by Michele Toberer
Payton Floyed’s interest in rodeo may have come on the heels of her sister Mackenzie’s rodeo involvement, but this Louisiana cowgirl is completely loving the rodeo life. The 16-year-old junior is starting her 4th year of not just rodeo, but also experience with horses. “It was definitely challenging learning to rodeo at the same time I was learning to ride horses. While I was trying to learn how to swing my rope, it made it hard because I couldn’t get up in the saddle to be in the right position to throw.” But Payton and her sister Mackenzie, 12, have proven to themselves they can do anything they set their minds to. Payton competed as an 8th grader in LJHSRA and now competes in the LHSRA as a goat tyer and breakaway roper, practicing practically every day in their home arena in Ville Platte, Louisiana. “I love that in the LHSRA you know everyone, you could go sit with anyone and they know you, so being a part of the association means you have all of these friends, which makes it so nice.”
Payton’s parents, Robert and Ann Floyed, constructed a beautiful barn on their property to house the 4-H market goats that Payton raised each year. She enjoyed showing the Boer goats each year from the time she was in 4th through 8th grade. However, once the sisters became involved in horses, the barn quickly became full of horses instead of show goats. “We have four goats now, but they are for us to practice tying, not sell at market.” Robert, an LHSRA alumni, had a background with horses and grew up in Louisiana competing as a cutter and team roper in LHSRA, as well as team roping on the college rodeo team for MacNeese State University. “My dad has taught me everything about riding and roping, I really look up to him because he is such a good rider and roper. He can get on any horse and knows how to communicate with it to ride it well.” Payton’s mom, a Texas A & M graduate, was originally from Texas, but met Robert while she was in Louisiana for a business trip, and her life has been based in Louisiana ever since. The couple owns and operates Central Crawfish, where they wholesale crawfish, selling live and processed crawfish for local farmers, as well as the crawfish they raise on nearly 1000 acres of land. During the off-season, the family grows 600 acres of rice, and helps manage close to 1000 head of beef cattle with Robert’s family, so the Floyed family is busy year-round.
“I like rodeoing with my sister during these years, it’s nice to be able to help each other, she calms me down when she comes in the alleyway and reminds me to be smooth.” Payton and Mackenzie share two special horses for goat tying and breakaway roping, one is a big white mare, and the other a little black gelding. Payton uses the mare, Gigi, 23, for goat tying, and the gelding, Reno, 18, for breakaway roping. “I tried breakaway roping on Gigi at first, but we didn’t click together very well, but Mackenzie started riding her and it works for them. So, Mackenzie ropes on Gigi, and goat ties on Reno, and I do the opposite.” Although Robert is responsible for the roping skills, Payton appreciates Stacy Martin’s influence on her goat tying. “She’s helped me so much, and I’ve come so far with her, I am just so thankful for her.” While at Stacy’s, Payton often practices with Mia Manzanares, who she looks up to, and is inspired by Mia to go faster.
As a junior at Sacred Heart High School, Payton is busy as a member of FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America), a religious youth group called FOUND (Finding Ourselves Under Noise and Darkness), and she plays the snare drum in the high school drumline. She still participates in 4-H as a junior leader, volunteering in many 4-H projects for younger members. When she has any down time, she likes to paint, draw and play guitar. After graduating, Payton plans to attend Louisiana State University, and will focus on studying to become a dermatologist.
