By day, Hannah Park helps Endeavor Air soar as Flight Operation Program Administrator. By night, she chases her passion for equestrianism, recently riding to victory in a ranch sorting competition. 

Ranch sorting is a timed cattle event where teams on horseback are tasked with sorting eight cows from one pen to another in the correct order, all in under a minute. Even though riders compete as a team, they each receive points to be scored individually. 

Hannah competed against 13 other individuals in a weekly league, hosted by OutWest Arena in Buffalo, Minn., and was recently crowned champion. 

“Competing is a special time and allows for you to be in the moment with your horse,” Hannah said. “A team challenge can be difficult; sometimes you can be on two different pages. But it is fun to adjust your skills and style based on who you are partnered with.” 

While Hannah wasn’t the first in her family to pursue a career in aviation, she was the first to have a passion for horses.   

“I always dreamed of riding and competing on horses,” said Hannah, who participates in ranch horse shows, ranch sorting, clinics, and goat roping in the winter. “As a child, I would be gifted the ability to join in on riding lessons and camps. Through this, I crossed paths with OutWest, became an instructor for many years, and grew as a well-rounded horse rider and competitor.” 

As the ranch sorting league was coming to an end, Hannah had a feeling she was close to the top. With one night left, she wasn’t sure how the rankings would end up. 

“I knew I was doing well throughout the weeks of competition,” Hannah said. “My fastest sorting time happened on the final night of competition. My partner and I sorted the eight cows in 32 seconds.” 

With Hannah’s quick time, it was enough to secure her 1^st place spot. She received a custom belt buckle for her big win. 

“Winning feels great, but it feels extra special that I won it with Joe, the horse I rode throughout the league,” Hannah said. “Joe is a legend, and he has won countless buckles in his lifetime. It is a great feeling to know that he has as much competitive spirit as I did.” 

Sometimes winning isn’t everything. For Hannah, the trophy was only one aspect of competition, but it was the people she rode with that made it special. 

“While it is rewarding to come out on top, I enjoy riding with such supportive people,” Hannah said. “When a team got a fast time, we would all clap and be genuinely happy for them, even if it meant our personal placing went down. I am grateful to have something in my life that brings me so much joy.”