Aggies Land Two on 2024 NCEA Distinguished Alumni List
Jan 18, 2024 | Equestrian
WACO, Texas – Former Texas A&M equestrian student-athletes Jessie Weisinger and Kate Bradley Byars have been named to the 2024 National Collegiate Equestrian Association (NCEA) Distinguished Alumni list, as announced Thursday.
Weisinger earned the award for her work in the equine industry as a coach, while Bradley Byars garnered the honor on the media & communication side.
Weisinger, an original member of the Texas A&M equestrian team, rode for the Aggies from 1999-2002, competing in Reining and Horsemanship. In 2002, Weisinger helped Texas A&M to its first National Championship.
After graduation, Weisinger grew into a professional in the industry, developing a high school equestrian team in Colorado. She returned to Aggieland as an assistant coach from 2014-18 for the Western discipline, leading the Horsemanship squad and assisting the team to a National Championship.
Following her time at Texas A&M, she went on to become the head coach at UC Davis for three years, establishing the first DI equestrian program there. She has since returned to Texas and now serves as an assistant coach at Baylor.
Bradley Byars competed for Texas A&M from 2002-03, graduating in 2005 with her bachelor's in agricultural journalism. She then earned her master's in 2010 in agriculture leadership, education and communication. She was a writer and photographer for the Western Horseman for eight years and now owns her own media company, Kate B Creative.
She is also the co-owner of The Freelance Remuda where she has a podcast, mentors, freelances and speaks to A&M classes. She was previously an editor for Reined Cow Horse News and the communications manager for the National Reined Cow Horse Association. She joined two other women as a founder of Boss Mares, Inc., which helps women who are entrepreneurs in the Western industry.
The nominees for the award were evaluated based on their distinctive post-graduate success as well as performance in academics, athletics and service activities.
Distinguished alumni are recognized in eight categories including business, community engagement, education, equine industry (rider/trainer/coach), equine industry (medical/business), health sciences/services, media & communication and young alumni.
Weisinger earned the award for her work in the equine industry as a coach, while Bradley Byars garnered the honor on the media & communication side.
Weisinger, an original member of the Texas A&M equestrian team, rode for the Aggies from 1999-2002, competing in Reining and Horsemanship. In 2002, Weisinger helped Texas A&M to its first National Championship.
After graduation, Weisinger grew into a professional in the industry, developing a high school equestrian team in Colorado. She returned to Aggieland as an assistant coach from 2014-18 for the Western discipline, leading the Horsemanship squad and assisting the team to a National Championship.
Following her time at Texas A&M, she went on to become the head coach at UC Davis for three years, establishing the first DI equestrian program there. She has since returned to Texas and now serves as an assistant coach at Baylor.
Bradley Byars competed for Texas A&M from 2002-03, graduating in 2005 with her bachelor's in agricultural journalism. She then earned her master's in 2010 in agriculture leadership, education and communication. She was a writer and photographer for the Western Horseman for eight years and now owns her own media company, Kate B Creative.
She is also the co-owner of The Freelance Remuda where she has a podcast, mentors, freelances and speaks to A&M classes. She was previously an editor for Reined Cow Horse News and the communications manager for the National Reined Cow Horse Association. She joined two other women as a founder of Boss Mares, Inc., which helps women who are entrepreneurs in the Western industry.
The nominees for the award were evaluated based on their distinctive post-graduate success as well as performance in academics, athletics and service activities.
Distinguished alumni are recognized in eight categories including business, community engagement, education, equine industry (rider/trainer/coach), equine industry (medical/business), health sciences/services, media & communication and young alumni.
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