Kolbi Hester isn’t your ordinary teenage girl. While her friends are putting on make-up and getting ready to go to the rodeo and cheer on the cowboys, Kolbi is putting on make-up of a different kind—clown make-up.
At only 14-years-old, Kolbi Hester is a rodeo clown. About to enter her freshman year in Green River High School, she already kicked off the summer by performing at Overland Stage Stampede Rodeo in Green River on June 3rd-4th.
Kolbi got her start nearly two years ago after dressing as a rodeo clown on Halloween. Named after professional bullfighter Primetime Colby Gines, Kolbi wanted a Halloween costume to make her namesake proud. It didn’t take long for people to realize her potential, and she was asked to perform as the rodeo clown at R & R Rodeo’s Winter Series put on by Casey and Luci Riggs. She performed her first show in November of 2014.
After two seasons with R & R Rodeo, Kolbi was asked to perform at the Overland Stage Stampede Rodeo after a last minute change in plans, and she jumped at the chance to further her rodeo clown experience.
Kolbi said she likely will not make the activity a full-time career and would like to keep it as a fun hobby, but “who knows how far it’ll take me.”
She spends her time at rodeos working the crowd with jokes, dancing, and other entertainment. She even does an act during each rodeo.
The teen writes her own acts with inspiration from other clowns and with the help of her mother, who has been around rodeos since her youth.
Kolbi says pre-show jitters are normal, but there’s nothing like getting in front of the crowd and making them laugh.
Her age can be a shock to people in the audience. She’s often met with disbelief, but is able to overcome the skepticism some carry with them.
“You just have to try and be able to not give up, because you’ll always have that tough crowd that may not like to do it because you’re 14,” said Kolbi. “But you always have to look forward to possibly the next crowd or just interacting with the kids that you know will get into it with you.”
Ridge Hester, Kolbi’s 12-year-old brother, says he looks up to his sister and thinks he may be able to follow in her footsteps someday.
“There’s a lot more to look up to her now, because I used to always know her as a bigger person picking on me. But then now, since she’s more around kids and stuff, she’s amazing,” Ridge said about his sister.
Kolbi’s mother, Christine Thomas, has been supportive of her daughter’s pastime.
“She’s an inspiration to me because I don’t know that I could do what she does—I mean—to get out there and work the crowd the way she does. She’s got a good following, and she’s good with the people,” said Thomas. “I see a lot of pep in people when they see her. Between all ages, from the kids to the older generation, they all seem to follow her and like interacting with her.”
Thomas says her daughter is a living example that people can achieve anything they set their minds to.
Kolbi encourages people to reach for their dreams and live life to the fullest.
“If you think it’s an opportunity you can strive in, go for it. The only think you can ever regret is not going for it.”