Isn't life crazy?

Hey y’all… it’s been a hot minute, hasn’t it?

I’ve learned a lot lately, and I finally feel like I have something worth sitting down and sharing.

If you’ve been following along, you know I’m deep in the process of planning a major fundraiser barrel race: The Farmers Dash. And as of April 25, things have gotten very real:

• Featured in The Rider

• Published in The Hamilton Spectator

• Presented in front of the Erin Town Council

• Radio interview coming up

It’s exciting, but also intense. There’s a level of pressure behind the scenes that people don’t always see. Still, I’d say I’m handling it well. And more importantly, I’m learning lessons that I know will stick with me long-term.

Because of everything going on, my creative juices haven’t really been flowing outside of my work. That’s why you haven’t seen a huge uptick in posts on my personal business account or new blogs. And honestly? I miss it. I want to be creating. I have ideas for YouTube content, plans, and everything else, but by the time I sit down to execute, I either forget, run out of time, or hit a wall.

At the end of the day, I’m 19, a university student, running my own business, working, and organizing a large-scale fundraiser. That’s a lot. But one thing I can say with full confidence? I’ve grown, a lot.

And yeah, I’ll say it: Sienna Sovereign is a badass.

This whole process has forced me to step up, speak up, and trust myself in ways I didn’t before.

Breaking down the things that I've learned:

You can never reach out to too many people:

I used to hesitate, thinking I’d be annoying or that people would get tired of hearing from me. Reaching out felt uncomfortable, and I’d overthink every message before sending it. But I’ve learned that persistence, when done professionally and respectfully, actually earns you respect.

It’s not about spamming, it’s about how you present yourself and how intentional you are with your outreach. If you’re clear, genuine, and confident in what you’re asking for, people notice that. They can tell when you actually care about what you’re building versus just asking for something. And more often than not, people admire the hustle, even if they can’t say yes.

To stay organized through all of this, I built a spreadsheet to track everyone I’ve reached out to. I kept notes on who they are, why I contacted them, what stage the conversation is at, and any important details I didn’t want to forget. It became more than just a list, it turned into a system that kept me accountable and consistent.

And I’ll be honest, that list is long. Very long. Probably close to 100 different businesses and individuals at this point. Seeing it laid out like that can be overwhelming, but it’s also something I’m proud of. It represents effort, consistency, and a willingness to put myself out there, even when it felt uncomfortable.

No, I haven’t gotten every response I hoped for. I’ve faced a lot of no’s, and I’ve had messages go unanswered. And yeah, sometimes that’s discouraging. But I’ve also had a lot of wins. I’ve had people say yes, people offer support, people go out of their way to help, and those moments make a huge impact.

More than anything, this process has helped me build confidence. It’s shown me that putting yourself out there is part of growth. Not every door is going to open, but the ones that do can make all the difference. And those wins, big or small, make the effort, the outreach, and the persistence completely worth it.

You truly see who is willing to support the community:

When you’re putting something like this together, you quickly realize that “community support” isn’t just a phrase people throw around, it’s something that shows up through action.

There are businesses and individuals who don’t hesitate. They respond quickly, they ask how they can help, and they genuinely want to be part of something bigger than themselves. Those are the people who understand the impact events like this can have, not just for the cause, but for the community as a whole.

But you also start to notice a gap between what some businesses say and what they actually do. A lot of businesses preach the importance of supporting the community—and I truly believe many of them mean it—but when it comes time to participate in a large-scale, local event, things like budgets and priorities can get in the way.

And to be clear, I completely understand that. Businesses have limits, and not everyone can say yes to everything.

But at the same time, it can be frustrating. Especially when you’re putting everything you have into building something that directly benefits the community they’re part of. It makes you more aware of how support actually shows up, not just in words, but in action, effort, and willingness to be involved.

If anything, this experience has given me a clearer perspective. It’s shown me which businesses are in a position to step in and be involved, and which ones simply aren’t right now, and that’s all part of it. Every “yes,” every “no,” and even the non-responses have taught me something.

More than anything, it’s helped me recognize and truly appreciate the people and businesses who do show up. Those are the relationships I’ll continue to value, support, and grow moving forward.

Who may surprise you:

This has honestly been one of the most rewarding parts of the entire process.

You reach out to someone thinking it’s a long shot, you’re not expecting much, maybe not even a reply, and then they come back with full support. Whether it’s a donation, sharing your event, or just offering encouragement, it hits different because you didn’t see it coming.

It’s those moments that remind you not to underestimate people. Not everyone needs a long history with you to believe in what you’re doing. Sometimes it’s your passion, your drive, or the cause itself that resonates with them.

And it’s not just about the big gestures either. Sometimes it’s the smaller, quieter support that stands out the most, someone sharing your post, connecting you with the right person, or even just taking the time to respond thoughtfully.

Those “unexpected yeses” keep you going. They give you that extra push on the days when things feel overwhelming or when you’re questioning if all the effort is worth it.

And more than anything, they remind you that there are good people out there, people who want to see others succeed, people who want to give back, and people who believe in community just as much as you do.

At The End:

At the end of all of this, I’m realizing this was never just about putting on a barrel race.

It’s about building something from the ground up. It’s about pushing yourself past what feels comfortable. It’s about community, connection, and showing up—even when it’s hard.

I’m still learning. I’m still figuring things out. But I’m proud of how far this has come, and even more excited to see where it goes.

And if there’s one thing I hope you take from this, it’s this: Don’t be afraid to go after something big, even if you don’t have it all figured out yet.

Because sometimes, you figure it out by doing it.

See ya later!