The Journey Begins
In May 2025, Brinlee graduated from Minico High School and became the very first recipient of the John Yore Rodeo Foundation Scholarship. She accepted the award knowing it represented far more than financial support—it marked the beginning of a two-year journey built on mentorship, accountability, personal growth, and relationships.
Since then, Brinlee has continued to blaze her own trail. She competed on the rodeo team at Clarendon College in Texas while earning her Associate's degree in the spring of 2026. In the fall of 2026, she'll continue both her education and rodeo career at Eastern New Mexico University in Portales, where she is pursuing a degree in Speech Pathology.
As the inaugural scholarship recipient—and the young lady Grampa John personally hoped would one day receive this opportunity—Brinlee became the first chapter in what we believe will become a lasting legacy. The foundation was always designed to invest in young people beyond graduation, and Brinlee has helped bring that vision to life. The scholarship experience includes mentorship, quarterly check-ins, goal setting, and a structured accountability system designed to help recipients grow throughout two years of college—not simply receive a check and move on.
One Goal. Thousands of Small Decisions.
Like every scholarship recipient, Brinlee chose one primary goal to pursue during her two-year journey.
Qualify for the College National Finals Rodeo — June 2027.
Every week, the Consistency Builder helps turn that dream into daily action.
Some of her commitments are wonderfully simple:
• Rope the dummy every day.
• Exercise three times each week.
• Listen to 30 minutes of positive podcasts or audiobooks.
• Learn something new from someone every week.
• Keep her horses in shape.
• Stay organized.
• Stay positive.
It's not about perfection.
It's about showing up consistently, especially on the days when motivation is nowhere to be found.
Like every college athlete, Brinlee has learned that balancing school, rodeo, horses, travel, friendships, and life isn't always easy. Along the way she's learned to prioritize her schedule, adapt when things don't go as planned, and keep moving forward one day at a time.
Accountability
A goal is important.
Sharing it with people who believe in you changes everything.
In this video, Brinlee introduces her goal, the habits she's committed to building, and the two accountability partners she's invited to help keep her moving forward throughout her scholarship journey.
Brinlee's Goal
Qualify for the College National Finals Rodeo — June 2027
More Than a Rodeo Athlete
Anyone who spends a little time around Brinlee quickly realizes she's just plain fun to be around.
She has a wonderfully dry sense of humor that's usually followed by a laugh you can't help but join. She's an animal lover through and through—especially when puppies are involved—and she's never opposed to making a Dutch Bros coffee run before hitting the road.
Her playlist is just as eclectic as her personality. One minute it's Bob Marley, the next it's George Strait, and somehow Lizzo fits right in between.
Brinlee is also incredibly creative. Whether she's drawing, working leather, designing graphics, or dreaming up her next project, she's always making something. Her vision board even features Will Ferrell—because, in her words, "If you ain't first, you're last." It makes us laugh every time we see it.
She has one of those rare combinations of curiosity, creativity, kindness, and grit that reminds us success isn't measured only by buckles or degrees. It's measured by the kind of person you're becoming.
Looking Back After Year One
During one of our quarterly board meetings, we asked Brinlee what stood out most about her freshman year.
She talked about the friendships she'd built, adapting to college life, and how the West Texas wind felt surprisingly familiar to southern Idaho.
Then she mentioned something that caught all of our attention.
She had hung her vision board in her dorm room.
Visitors noticed it almost immediately.
They'd stop, ask questions, and before long Brinlee found herself sharing the story of the John Yore Rodeo Foundation, Grampa John's legacy, and the scholarship that helped launch her college journey.
She told us that seeing her vision board every day reminded her to smile, stay grateful, and keep chasing the dreams she'd committed to long before moving away from home. That simple conversation reminded us why vision boards are such an important part of the scholarship experience—they're more than a project. They're a daily reminder of who you're becoming and where you're headed.
A Note from the Board
There is something special about being the first.
Every idea has to be tested.
Every system has to be refined.
Every lesson helps improve the experience for the next recipient.
Brinlee has approached each step with grace, honesty, and a genuine desire to help us build something meaningful.
Her willingness to complete every part of the application, embrace the onboarding process, participate in quarterly meetings, and provide thoughtful feedback has helped shape what the John Yore Rodeo Foundation scholarship experience is today.
For that, and for the example she continues to set, we are incredibly grateful.
This story is only beginning. And we can't wait to see where the trail leads next.
