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

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