“Daddy taught me to respect and work with a horse,” recalls Mary Jo. At ten Mary Jo was very active in the local 4-H Club and raised steers to show and sell. A natural at cutting from the beginning, Mary Jo’s horses won every title they entered that year in North Texas Cutting Horse Association events. Over the past 32 years Mary Jo has amassed a career record of championships, reserve championships and top-ten finishes which goes unmatched by any NCHA non-professional rider, male or female. Family is also very important to this champion: “If my family wasn’t with me, it might be different…And as long as they’re with me, I’m not ready to go home.”