Ep. 64 - Talking Careers, Dale Brisby, and Rodeo with Kadee Coffman Blair
February 10, 2021
Kadee Coffman Blair grew up on a cattle ranch in Clovis, California showing horses in western pleasure, reining and cow horses. A town that fulfills it’s small-town feel, the Clovis Rodeo is a huge event in the town that brings everyone together.
“I feel like there is a sense of accountability and work ethic that are instilled in you from growing up on a ranch,” says Kadee who attributes her goal setting abilities, her passion, drive and 150% work ethic back to ranch life.
It was at Clovis Rodeo that Kadee saw her first rodeo queen and said, “I’m going to run for Miss Clovis Rodeo!’ Nobody in her family had ever run for a rodeo queen title in her family, and Kadee felt that her background in helping ith the rodeo and her showing horses would serve her well. It did and she won the title! Then she went on to with the Rodeo Salinas title and, after winning, she was alerted that there was not only a Miss Rodeo California, that she was going to have to run for the title as Miss Rodeo Salinas.
“Some people don’t believe me, but I am very serious that I had no idea. I also think my parents about choked when they found out!”
She won the title of Miss Rodeo California and then placed runner-up Miss Rodeo America. “ I am so grateful for all of the times I stubbed my toe along the way … it made me much tougher and… it has marked my path from college, to my career and everything afterwards.”
Moving to Texas
Kadee has officially been in Texas for one decade this year and is still very much in love with the culture of Texas and the western world. But she didn’t get there right after her pageantry years, she went back to school at San Jose State where she studied a combination of political science and broadcast journalism. Kadee had fallen in love with the interview portion and public relations requirements that Rodeo Salinas required of their queen, so she “knocked” the degree out in two years by taking 18-23 credits a term. That wasn’t the only tough part about schooling, after completing her rodeo queen career she was older than her peers and she had to take the train every day to get to school.
It was through a relationship with one of her broadcast teachers, an individual that was as opposite of Kadee as one could possibly be, she was able to learn the importance of mentors.
Career
Superior Livestock Auction
Heading straight to Texas, she was able to create a 30 minute live show for them, that was a bit daunting and overwhelming at 25 years old but was guiding not only in live television but in broadcast. From there, it started to snowball, whether that be from people seeing you on TV or hearing your name.
In 2012, Kadee started working with Jeff Medders, the producer of the National Finals Rodeo.
Dallas Market Center
Co-host Rachel Owens-Sarno, also a former Miss Rodeo California, was able to meet Kadee in person at a Miss Rodeo America clinic at the Dallas Market Center PRIOR to her running for the state title.
“I commend you for showing up there!” Says Kadee about Rachel being one of the only non-state titleholders that went to the clinic.
Kadee was able to go to work for the Dallas Market Center after a decade of combined internship and work at Superior Livestock. One of the unique components was an entirely female executive board team that serves a diverse multitude of people. Kadee worked there for four years and continues to work on a contract capacity for what she calls the “fun stuff.”
DMC TV is a segment she created where she gets to go live during their markets and are renting space there. She enjoys the opportunity to do this while also working her new day job at CORE Construction.
CORE Construction
“I can’t imagine the pandemic has been on so many people but also so many of our clients and friends,” says Kadee. “CORE is the 5th largest school builder in the country with a specialty in K-12 and higher educations.”
When the pandemic occurred, construction was deemed essential right away so their entire team was able to continue work and keep building. On a personal and emotional side, as soon as the youth and the faculty aren’t able to attend the school and be there for those kids, has been very difficult. Nobody could have foreseen how disastrous this moment could be and so CORE jumped in to provide support with WiFi extenders, fund tablets or computer, and even pack free and reduced lunches.
“I feel like we are so blessed in Texas because things are trying to get back to normal,” says Kadee who also recognizes that that isn’t the case across the country and that life is still turbulent and out of control for many.
Handling the Pandemic
Right now, life can be a bit challenging and it’s important to not focus too much on the constant swarm of politics, pandemic, and more. Staying away from it or taking a break is not a bad thing at all. Kadee is a huge proponent of staying away from negativity, whether it’s people, places or things, at all costs. After watching the social dilemma, they tell you to turn off your notifications - a tip that Kadee has done for forever as she is limited on social media. She gets NO notifications, even including emails.
Katie Schrock’s Tip
“My big advice is that I always write down something that I am grateful for that day and then a small ask that I would like the next day.”
"You can get really into your head with the negativity and your thoughts can get heavy, so I found positive pages on Facebook and Instagram to always see first or be notified for so that I always see those things as soon as I open the app. The reason for this is that it beats the algorithm which is set to boost negativity unintentionally as a result of engagement, shares and comments on those negative posts.”
Importance of Mentors
“I am such a proponent for mentors in your life, no matter what chapter or what new path you are embarking on - mentors are priceless and you can’t push a price tag on it. I feel that so much of my life has been shaped by mentors and pushed me to the best aspects of my life and the best version of Kadee,” says Kadee.
“What frustrates me about the younger generation … is that I genuinely feel that the sense of entitlement is off the charts and the sense of ‘well I barely put any town in but I should be gifted this opportunity.’ There are no short cuts to success, I don’t know where this false sense of reality comes from, if it’s teachers … parents who are over the top being cheerleaders instead of saying work harder or be better than your last performance. The sense of entitlement is real and I hope it comes down… I wish that everyone would be the time in and work a little bit harder and earn their stripes.”