ACHIEVING
SUCCESS
There’s a slang term in rodeo used when someone is determined to overcome an obstacle, and that phrase is Cowboy Up. For Renae Cowley and Jenna Smeenk the expression rings true in their lives as professional barrel racers. It also epitomizes how each of the accomplished women approach life with resiliency and support of each other as friends and competitors in the arena.
“I have an incredibly supportive family. There is no way I could rodeo without their support, my mom especially,” Cowley said. “She has been by my side through every horse competition growing up. She is my driver, sports psychologist, support crew, and about a million other things in between.
“We didn't have a lot of money growing up, but she worked three jobs so we could keep our beat-up pickup truck and old trailer filled with discount horses going down the road.
By Jennifer Weaver
BECOMING RODEO QUEENS
Cowley and Smeenk are passionate about racing around barrels while on horseback in a cloverleaf pattern in record speed, and possess just as much ambition and drive when it comes to their families and other personal endeavors. Their aspirations toward success didn’t come without hard work and perseverance. They never gave up on their dreams and neither did their support systems.
TRUE BEAUTY
AWARD WINNERS DECEMBER 2017
Cover Feature
ONE BARREL AT A TIME
Renae Cowley
Jenna Smeenk
22 THEBEAUTYBATTALION.COM