Never too young to be a legend

Liberty Cunningham's trick-riding repertoire includes Roman riding, above, and free-style stunts. (Submitted photo)

By John Teagarden

Journal contributor

“If a girl wants to be a Legend, she should just go ahead and be one,”  said  Calamity Jane (1832-1903), a famous American frontier woman, sharpshooter, Wild West performer, and storyteller.

Fifteen-year-old trick rider, Roman rider and liberty (free style) horse performer Liberty Cunningham has adapted Calamity’s words as her motto, Liberty will be the featured specialty act at the 2026 Linn County Fair Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association (PRCA) rodeo at the Linn County fairgrounds in Mound City August 7-8.

“Liberty Cunningham is quickly becoming one of the hottest tickets in specialty acts in professional rodeo,” said Troy Goodridge, PRCA announcer and 2024 WPRA Announcer of the Year award winner.

Liberty, a student at Louisburg High School, has performed in 46 states in her young professional career. The only states she hasn’t performed in are Hawaii, Alaska, Delaware and Virginia. Her July schedule included California and Alabama.

In addition to being the headliner specialty act at rodeos from coast to coast, Liberty has been a clinician at some of the most prestigious equine expos, has been featured in top media outlets, and is one of the youngest contract act entertainers in the PRCA.

The causal observer might assume that this 15-year-old super talent is an overnight sensation, but she has been training to be a trick rider since she was a child.

From the first time her grandmother Sandy Lowe sat her on a horse while still in diapers, to competing in youth and Little Britches rodeos, to years of acrobatic and dance competitions, to being mentored by several of the leading trick riders in the nation, all before her teenage years.

Liberty’s family has deep ties to Linn County. Her mother Kara and aunt Jill are graduates of Prairie View High School and were members of the Cadmus 4-H Club for a decade.

Her grandparents, Jim and Sandy Lowe, who now live near Louisburg, were long-time leaders in the Linn County 4-H horse program. Sandy was also a former elementary teacher in the Prairie View school district.

To catch more of Liberty’s accomplishments and exploits, go to her website libertyslegend.com, or follow her on social media.

Better yet, make plans to catch here in action at the Linn County Fair PRCA Rodeo on both Friday and Saturday evenings, August 7–8, at the fairground in Mound City. The rodeo starts at 8 p.m. both nights.