story by Ruth Nicolaus
Madison Richmann is president of the Colorado High School Rodeo Association.
The Keenesburg, Colorado cowgirl competes in the breakaway roping, barrel racing, and pole bending, with breakaway being her favorite. She has team roped in the past, but not this year.
Her horsepower includes an eighteen-year-old dark brown gelding named Joe who is her breakaway horse. He’s a new purchase for the family, and he’s made her a better roper. “He’s changed a lot for me,” she said. “I feel like I have a better shot now that I have a more advanced horse.”
In the barrels, she rides an eight-year-old mare named Reride, who is still progressing. “She’s still young minded,” Madison said. “The high school rodeos have been a learning experience for her.”
For the poles, she rides Rocko, a thirteen-year-old dark bay gelding who was purchased from a good friend, Chandler Ritchey. Madison got to ride him when Chandler still owned him, and she loved him. “He’s made a huge difference in the pole bending. I’ve learned a lot from him.”
A senior at Branson School, which is online, Madison exhibits a strong sense of self-discipline. There is no teacher hovering, reminding her of homework. But she’s never had a problem getting schoolwork done.
“How online school works is, you’re only going to be as successful as you want to be. If you put in the work, you can be successful with it.” Online school allows her time to spend in the practice pen and with her horses.
She is a writer for the local newspaper, the Lost Creek Guide, writing news on the local 4-H chapter and specializing in agriculture and high school rodeo stories. She’s written for them since middle school and submits about four stories a month.
Madison writes about topics she is interested in, which makes it easy. “I try to find topics I’m passionate about.”
She never really intended to run for president of the state high school association, but got talked into it by an adult board member. No one else ran for the position, “so there was no hoping I wouldn’t get it,” she laughed.
But she enjoys the job. “It’s given me a lot of opportunities. I like representing an organization like high school rodeo. There are a lot of good people, and I’ve met a lot of people through it.”
As a board member last year, she enjoyed talking to the student body about different aspects of rodeo, and being part of making it happen. Being president is an extension of that. “It’s taking it farther as president. It is a bigger deal.”
In her spare time, she likes to play guitar and show 4-H market lambs. She is president of her 4-H club.
Madison has started a Bible study at high school rodeos, which has been well-attended. She leads it with Mason McCall, a junior high rodeo contestant.
After high school, Madison would like to rodeo collegiately and major in journalism with a minor in ag communications. Attending Oklahoma State University might be in her future.
She has a younger brother, Rylan, who is thirteen.
She is the daughter of Justin and Shawnda Richmann.
