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Amberley Snyder
Motivational Speaker and Barrel Racer
Amberley Snyder was born in January of 1991 in southern California. Amberley and her five siblings lived there during her dad’s Major League Baseball career with the Los Angeles Dodgers. At the age of three, Amberley began riding lessons and developed an unyielding passion for horses. After her dad’s retirement from baseball, the family moved to Utah. Amberley was seven years old and would only comply if she was promised a barrel racing horse when she got there, she got her wish, and that was the beginning of Amberley’s rodeo career.
Growing up, Amberley’s family environment was very competitive. Her siblings participated in everything from sports to gymnastics, but Amberley found her niche in rodeo. From a young age Amberley had a great sense of communication with her horses and connected with them on a very personal level. Her mom really had a hand in cultivating her passion, and before long she was competing in barrel racing, pole bending, breakaway roping, and goat tying. In 2009, she qualified for the National High School Finals in the pole bending and won the National Little Britches Rodeo Association All-Around Cowgirl World title. Her parents had reinforced in her that, hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.
On January 10th, 2010 Amberley was on her way to the Denver Stock Show and Rodeo. As she was passing through Sinclair, WY she took a look down at her map. After only seconds she looked up and realized she had faded into the other lane, headed towards a metal beam. In an effort to get back in her lane, Amberley overcorrected. Her truck slid off the road and rolled and she was ejected from the vehicle. She was slammed into a fence post that broke her back and immediately she lost feeling in her legs.
After five hours of emergency surgery the doctor’s prognosis was she would never regain use or feeling below her waist. He told her if she had worn her seatbelt, she would still have use of her legs. The one mistake she made that day changed her life forever, but it has not defeated her competitive spirit. The top priority for Amberley was not even to walk, but to ride her horses again. Remarkably after only 4 months after the accident, she was back on her horse.
Through all the challenges and adversity Amberley has had to face, it hasn’t stopped her from achieving any of her goals. In May of 2015 Amberley graduated college with a Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture Education. In 2018, she earned her Master’s Degree in School Counseling from Utah State University. Amberley’s hard work ethic hasn’t wavered, and one could argue has even gotten stronger.
After the accident Amberley realized she had a unique opportunity to reach out and inspire people with her unconventional situation. Her first step to that was her Wheel Chair Wednesday’s video segments on social media. She would perform everyday tasks that have now become more challenging, but not impossible, after her accident. These range from how she gets on her horse to how she fills her truck up with fuel and her short videos have become a popular fan favorite on social media resulting in over 400K fans on Facebook.
In 2015, Amberley was voted the fan exemption contestant at the world’s richest one day rodeo, comparable to the Super Bowl, RFD-TV’s The American. She competed with the best in the industry and was just 0.6 seconds short of the winning time and received a standing ovation from over 40,000 fans in AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Amberley would secure a spot in the top 5 for the Rocky Mountain Pro Rodeo Association and win her Women’s Professional Rodeo Assoication card in 2016. Six years after her accident, Amberley’s story would be featured on the Today Show on NBC.
In 2019, Netflix released the film Walk Ride Rodeo, a biopic based on her life that has reached over 350 million wordwide. Along with co-producing the film and performing her own stunts, Amberley co-wrote the song “Ride” for the soundtrack with Emmy-nominated actor and rising musician Max Ehrich. Amberley would also publish her first book by the same name, Amberley Snyder’s Walk Ride Rodeo. Amberley returned to the screen in 2020, this time inspiring characters in the Paramount Network show Yellowstone, Season 3 episode 10 “The World is Purple”.
Not slowing down, Amberley would appear in the 2020 Rose Bowl Parade as part of the Cowboy Channel’s float “Walk Ride Rodeo”. The float which received the Showmanship Trophy, featured a larger than life floral rendition of Amberley atop her horse.
Always a competitor, Amberley qualified for her first Pro Rodeo Wilderness Circuit Finals in 2021. She continues to compete as a professional athlete and has become one of the most sought-after social influencers and motivational speakers in western sports.
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Dan Clark
New York Times Best Selling Author
Dan Clark is CEO of a multi-million dollar corporation, an internationally recognized Speaker, Entertainer, Songwriter/ Recording Artist and New York Times Best Selling Author. Since 1982, Dan has spoken to more than 3 million people in over 4,000 audiences, in all 50 states, and in 30 foreign countries. Achievers North America and Achievers Europe named Dan one of the Top Ten Speakers in the World!
Dan is the primary contributing author to the “Chicken Soup for the Soul” series and author of twenty of his own best selling books, including “Puppies for Sale” which was made into a film at Paramount Studios starring the late Jack Lemmon. Dan has been published in more than 30 million books in 30 languages worldwide!
Dan suffered a paralyzing injury that cut short his football career. Sixteen doctors told him he would not recover, but recover he did! Since then, Dan has flown in fighter jets twice the speed of sound, raced automobiles in Germany and was honored to carry the Olympic Torch in the 2002 Winter Games. Dan has been the general session speaker at the United Nations World Congress, conducted UN leadership training in Europe, Asia and Russia, and was the keynote speaker at the U.S. Air Force Four Star Generals conference. Dan has spoken to our combat troops all over the world, is a Leadership and Character Development Consultant for the US Armed Forces, has worked with Fortune 500 companies, NASA and Super Bowl champions. Dan’s inspirational story has been featured on over 500 TV and radio shows, in Entrepreneur Magazine and as the feature article in Mayo Clinic Magazine. Dan is one of the most in demand speakers in America and recognized expert on Managing Change, Building Winning Teams and Taking Life To The Next Level!
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Dr. Chris Boleman
CEO & President, Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo
Chris Boleman, Ph.D., was named president and CEO of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo™ on May 12, 2020. Dr. Boleman joined the Rodeo in 2017 as the executive director of the Agricultural Competitions and Exhibits Division. In 2019, he was promoted to chief mission officer. A native Texan, Dr. Boleman earned a Bachelor of Science, Master of Science and Ph.D. from Texas A&M University, where he also has served as Associate Professor.
As chief mission officer, Dr. Boleman led the execution of all mission-related activities, including the livestock and horse shows, educational and commercial exhibits, donors, auctions, sponsorships, grants, scholarships, and other educational programs. A significant part of this position is working in tandem with nearly half of the volunteer committees to provide coordinated and collaborative leadership with the Rodeo’s Executive Committee, vice presidents, committee chairs and staff. In this position, he provided oversight for an approximately $50 million budget and more than $20 million given annually through scholarships, educational program grants and graduate assistantships.
In 2019, under the direction of the Rodeo Chairman of the Board and Executive Committee, Dr. Boleman was tasked to provide leadership, oversight and management of the Rodeo’s reorganization plan in cooperation with the consultant team. He also led the implementation phase, which took place in the Fall of 2019. Prior to his promotion to chief mission officer, Dr. Boleman served as executive director of the Agricultural Competitions and Exhibits Division, leading the livestock and horse show competitions, auctions and wine programs.
Previous to him joining the Rodeo, Dr. Boleman served as the State Leader For Texas 4-H, where he was responsible for leading the Texas 4-H Youth Development Program with the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service.
Throughout his career, Dr. Boleman has provided more than 800 educational trainings and presentations, collaborated with experts in content areas to author more than 100 publications, and supported and collaborated with organizations to provide subject matter expertise through instruction, curriculum development, and/or consultation, with organizations including Texas Association of Counties Leadership Development Program for Judges & County Commissioners, Texas Farm Bureau Young Farmer & Rancher Leadership Program, Texas Agriculture Lifetime Leadership Program, Texas Association of Fairs & Events Executive Leadership Program, Texas FFA’s LEAD Program, and Texas A&M AgriLife’s Early Career Leadership Cohort.
Dr. Boleman has been very active in the agriculture community throughout his career, and has previously served or is currently serving on the board of directors of several non-profit organizations, including: Texas Association of Fairs and Events, Texas 4-H Foundation, Texas FFA Foundation, North American Livestock Show and Rodeo Managers Association, Extension Committee on Organization and Policy (ECOP), 4-H National Leadership Committee, National 4-H Council Board and National 4-H Council’s Hispanic Advisory Board.
In addition to his education at Texas A&M, Dr. Boleman has received the University Certificate of Completion for The Art and Science of Leadership Program at Harvard University and the Certificate of Completion for the Governor’s Executive Development Program at The University of Texas.
Dr. Boleman is married to Dr. Randi Boleman, who is also heavily involved at the Rodeo and currently serves as chair of the Communications & Special Services Committee. They make their home in Houston but still try and spend as much time at the family ranch in Brazos County. Dr. Boleman enjoys running, reading, writing and traveling.
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Dr. Dionne Toombs
Associate Director for Programs, NIFA
Dr. Dionne Toombs is the NIFA Associate Director for Programs at National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) – U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) extramural grant funding agency for agricultural research, education, and Extension programs. In the role she provides national leadership and direction for NIFA’s science and federal assistance programs. Dr. Toombs works with university partners and other cooperators and customers to advance the mission of research, education, and extension programs in the food and agricultural sciences.
Dr. Toombs returned to NIFA in 2022 to serve as the Acting Director and provided policy direction and leadership to advance knowledge for agriculture, the environment, human health and well-being, and communities by supporting research, education, and extension programs in the Land-grant University System and other partner organizations. Previously, she was Director of the Office of the Chief Scientist (OCS), where she provided leadership on a wide range of issues affecting science programs and science policy in agricultural research, education, and economics. She directed and coordinated activities of OCS to strengthen science and science leadership, improve national coordination, and enhance outreach and awareness.
Dr. Toombs provided scientific leadership and coordination to the White House, Office of Science and Technology Policy, National Science and Technology Council working groups, across USDA and other federal agencies, and the agricultural community. As director, she managed the information OCS provides the Secretary of Agriculture and USDA science agencies, ensuring the scientific research and advice are held to the highest standards of intellectual rigor and scientific integrity. She spearheaded collaboration with USDA advisory boards and builds partnerships with the scientific community.
With over two decades of USDA service, Dr. Toombs has significantly contributed to USDA’s agricultural research, education, and Extension services while serving in various leadership roles, including heading the Division of Nutrition at NIFA. In this role, she led USDA nutrition science leaders who helped steer science policy and program development to ensure America’s food supply is safe, nutritious, and accessible to all citizens. Dr. Toombs has been repeatedly featured as one of USDA’s most impactful woman scientists and recognized by the Secretary of Agriculture for outstanding leadership.
Additionally, Dr. Toombs served as the National Program Leader (NPL) for NIFA’s Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI), leading large competitive grant programs to fund research into nutrition, food science and technology, and food safety. These research investments include helping rural, low-income, minority, and at-risk populations make more informed food choices and become more physically active. Prior to serving as NPL, Dr. Toombs was a Program Specialist for Food Science and Nutrition at the former USDA Cooperative State Research Education and Extension Service, now NIFA. She started at USDA as a student intern at USDA’s Agricultural Research Service.
Throughout her career, Dr. Toombs has helped her colleagues, staff, and students maximize their potential by bolstering their talents and developing their leadership skills. Always willing to champion the next generation of scientists, she often emphasizes the importance of relationship building, citing collaboration as a key to her success.
Dr. Toombs earned her Ph.D. in Nutritional Sciences from Howard University, her Master of Science degree in Food Science from Alabama A&M University, and her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Bethune-Cookman University.
She enjoys spending time with family, Pilates, participating in community service projects, and learning how to play golf.
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Jill Bramble
President & CEO, National 4-H Council
Jill Bramble is President and Chief Executive Officer at National 4-H Council, the nonprofit partner to
Cooperative Extension’s 4-H program. An experienced nonprofit leader, she has dedicated more than 18
years of service to National 4-H Council, starting as a grant writer and rising through the ranks to join the
executive leadership team in 2013.
A fourth generation 4-H’er from Maryland’s Eastern Shore, Jill knows firsthand the life-changing impact
of 4-H programs and volunteers. A champion of young people and their ability to drive change, she is
motivated every single day to pay it forward and ensure these same opportunities are available to all
youth.
Jill has cultivated teams and organizations to grow the impact of their missions through sustainable,
social impact investments. Prior to stepping into her role as CEO, she served as Executive Vice President
and Chief Growth Officer focusing on the enterprise alignment of people, marketing, partnerships, and
processes to drive revenue and ensure all young people have the opportunity to access 4-H’s positive
youth development programs.
As Council’s Chief Development Officer, she led a team of development professionals and oversaw a
portfolio of corporate and foundation partnerships that raised more than $35 million annually to grow
and support Cooperative Extension’s 4-H program.
Before joining National 4-H Council, Jill was a senior consultant for Just Cause Consulting where she led
strategic planning and grant-writing for nonprofit organizations on the East Coast. Prior to her consulting
work, Jill was the Income Development Director for the Mid-Atlantic Division of the American Cancer
Society where she led fundraising and local board development in Maryland and Delaware.
Jill received a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from the University of Colorado and a Master of Science
in Nonprofit Administration from the University of Maryland. Jill and her husband, Scott, have two
children, Nick and Jordan.
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