story by Siri Stevens
NLBRA Alumni, Shawnee Sagers, accepted the position as Sponsorship and Marketing coordinator as well as social media director for the association that she grew up in. “I am so excited – it’s my dream job and what I got my degree in,” said the 23-year-old from Utah. “NLBRA helped me with scholarships and my rodeo career – I went to the College National Finals three years thanks to NLBRA.”
Shawnee competed in all seven of the girls’ events as well as represented NLBRA as their queen in 2014. She was a member for 11 years, attending the finals all of those years. Shawnee went on to college at Snow College and Utah University where she obtained her bachelor’s degree in Public Relations. She is currently working on her Masters degree in Management and Leadership as well as teaching classes in Home Ec at the middle school in Moroni, Utah.
She began her career with NLBRA at the age of five. Her parents, Dallon Sagers and Kendra Bagley, raised her in the association. She competed in the Utah High School Rodeo Association, making the high school finals once. She started in the RMPRA when she was fourteen and still tries to get to those rodeos, but since she has her WPRA card, she tries to spend as much time competing at those events. “I train barrel horses on the side, so I go to futurities as well.”
Adding to her list of credentials, Shawnee did an internship at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo as the emcee of the Youth Talk Show, Learning the Ropes. “It was directed at youth and it was great.”
She is handling the social media as well as attending WESA market, and the Junior Iron Man Finals. She plans to move to Colorado once she is done teaching. “I’ve been working on the sponsorship remotely for now until I can get moved.”
Shawnee brings to the table a degree as well as a lifetime of knowledge of the values and message that NLBRA holds. “Having that extra background and edge gives me a better ability to help grow the association,” she said. “I would love to be able to grow our social media as well as some of the benefits we have with the association – scholarships and team. I am excited to have some of our kids qualify for the PRCA Youth Finals.
