ENMU-Ruidoso Rodeo Team Adds Two from Illinois

Two Men Sign Letters of Intent to College Rodeo for ENMU-Ruidoso

Seated left to right Walker Hanafin, of Argenta, Ill., and Eli Foster of Triumph, Ill. with Illinois High School Rodeo National Director Bill Berger.

Walker Hanafin of Argenta, Ill., and Eli Foster of Triumph, Ill., have both recently signed the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA) Letter of Intent (LOI) to College Rodeo at ENMU-Ruidoso.

Foster is the son of Matt and Molly Foster and will graduate from Acellus Academy in May. He is a three-time National High School Finals Rodeo Qualifier, two-time Illinois State Qualifier in men’s wrestling, All-Around Cowboy, and three-time National Junior High School Rodeo Qualifier. He was the 2025 Reserve All-Around Cowboy and two-time Reserve State Team Roping Champion. He has a brother, Kade, and a sister, Gretchyn. They have traveled as a family all over the country to go to rodeos and rodeo clinics. “I wanted an experience in a different region of the country that wasn’t too close to home,” said Foster.

When not riding or roping, he enjoys playing fetch with his dog, Stetson. His hobby is being the second Top Hand at the Carthage Livestock Sale Barn, his brother is number one. He plans to pursue a General Studies Associate degree this fall and will compete in tie-down roping, steer wrestling and team roping on the ENMU-Ruidoso Men’s Rodeo Team.

Hanafin is the son of Darin and Mandy Hanafin and will graduate from Argenta-Oreana High School in May. He is the 2025 Illinois High School Rodeo State Champion Team Roping Heeler and three-time National High School Finals Rodeo Qualifier with plans of making it a fourth time this summer. “I come from a big family, two brothers and two sisters. I am a first-generation rodeo competitor, but I’ve been hanging out at high school rodeos since I could walk. I’m excited for the next adventure of being in New Mexico and to be part of building the rodeo team at ENMU-Ruidoso,” said Hanafin.

Hanafin enjoys welding and farming when he’s not at a rodeo. He has a red heeler dog named Sis, a calf roping horse named Yellow and his team roping horse is Shorty. He plans to pursue an Associate’s degree in Business and will compete in tie-down roping and team roping on the ENMU-Ruidoso Men’s Rodeo Team.