Rachael Martin and Sara Richardson, first-year students at NC State University, met at the Teen Miss rodeo North Carolina competition and discovered they lived in the same residence hall. Martin, who served as the 2024 Teen Miss rodeo North Carolina, helped crown Richardson as her successor. Martin’s passion for Texas longhorn cattle led her to compete in rodeos and serve as a role model for the younger generation.

Richardson, a Pittsboro native, has been riding horses since she was very young and has competed in various rodeo events. As Teen Miss rodeo North Carolina, Richardson aims to raise interest in the sport and represent the rodeo industry. She is studying industrial and systems engineering and plans to pursue a career in either the automotive or agricultural industry.

Martin, on the other hand, plans to use her degree in agricultural business management to grow her small herd of Texas longhorn cattle. She is involved in a student leadership group within the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics at NC State and is inspired by her advisors to pursue a career in agriculture. Richardson credits the North Carolina State 4-H Horse Program and the CALS Department of Animal Science for her industry knowledge and success.