CULLMAN, Ala. – The second annual Sydni Helms-Hipp Memorial Barrel Race is set to take place on Sept. 14, at the Cullman County Agricultural Trade Center, with gates opening at 7 a.m. While this event will capture the essence of an entertaining and competitive day of barrel racing, it’s also a heartfelt tribute to the life and passions of Sydni Helms-Hipp, a young woman who deeply loved horses, barrel racing and serving her community through the fire department.
“We wanted a way to keep Syd’s name and memory alive and what better way than through the things she loved,” Helms-Hipp’s mother, Loni Helms, shared.
Helms-Hipp’s journey with horses began at the tender age of 2 when she received her first horse, Fred. This early love for her horse Fred would eventually turn into a passion for barrel racing when dear friends of the family, Kristie and Richard Martin, introduced her to the sport at the age of 8. The sport became a significant part of her life.
“We spent the next nine-plus years at any show or rodeo Sydni could find. She even got her sister Sahara to fall in love with the horse life. The best thing was we always knew where and what our girls were doing because they needed us to get them there,” Helms shared.
Her dedication to the sport was evident when, after a serious injury at age 10 that required surgery, her first concern was whether she could still ride that weekend.
“Around the age of 10, Syd got hit by a gate putting one of the horses up and it cut her face all the way to the muscle. She had to have surgery to stitch it up. The very first thing out of her mouth when her eyes opened was, ‘Can I ride this weekend?’ She did in fact ride that weekend,” Helms said.
Helms-Hipp also had a deep commitment to helping others, a trait she carried into her involvement with the fire department. Born into a family of volunteer firefighters, she attended her first fire call at just 10 days old. As she grew older, her passion for serving her community only intensified, leading her to join the Hanceville Fire Department as soon as she moved to the area.
“As soon as she moved to Hanceville, joining the fire department was one of the first things she did. She just loved to help people and people seemed to love her. She was saying things like ‘Mom, they love me!’ and I can remember saying, ‘Baby, are you sure they don’t just tolerate you?’” Helms continued. “Well, it was proven how loved she was when Jesus called her home. My sweet girl had 375-plus people come to pay their respects to her. I was just overwhelmed by the love and support we had and that our girl had!”
The memorial barrel race, established just three months after her passing, was created to honor her memory and the things she loved most. The event also supports a scholarship fund awarded to a deserving senior or adult looking to further his or her education, regardless of GPA.
“Our scholarship isn’t just based on what your GPA is. Although Sydni was a straight ‘A’ student and graduated with honors, we wanted to give someone who may be struggling a little more with their grades the chance to also go to school,” shared Helms. The first scholarship was awarded last year, and thanks to the community’s generosity, another scholarship will be presented at this year’s event.
Participants interested in the barrel race can sign up through Saddlebook.com, with divisions including peewee, youth and open. For spectators, the cost to attend is $5. There are still available stalls for interested vendors, with many already having secured their spots for the event. A silent auction featuring items donated by local businesses and families from Walker and Cullman counties will also take place, with the auction running throughout the evening.
In addition to the barrel race and silent auction, a night ride is scheduled for Sept. 13 from 4-7 p.m., offering participants another opportunity to celebrate Helms-Hipp’s legacy. Various raffles, including a 50/50 and a raffle for a quarter of a cow donated by Rasco Cattle Co., will also be held, with tickets available for $5 each or five for $20.
The Sydni Helms-Hipp Memorial Barrel Race is a powerful example of a community coming together to honor the memory of a beloved individual. “My prayer as Syd’s mother is that we are able to continue this barrel race for years and years to come so that Sydni is never forgotten and we can eventually offer more scholarships within these two counties that Syd loved so much,” Helms expressed.
For more information about the event, signups or how to contribute to the scholarship fund, visit the Sydni Helms Hipp Memorial Scholarship Facebook page or contact Loni Helms at 205-471-4691 or Leanna O’Gwin Williams at 205-522-3409. The Cullman County Agricultural Trade Center is located at 17645 U.S. Highway 31, Cullman, AL, 35058.
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