Page 99 - September 2019

GIVING BACK
While Sandy finds her heart at home with
the mares and babies — especially since she retired from banking about a year and a half
ago — you’re more apt to find Randy at the track supporting their homebreds. “I make a lot of trips to Oklahoma City and Ruidoso, and even Lone Star Park, although that comes at harvest, but I go as much as I can,” he says. “There’s a tremendous feeling about winning a horse race with a horse you’ve raised. The feeling is 10 times better; you can’t believe the feeling of personal satisfaction that you get. It’s quite a sense of fulfillment.”
Both Randy and Sandy also remain very active Texas Tech supporters: Sandy helps with horse judging, working closely with Michael Orth, Ph.D., department chair and professor of animal sciences, and Kelly Riccitelli, Ph.D., associate professor of practice: equine. Sandy and Randy both serve on the advisory board at the equestrian center, as well.
They also employ a Texas Tech intern, usually studying horse production, and the Texas Tech horse production class visits regularly to get ideas about how to design training and breeding facilities.
“I admire the set-up they have,” Dr. Blodgett says. “It’s well designed and well thought out and a good, safe environment to raise horses in. I admire anybody who tries to be almost a perfectionist in the way they go about making their breeding decisions and raising and taking care of their horses. From my standpoint, it’s a joy to see that happening.”
Randy and Sandy consider their marriage, their children and grandchildren, their horses
Sandy and Randy with their two favorite mares, Lakeview Dreams and Runaway Renata
and their farming to be their greatest successes. “Our success has come through hard work and togetherness,” Sandy says. “We have a lot of strength in each other and strength in God and in family. We enjoy our grandchildren. But, we don’t take big vacations; we’re married to this place. Most of our hobbies involve being around our friends, our family and our horses.
“We’ve made such wonderful friends through the industry,” she adds. “You hear the term ‘salt of the earth’ and it’s true. People who care for animals and understand what that entails are really good people, and we have a true love for agricultural people.”
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“Our success has come through hard work and togetherness. We have a a l l o o t t o o f f s s t t r re e n n g g t t h h i i n n e e a a c c h h o o t t h h e e r r a a n n d d s s t t r re e n n g g t t h h i i n n
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