Rikki Ruiz Alumna Feature

Brave and bold-- a mindset that the Vandals and Vandal Alumna, Rikki Ruiz both share. The mindset of never underestimating your potential has led Ruiz and her small business, The Frosted Cowgirls Boutique to success. 

The Pocatello, Idaho native now calls New Plymouth, Idaho home and will always be a proud member of the Vandal family. After receiving a masters in Agricultural Education with a focus on agricultural communications and industry relations and a Bachelors in Agricultural Business, Ruiz began her career and spent 12 years as a University of Idaho Extension Educator. During this time, she also created the western fashion boutique, The Frosted Cowgirls. 


The Frosted Cowgirls Boutique was founded almost 12 years ago and has grown to have a storefront in Fruitland, Idaho, an online store and a mobile boutique that travels to rodeos across the region. Ruiz expressed her passion for her small business in stating, “ If someone feels beautiful, their confidence lifts, and they are empowered.  When I see someone light up because they feel radiant, it’s the best feeling to me”. 


Ruiz turned her dream into reality when her husband and fellow Vandal Alumnus, Cody Ruiz opened the cowboy hat shop, Cody’s Cowboy Hats. In reflection of her time with the University, Ruiz expresses how majoring in agricultural communications gave her the confidence to go after her dreams, as well as developed her speaking, teaching and supervising skills. As proud Vandal Alumni, the Ruiz’s have built businesses with a large impact on the local community and western industry. 


Today, the Ruiz family is still heavily involved in agriculture in many aspects, including Ruiz Livestock, a cattle trucking business. The Ruiz’s also have two daughters, ages ten and seven. The business is truly a family affair, as Ruiz explains, “They pick the clothing, they model them, they market them, and they ship the items they sell.  We believe that involving them in the business is teaching valuable life skills”. The Vandal community has left a large impact on the Ruiz’s lives in multiple ways and they are proud to be lifelong members of the Vandal family.

Location: Moscow, ID, USA

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

CALS Ireland Study Abroad 2018

From Dublin to Dairies CALS students and faculty toured one of Ireland's agriculture research centers We were at the foot of a castle. Perched on a tall hill, impenetrable walls enclosed a millenium old round tower, cathedral, and chapel. The exposed rock of the castle was mottled and weathered, splotched with white lichen and hardy moss. After a stormy day, swirls of heavy clouds shed curtains of windblown mist across the landscape. Wind and rain lashed around us, but the castle remained still, unmoving, as if part of the earth itself.   “For those who are not faint-hearted” Dr. Ahmadzadeh called, “There is a striking view on the other side.” He pointed to a narrow, water bogged trail weaving around the sharply slanted hill. The ground had withstood hours of pouring rain, and was now saturated and unstable, shifting precariously under our feet. Undaunted, all eight students quickly fell in step behind him. We treaded through the long grass, stepping o
Read more

Student Spotlight: Sydney Anderson

Sydney Anderson is a senior studying ASCL in Twin Falls. Growing up in Nampa, Anderson was involved in agriculture in various ways. Her parents enrolled her in 4-H after getting a horse for her older sister and her to share; she continued to do 4-H for 12 years. Anderson got involved in the National FFA Organization because of her grandfather, who was President of the North Miami Chapter in Florida at the time. Her passion for leadership, serving others, and advocating for agriculture grew from then on.  “I chose to study ASCL because of the luxury of distance learning while having the ability to experience all the possible opportunities in the Magic Valley,” Anderson says. She believes that teaching individuals about agriculture and the impact it has on the world is extremely important. Anderson loves public speaking and coordinating events, so studying ASCL has helped her continue to learn about and keep an interest in a future career relating to these passions.  Anderson served as a
Read more