Vicki Adams (trick rider) facts for kids

Vicki Adams, born on May 13, 1951, is a famous cowgirl. She is honored in the ProRodeo Hall of Fame. This means she is recognized as one of the best rodeo performers ever.

Early Life and Rodeo Beginnings

Vicki Adams was born Vicki Herrera on May 13, 1951. Her birthplace was the Yakima Indian Reservation in Toppenish, Washington. Vicki has a mixed Native American background. Her family includes the Yakama, Snohomish, Puyallup, Cowlitz, Cayuse, and Umatilla tribes. She chose to be officially part of the Cowlitz tribe. This was because her great-great-grandmother was a full-blooded Cowlitz woman. Her Native American name is Le Yi Ah, which means "woman who sews fast."

Vicki's father was a rodeo champion. He taught her all about rodeo sports. She became a skilled barrel racer in an Indian rodeo group. She also learned to do exciting trick riding. In 1969, she was chosen as an alternate for Miss Indian America. When she was 18, she met and married Leon Adams.

A Career in Rodeo Entertainment

For fifty years, Vicki and Leon Adams worked together. They entertained rodeo fans with amazing performances. Their acts included roman riding, trick riding, and even dancing horses. They also had trained bulls in their shows. They traveled all over the United States. They also performed in other countries. The Adams family lived on a large ranch in Stuart, Oklahoma.

Both Vicki and Leon competed in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA). This is the top rodeo circuit in the United States. In 1982, Leon won the PRCA Specialty Act of the Year award. This award recognizes the best entertainment act in rodeo. Vicki won the same award in 1984. Later, they both won it together in 1987 and 1997. They were nominated for this award for 19 years in a row.

Special Honors and Awards

Vicki Adams has received many important honors. She was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame. This is a very high honor for rodeo athletes. In 2005, she was also inducted into the National Multicultural Western Heritage Museum and Hall of Fame.

In 2012, Vicki received the Tad Lucas Award. This award came from the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum. It honors women who have made great contributions to rodeo and the Western way of life.

Retirement and Family

Leon Adams retired from competing in rodeo in 2005. Vicki Adams retired the following year, in 2006. Leon was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in 2008. He passed away on October 30, 2017, in Stuart, Oklahoma.