courtesy of Brenda Reay, PSRA Secretary
Some of you might remember the year, 1969. The Beatles’ made their last public performance, the new muscle car, Trans Am made its appearance, and none other than Chris LeDoux won the College National Finals in the Bareback Riding. They still had the Ribbon Roping as a sanctioned event at the CNFR and nobody is still really sure what happened at Woodstock. That year also brought one of our own PSRA Board Members into this world. Nichole Hunsaker was raised in Southeast Idaho. Nichole’s Dad, Bob Goodwin was a saddle bronc rider when he was younger but he gave that up to ‘get a real job’ to feed his family. Nichole’s path didn’t cross rodeo or horses again until she was living in upstate New York in her early twenties. During that time, she found a job working at Cornell University Stables. Twice a day she had 90 horses she was responsible for feeding and cleaning up after. Pay for this job was minimal but she got to trade two hours of work for a 30 min lesson, so needless to say, she never brought home a paycheck.
After a change in life, Nichole moved back to Idaho and eventually met and married her current husband, Doug. At that point, they had their own horses. Nichole’s daughter, Claudia, was old enough for 4H and of course she picked horses as her project. Her daughter rapidly outgrew the 4H world and opted for the faster paced barrel racing. Nichole spent lots of time watching her and paying for a trainer which lead to her enjoying the sport and inheriting one of her daughter’s first horses, Copper. This horse was not a world beater but, in her heart, she felt he was incredible for her. He was not terribly fast but as honest as they came. He would run a 21 second run no matter the size of the pattern or arena. By this time, she was in her early 40’s and was hooked.
Nichole’s daughter went off to college and much to her husband’s dismay, she continued to go to the races, just by herself. She met new friends, made new goals and continued to race. Fast forward a few more years and she had the opportunity to own some nice horses and was encouraged to join the PSRA. Nichole has won the 50’s barrel racing the last two years and in 2021 won the All-Around. Nichole has made some lifelong friends and has the opportunity to travel to places she has never been to because of the Professional Senior Rodeo Association. Nichole strongly encourages people to join the organization. Nichole feels very grateful for the association and all it has to offer. Although the PSRA is a rather new association it has a lot of positive attributes including the people as well as the opportunity to compete.
If you see Nichole on the rodeo trail she will be driving her blue Dodge, enjoying some Chick-fil-A or Cadbury Mini Eggs and listening to the Lonesome Dove Soundtrack or her favorite Garth Brook’s songs.
Favorite Quote: In the end, it’s not the year’s in your life that count. It’s the life in your years. Abraham Lincoln.
