October 4, 2022 |
A local resident needs your vote for a national singing honor.
The Platte Valley’s own Caitie Hefner is one of the final 8 contestants hoping to sing our National Anthem at the 2022 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Each year, the Wrangler NFR holds their National Anthem Contest, where contestants from across the country submit videos of them singing the Anthem. Those videos are put on the NFR website to be voted on by the public. Judges take the 30 most popular singers and narrow them down to the final 8. Hefner is one of those eight.
Hefner’s family owns a ranch outside of Alamogordo, New Mexico, where she spent her childhood riding horses and playing music. After college, Hefner moved to Austin, Texas where she performed as The Caitie Taylor Band, even recording an album. After 4 years in the music industry, Hefner was ready for a change.
Not willing to settle for a 9-5 job, Hefner looked for a career that suited her lifestyle. An opening at Brush Creek Ranch brought her to Wyoming.
Hefner only planned on staying in the Valley for one season. Ten years later, she is married and lives outside of Encampment. Hefner still works at Brush Creek as an equestrian manager. Her husband also works there as the head mechanic. Hefner said she fell in love with the area.
Hefner hasn’t stopped playing music after moving to Wyoming. She has sung the National Anthem at events around the region. Hefner mentioned some of the places she has performed.
Singing is not the only thing Hefner does at the rodeo. She participates in break-away roping and barrel racing. She also competes in skijoring. Hefner said those are the things she has been doing since she was a kid.
Hefner’s friends have been pushing her to apply for the National Finals Rodeo anthem contest for years. Her husband recorded her application video. Hefner was surprised to learn that she had moved on to the finals. She said this was a dream come true.
Without the support of the community, Hefner would never have made it this far. She was surprised and thrilled by the encouragement she has received.
NFR voting will continue until October 5th. The winner will be announced the next day. Go to NFR National Anthem Contest | The Official NFR Experience to place and cast your vote. The two contestants with the most popular support will sing in Las Vegas.
