Mindy grew up in a ranching family and began competing on horses in 4-H. She had many wins in performance and timed events, including a 13-state Southern Region Championship in Stakes Race {1984). She also competed in Junior Rodeos and High School Rodeos in roping, goat tying, pole bending, and barrel racing. Mindy was a member of the Texas A&M University rodeo team, winning the Southern Region barrel racing title and qualifying for the College National Finals Rodeo three consecutive years (1991 – 1993). She won the National Intercollegiate Barrel Racing title in 1992.
Mindy was a member of the WTBRA, TOBRA, TCRA, CRA, CPRA, ANHA, and BFA. She qualified for the TCRA finals (1991-1992), CAA finals (1992) and CPRA finals {1992). She won the amateur World Championship Barrel Racing TIiie at the NARC Coors World Finals in El Paso (1991). She also won a 1st {1992) and 2nd {1991) at the prestigious Ft. Worth Stock Show and Rodeo Ranch Girls Barrel Race.
Mindy got her WPRA card in 1994, was Rookie of the Year and qualified for the National Finals Rodeo, finishing 10th in the world. She was a 4–time PRCA Texas Circuit Finals qualifier (1994-1997), winning the year end Texas circuit title in 1994 and the average at the circuit finals in 1994 and 1996. She also won the BFA World Championship Derby {1990) and Sweepstakes (1993). She briefly held two arena records {Mesquite and Ft. Worth), and won lifetime earnings in excess of $228,000.
