, Katelyn working on her master’s degree and Dianne is on her second year of studies. Elizabeth, or Libby, is a 17-year-old senior at Uintah High School. She enjoys math and her concurrent enrollment CNA medicine classes. She will be entering the nursing program at Weber State University, specifically the nurse practitioner 6-year program. Upon graduation she hopes to open her own clinic. Jake Huffman works in the oil field, owning and operating Huffman Enterprises. Suzzanne is a four-time NFR Qualifier, being the first woman from Utah to qualify. Libby hopes to follow in her mother’s footsteps and hopes to get her PRCA permit this fall.
Elizabeth has loved rodeo for years and started competing at just 3-years-old on a little black horse named Molasses. With the help of her mother and sisters, she worked through the ranks of ponies and became the competitive athlete she is today. She competes in the barrel racing but has also tried her hand at pole bending and goat tying. Two years ago, she got Rue, an unfinished barrel racing prospect. Since then she has worked hard to pattern and polish the mare’s performance, and now the two are competing with the best of them. Her and her mother are working on a young stud colt, Hook, and an older barrel horse named Colonel. Libby tries to practice every day, keeping the horses in shape and improving her technique. She is a cheerleader on the high school team, which takes a lot of her time, but her dedication drives her to put in the hours necessary for success.
Rodeo has taught Elizabeth the importance of selfless horsemanship, being willing to put her horses and their needs before her own and to become a team with her horses. She also sees the value in having somewhere to spend her time and effort. She enjoys the competitive nature of the Utah High School Rodeo Association and the increased incentive to work hard and improve. Elizabeth believes in working to the best of her abilities, pushing herself to the physical limit to increase her strength and ability. This year Elizabeth hopes to go to state with more qualifying points than the previous year and perform well there.
Her hero is her mother, who taught her everything she knows about horses and people. When Libby was in 4th grade, her mom became sick and lost the use of her legs. Elizabeth watched as her mother worked hard to walk, and the lesson of dedication stuck with her. Libby would like to thank her parents for their countless pep talks and coaching sessions. She is grateful for their willingness to support her dreams and help her achieve her
