Kaylynn Sampson of El Centro, California, couldn't have known 11 years ago that the riding lessons she and her mother started would pave the way for her to become a pioneer within her own community. She was 7 years old at the time, and horseback riding just sounded fun. That's what her mother, Tabetha, thought too.

"We were going through a hard time and we were both kind of down," Tabetha said. "I thought this was something we could do together."

Ten years later, Kaylynn's years of hard work, challenges and life lessons learned from the backs of Paint Horses proved worthwhile when the 18-year-old AjPHA member was crowned Cattle Call Queen in nearby Brawley, California.