Racing for a cause: Southland teen is motivated by her late grandfather
Published 6:02 pm Friday, August 16, 2024
Erika Hollerud rounds a barrel during a run. Photo provided
Erika Hollerud stands next to the barn, where she grew up learning how to ride and train horses. Hollerud was inspired by her late grandfather to compete in barrel racing. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com
Erika Hollerud displays "Ice" at her grandma's property near Austin. Hollerud is an aspiring barrel racer who attends Southland High School. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com
Erika Hollerud walks her colt "Otto" through her grandma's barn near Austin. Hollerud is hoping to use Otto for barrel racing in college. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com
Southland student Erika Hollerud carries the American flag during the playing of the National Anthem Friday night during the first night of the Great Frontier Bullriding show at the Mower County Fair. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
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It takes a lot of guts to get on a horse and ride it full speed towards a barrel before stopping, twisting and turning while going full speed in the opposite direction.
Southland sophomore Erika Hollerud has guts, but she also has a lot more. Hollerud has a lot of heart as well and it comes from her late grandpa, Art Hollerud, who had her working with horses before she was even walking. Hollerud still trains her horses at her grandpa’s barn, which is located about a mile from her home, just a couple of miles outside of Austin.
“My grandpa would take me out here when I was like five months old. He passed on six years ago, but he got me into horses and it just stuck with me. I did my first show when I was about three or four,” Hollerud said. “I had a concussion (from a fall) not too long ago, but just the fact that my grandpa got me into it and he’s watching me now keeps me going. He would’ve done anything to be there for me. I know that he’s kind of with me when I do it. I just want to make him proud.”
Hollerud has continued to ride and she’s emerged as a standout, as she has advanced to the 4-H state meet three years in a row and has competed in the champ show while representing the Southeast Minnesota Saddle Club Association two years in a row. She’ll be competing in both of those events this year as well.
Hollerud competes in a tough field of riders, but she has finished as high as 10th amongst the best in the state in her age bracket. The process of getting faster requires a lot of time with her horses and Hollerud is currently riding her horse “Ice,” as she starts to work in her colt “Otto,” who will be her riding horse if she is able to race in college like she plans.
“I try to work my horse five times a week,” Hollerud said. “They’re athletes too, so you want to build up their stamina and their topline muscle. You also want to work on going around barrels, so that they get that in their head.”
Hollerud began to take racing seriously after attending a clinic with Renee Kenney, a professional barrel racer, who still offers tips to Hollerud. Hollerud also leans on her parents, Craig and Carrie Hollerud, for support, and her best friend and fellow area rider Lauren Irvin, who attends the Austin Online Academy.
Lauren and her mother Karen have been instrumental in supporting Hollerud on rodeo trips.
“Karen has helped me out so much. She’s a wonderful lady and I’ve been best friends with her daughter since she was one. I wouldn’t be where I was today if I didn’t have Karen and Lauren,” Hollerud said. “We’ll go to races together and on the way home we’ll look through our runs and talk to each other about it. That’s a big thing in this sport.”
One of Hollerud’s favorite events to compete is the Allzin for Alzheimers Barrel Race in Albert Lea as Hollerud’s grandmother is battling with dementia.
“I always love going to a jackpot, but knowing that some of the money is going to a good cause is even better,” Hollerud said.
In the future, Hollerud would like to take a crack at competing in the high school rodeo scene, but the six-hour drive to most of the locations up north would be tough on her horse. She may take a shot at it during her senior year.
Besides competing in barrel racing, Hollerud also received a behind the scene look at the Mower County Fair last week as she was on the Junior Fair Board.
“That was just an incredible experience,” she said. “I did a lot of social media management. To see all that goes into the fair is a lot. We went to meetings every month and saw the things they have to get sorted out.”
While Hollerud is still a relatively young rider herself, she also has her mind on the next generation behind her when she rides. She knows that young children are impressionable and she wants to leave the best imprint on the youthful riders as possible.
“I want to be someone that if they need help, they feel comfortable asking,” Hollerud said. “I know there is always a little kid watching and wanting to be where I am. So I try to never look disappointed in any run I make, even if it wasn’t what my goal was because this was my dream once too.”
While she still has three years left of high school, Hollerud is hoping to eventually attend South Dakota State University or Iowa Central Community College, where both schools have rodeo programs.
