Raelee Melancon REGION IV ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT Region IV

By DIXIE TABB – Performance Reporter

As THSRA passes the halfway point of the year, we begin to look toward finals and the crowning of new champions. Let’s take a moment to remember a champion from a little community of Powderly, TX that took the state by storm with 3 trips to Nationals and multiple world titles.

Raelee Melancon(Self) is first and foremost a mother and wife. She married Cole Melancon November 28th, 2020 and they live in the small town of Sour Lake, Texas where they work everyday to give back to the industry that built them. Their daughter Lariat Lace Melancon is in Pre-k at Devers ISD and is absolutely smitten with all things barrel racing and pole bending. “We are very blessed to wake up everyday and do something we absolutely love”, stated Raelee. She is owner and operator of Melancon Performance Horses, where she trains, tunes and coaches. Raelee says, “the heart of my business is really in teaching, where I have the opportunity to guide and minister to so many young ladies from all levels.” Cole and Raelee own and operate an inflatable business called High Roller Services LLC. Where they service all of Southeast Texas and surrounding areas.

Raelee was a member of Region IV from 2010-2016. She competed in the barrel racing, pole bending, and breakaway roping from junior high all the way through the completion of high school. She continued her rodeo career through college competing in barrel racing and breakaway roping for Hill College.

Raelee didn’t just make it to Nationals once, she made it 3 consecutive times. (7th grade 2011, 8th grade 2012, 9th grade 2013) When asked, “what was it like the year you went to Nationals and won?” She explains that, “looking back in retrospect I cannot tell you the amount of pride I still have over these experiences.” Not coming from a rodeo family, there were a lot of “firsts” for her. Her first trip to nationals,Raelee competed in barrels. She remembers her nerves were at an all time high. Moving forward to Raelee’s 2nd trip to Gallup where she competed in pole bending she states, “I was coming off of breaking my own state record in pole bending of what was set in 2011 of a 19.785 to now in 2012 a 19.505.” She mentions that she went into Nationals with no expectations other than to make the best runs she could. “You are your biggest competition” is something Raelee has always believed in. Raelee ended up securing the title of National Junior High Pole Bending Champion. In 2013, (9th grade year) Raelee says she did not have a very good year and just couldn't keep the poles up. She barely qualified for state. “I hit 4 poles Friday night and 5 poles the next day at region finals. I spent the next month determined to put it all back together!!” Raelee had an outstanding THSRA State Finals, she ended up running a 19.909 in both the 1st and 2nd go. Only to come into the short round and run another 19.9 securing the THSRA pole bending state champion. Raelee qualified for Nationals in the pole bending and barrel racing, ON THE SAME HORSE!! She left Abilene the pole bending champion and reserve champion barrel racer. Raelee went on to run a 19.8 in the 1st go, 19.7 in the 2nd go, and come back in the short round and be a 19.6 at the NHSFR. All while qualifying for the short go in barrels as well. Raelee talked of the chaos and excitement of doing her national pole bending champion interview in the short ten minute break before having to jump back on her horse for their barrel run. This same year, Raelee also won NHSRA All Around Cowgirl, NHSRA Rookie of the Year, and NHSRA team Championship. Freckles, the once in a lifetime horse Raelee competed on, ended the finals with over 1,300 points in TWO events. Raelee states that she still wears her rookie of the year buckle even as an adult.

Raelee would like to thank the TJHRA, THSRA, and NHSRA for building her career. “They built me into the athlete, rodeo fan, competitor, ambassador, leader, and purposeful person I am today”. Raelee ran for Region IV and State Vice President where she got to sit on the board of directors for a whole year. Advice Raelee would give to a kid wanting to accomplish what she did is, “NEVER QUIT!!! Never be too good to ask for help! set a goal everyday and dont quit on yourself. It doesn't matter whether your horse costs $1,000 or $100,000, the hard work that is put into learning to ride that horse is PRICELESS! HARD WORK WINS IN THE END!!!” Raelee hopes, “In a few years when my daughter is old enough to put her iron in the fire I will have the opportunity to get in and give back to the organization that made me the business woman, wife, and mother I am today!”