Bryson Gadaken, a young entrepreneur from Neligh, Nebraska, turned his passion for horses into a thriving business with Gadaken Performance Horses. Despite coming from a family with no horse background, Bryson’s fascination drove him to convince his skeptical father to buy him his first horse, sparking a journey that would shape his future.
Launching Gadaken Performance Horses as part of his SAE project, Bryson set a clear goal: to train and sell horses to build a business and save for college. Starting with inexpensive, untrained horses, he developed his skills, buying green horses, training them for one to two years, and selling them for significantly higher prices. Today, he earns between $20,000 and $25,000 per sale.
A key highlight of Bryson’s journey is Rachel, a three-year-old mare he purchased with the help of a grant. Through countless hours of dedication, he transformed Rachel into a top-performing roping horse, winning competitions and earning substantial prize money. Rachel’s success story showcases Bryson’s talent, hard work, and deep commitment to his horses.
As he heads to the University of Nebraska at Kearney, Bryson isn’t slowing down—he plans to continue training horses while pursuing his degree, aiming to expand Gadaken Performance Horses even further. His experience has taught him crucial lessons in business management, time organization, and responsibility, along with the satisfaction of seeing his horses succeed.
Bryson’s advice to aspiring entrepreneurs is simple: “Don’t wait. Figure out a way to do it.” He believes that determination and creativity are the keys to turning a dream into a successful reality.
Apply for an SAE Grant Today!
Inspired by Bryson’s story? You could be next! The Nebraska FFA Foundation SAE Grant Program is here to help students like you bring your Supervised Agricultural Experience to life.
Grants of up to $2,000 are available to support innovative and impactful SAE projects in agriculture. Whether you're just getting started or looking to grow your existing project, we’re here to help fund your goals.
✅ Open to Nebraska FFA members
✅ Applications due June 30, 2024
✅ Easy online application process
Ready to take the next step?
[Click here] to apply now and turn your idea into reality!
