story by Riata Cummings
Lydia Farnsworth is the 17- year-old daughter of Kevin and Dixie Farnsworth of Apple Valley, Utah. She is the oldest of six and has three brothers; Troy, Aiden, and Grant, and two sisters; Tabitha and Ava. As a family they enjoy going adventuring in the great outdoors and traveling to visit more family. Lydia attends Hurricane High School and her favorite classes include seminary and orchestra with her cello. She also enjoys runs with her dog, leather crafting, reading and drawing. After high school, Lydia is considering attending Dixie State University with a major in psychology. She would also like to apprentice with a horse trainer, learning the skills necessary to become a trainer and professional barrel racer.
Lydia has been riding horses since she was 3 and began competing in local rodeos when she was only 7. She joined horse 4-H when she was 8, and at 16, she branched out to rodeos with more experienced competition. The barrel racer and pole bender loves, “the thrill of turning those barrels super-fast.” She trains with Kathy Montano and loves the work that goes into improvemen.t Lydia enjoys the constant learning and the challenges of perfecting the details. She rides a horse that the family has raised, I’m A Classy Prophet (AKA Rowdy). The big sorrel is a sweetheart, and never gives anything less than his best. The team has grown and improved quite a bit since they started out and continues to accomplish little goals every day. Eventually, Lydia would like to rodeo professionally, traveling to some of the biggest rodeos in the nation including Rodeo Huston, RFD-TV’s The American, and the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.
Rodeo has shown Lydia the value of having an end goal. When the going gets tough and the trials pile up, you must have something to fall back on and remind you just how badly you want it. She has learned to surround herself with people who have experience and know-how, turning listening into one of her greatest strengths as she soaks up all the coaching she can get. She has also developed the ability to be patient with herself and her horse as she tackles her great-big goals. Last December, Rowdy had to take a break from rodeo for his ulcers to heal. The 4-month break was hard on Lydia, but she says it, “gave me a chance to rethink my goals and who I want to be.”
Lydia would like to leave a legacy of honesty, kindness, and hard work. She would like to inspire the people around her by sharing her Heavenly Father’s love and proving that He can make the impossible, possible. She wants others to recognize her a barrier breaker and would like to be one of the first African American women to run at the American, proving that it doesn’t matter where you come from as long as you are willing to work. She lives by Nike slogan, “Just Do It,” and constantly reminds herself that success is on the other side of effort.
Lydia would like to thank her grandparents for their time, money, and effort on her behalf, and for providing her with a horse and the support necessary to rodeo. She is grateful for her parents and their patience and support of her goals. She would like to thank Kathy Montano for her knowledge, help, and advice. Lastly, she would like to thank Heavenly Father for her family, her blessings, and for the many opportunities she has been given.
