There is not much complaining in freshman outfielder Layna Savoie’s vocabulary. Putting in her work at practice, games and non-softball life while attending LSU, Savoie’s busy lifestyle never seems to faze her.
Her humility comes from a childhood mostly centered on hard work and responsibility and emulates her mother’s former achievements, something that has stayed with her throughout her life — a childhood at the rodeo.
“Rodeo was always important because it was a time for family,” Savoie said. “Very early on we got to learn about rodeo and different animals. And things were always competitive, and that was something I could relate to.”
Savoie takes her inspiration in life from her mother, Pam, who has been well-known in the rodeo world since joining the McNeese State rodeo team in the 1980s. Savoie learned rodeo techniques growing up in a rural part of Lake Charles.
The culmination of Pam’s time in college came when she won Miss Rodeo America at the 1987 College National Finals Rodeo.
Pam said the qualifications to win Miss Rodeo America were “almost too many to count.” Two different tests in horsemanship, private interviews, a 3.0 GPA in college courses and knowledge of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association rules were some of the things she needed to win the title.
Pam needed a competitive drive to win such a high honor, and Layna said that edge has transferred to her on the playing field.
“She has always been so competitive, and she definitely instilled that in me,” Layna said. “Her discipline and her approach to things made a difference. She always felt, ‘If you are going to do something, try to be the best at it and give it your all.’ Those lessons have been so important to me.”
When it came time to raise Layna and her other children, Pam made sure to surround them with horses. And being raised in a rural environment demands responsibilities that would seem foreign to members of suburbia.
Layna became familiar with various animals from a young age. She was required to feed them, wash their stalls and give them proper vaccinations daily. Pam said it was not the average workload for a child growing up and she believes it gave her daughter an advantage on and off the field.
At age 11, Layna chose to move forward with softball instead of rodeo, and her career took off from there. Savoie was named All-Southwestern Louisiana her senior season at Barbe High School, and the softball team went undefeated in district in 2011 and 2012.
Pam asked Layna if she missed rodeo and possibly regretted her decision while in high school. Layna told her mother there were similarities between the two sports that made up for any regrets.
“With your horse, it’s a lot of nonverbal communication,” Layna said. “And when you are on the field, you are going to have a lot ‘heat in the moment’ situation. You don’t have time to tell people what they’re doing, and you need nonverbal communication to make sure everyone is in the right spot.”
The responsibilities Layna learned growing up benefited her in her freshman year at the University. As well as being a student athlete, she is also in the Honors College and has been accepted to multiple honor societies. The psychology freshman plans on going to medical school to get her doctorate in psychology.
Pam does not doubt what her daughter can do going forward, whether it be at Tiger Park or in the classroom. Layna maintains a hard-working drive picked up from a former rodeo star.
“Layna has many more years ahead to continue working hard,” Pam said. “I believe that competing in the sport of rodeo taught her outwork everyone, and that gives her a chance to do anything.”

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Courtesy of Pam Savoie