Kriti Mehrotra
As a documentary series living up to its title in every way conceivable, Freeform/Hulu’s ‘Not Her First Rodeo’ can only be described as equal parts enlightening and entertaining. That’s because it revolves around five pro female bull riders as they face off against one another throughout the 2024 season in the hopes of walking away as the Elite Lady Bull Riders champion. Amongst them is Alexia Huffman, nicknamed The Comeback, for this original production, considering the fact that she had literally stepped away from the rodeo for a decade before returning at the age of 25.
Alexia Huffman is No Stranger to the Arena
While it’s true that Alexia Huffman was born and raised in Southern California, she was never too far away from the Western way thanks to her family, and soon found her riding. The animal lover actually started with riding sheep and calves in Norco, California, when she was just five years old, and she swiftly began competing too, upon realizing that she had the passion and the skill to hold on for long. It thus came as a surprise that even though she began competing shortly after, despite it being a very male-dominated sport, she became the Mutton Bustin’ Champion for the California Junior Bull Riding Association in 2004.
As Alexia grew older, she continued, competing in events all across the nation, determined to make a name for herself while also proving that girls are just as good as guys, if not better. She actually competed in Junior Bull Riding events throughout California, Oklahoma, Texas, and Wyoming. She was even crowned the 2011 Pee Wee Bulls Champion for Pacific Coast Junior Bull Riding in Norco, California. However, less than 2 years later, at the age of 15, she decided to hang up her boots in favor of her books and later her nation.
Alexia Huffman is a Proud Member of the Armed Forces
It wasn’t long after Alexia decided to quit riding bulls at rodeos and practice pens that she came to know about the US Army’s Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program and fell in love with the idea of serving her nation. Therefore, when she was attending the University of Wyoming to pursue a Bachelor’s in Agricultural Business, she enrolled and soon also became the face of it at her school. In fact, she was on the cover of the university’s UWYO Magazine in January 2016, with the phrase “ROTC; Training the Leaders of Tomorrow” right beside her face.
Once Alexia graduated with her baccalaureate in 2019, she was ultimately commissioned into the Army as a Second Lieutenant as a field artillery officer. Her first tour was in the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, but now, she is a Captain and serving as an Adjutant General Human Resource Officer in the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. In between the 6 years it took to reach this level, she also tied the knot with the love of her life, Nate Helm, settled down on a ranch in Raeford, North Carolina, and even began competing as a bull rider again. It was when she was 25 that she decided to get on a bull again for fun, and she quickly realized it’s what she was born to do.
Alexia Huffman is Focused on Keeping the Western Way Alive
The moment Alexia got on a bull again at the age of 25, she knew she would never quit again unless she absolutely needed to because the adrenaline and the confidence she gained from it were unmatched. Therefore, she began practicing again to start going to competitions and compete, unaware that she’d be able to go pro under the banner of Elite Lady Bull Riders within a year. After all, the two-time Junior Bull Riding Champion was actually the Elite Lady Bull Riders’ 2023 Novice Division Year-End Champion too, with her husband supporting her every step of the way.
Nate does worry about Alexia, and he knows that if he ever asks her to walk away from the sport, she will genuinely think about it, but he already knows he’ll never do so. The rancher understands just how much riding means to his wife, and he’ll never take her away from it, so to calm his own worries and show his support, he tries to be there for her at as many events as possible. In fact, he likes to be her ropper – tying her hands to the bull – because it enables him to be in her year and offer encouragement just moments before the gate opens to the arena. The fact that she is an Army captain also makes him incredibly proud of her, so he just does his best to be there for her in any way she needs.
Apart from being a rider, Alexia is also a proud rancher. She and Nate own and operate the Sleepy Moon in Raeford, North Carolina, where they have cows, goats, and bulls. In fact, they bring their bulls to local rodeo associations for events and organize even women’s bull riding events all across North and South Carolina. As if that’s not enough, they even have their own YouTube channel by the name of Sleepy Moon, where they vlog their daily lives and their efforts to turn their ranch into a true homestead one day at a time. In other words, the couple is dedicated to keeping the Western way of life alive in themselves and in those around them.
Read More: Renata Nunes: Where is the Bull Rider Today?
