FAIRGROUNDERS
The Fairgrounders perform opening ceremonies each year at the North Texas Fair & Rodeo, run sponsor flags and promote a positive spirit in the community and at the fair! The team consists of 6 women of various ages and backgrounds.
Rachel Williamson
Horse: Cutie Pie
Hometown: Denton, TX
Favorite Thing About the Fair: Getting to be part of Fairgrounders with some of her closest friends, and the excitement of the rodeo
Rachel and Cutie are very excited to be going into their sixth year on the team. Rachel is from Denton, so being part of the hometown rodeo is an amazing opportunity each year. When she’s not at the rodeo, Rachel is working in marketing and spending her free time hitting up the trails or competing in shows with Cutie. Cutie has been alongside Rachel for all of her Fairgrounder years, making it a fun experience!
Tristan Sievers
Horse: Biggie
Hometown: Sanger, TX
Favorite Thing About the Fair: The Jarrod Morris concert
This is Tristan’s fourth year as a Fairgrounder and Biggie’s second! Biggie’s forte is Arabian main ring hunter, but he loves switching gears and running the routine for the Fairgrounders. During the day, Tristan works with thermal optics hunting scopes. Her hobbies include hunting, showing horses and just about anything that keeps her outdoors and around her horses.
Ashley Ter Hoek
Horse: Trump
Hometown: Poolville, TX
Favorite Thing About the Fair: Opening up the rodeo each night with a great group of girls
Ashley has been part of the North Texas Fair & Rodeo since 2017, starting as a sponsor flag girl and becoming part of the routine the following year. This is Trump’s second year as a flag horse, but Trump is also her barrel horse. When they are not chasing cans, they are snugging off on colts. Trump and Ashley have been working as a team for the past five years now When Ashley isn’t riding horses or hauling her kid to barrel races, she is working as an RN. Ashley and Trump look forward to seeing everyone’s smiling faces in the stands!
Olivia Piskac
Horse: Dolly
Hometown: Corinth, TX
Favorite Thing About the Fair: The rodeo
This is Olivia’s third year on the Fairgrounders. She is a trainer’s assistant; and when she’s not training, she’s in the show pen competing in ranch versatility shows with her two horses – Dolly and Sophie.
Tatumn Carpenter
Horse: Zara
Hometown: Corinth, TX
Favorite Thing About the Fair: The friendships made during the fair
This is Tatumn’s second year as a Fairgrounder, but Zara’s first! Zara joined Tatumn after last year’s fair and comes from an eventing background up north. While she’s used to taking big strides over jumps, she’s now learning the ropes of becoming a western girly in the rodeo arena. Tatumn works in accounting; and in her free time, she enjoys spending time with friends, dancing, baking and reading. Together, Tatumn and Zara are excited to make memories and take on a new adventure this season!
Aymee Hite
Horse: Django
Hometown: Halletsville, TX
Favorite Thing About the Fair: How pumped the crowd gets with each event
This is Aymee’s second year as a Fairgrounder and Django’s first! Aymee is an assistant project manager. When she’s not on a jobsite, her and Django are riding with friends or hitting up a playday.
Mia Simonelli
Horse: Peaches
Hometown: Aubrey, TX
Favorite Thing About the Fair: Having fun with friends and family at the fair and rodeo
Mia is excited to return for her second year as a Fairgrounder alongside her heart horse, Peaches. A lifelong resident of Aubrey, Mia is an aspiring horse trainer who values trust, consistency and strong horsemanship. This year, she and Peaches have taken on the challenge of jumping and dressage, continuing to grow as a team. Mia feels honored to ride with such a talented and passionate group of women.
Misty Smith
Horse: Princess
Hometown: Fort Worth, TX
Favorite Thing About the Fair: Getting to be part of an amazing flag team and hearing the crowd cheer from inside the arena
Misty has grown up in the rodeo world – barrel racing since she was little. This is Misty’s second year on the team. She has ran barrels in the 21 & Under Rodeo at the North Texas Fair & Rodeo every year for 11 years, and she looks forward to it every year!
Kam’Arii Fernandez
Horse: Floyd
Hometown: Redmond, OR
Favorite Thing About the Fair: The high-energy entertainment, elite athleticism and deep-rooted sense of community, making ti one of my favorite traditions since moving to North Texas
This is Kam’Arii and Floyd’s first year as Fairgrounders. Between wrangling two little cowboys and cowgirls, their pair have spent their time pushing cattle at sale barns or racing against the clock in the barrel arena – always looking for a faster time and the next adventure down the trail with friends.