Belonging is more than finding the right place—it’s discovering how to use your unique strengths to serve others and create meaningful connections. Through this purpose and service, I’ve truly found what it means to feel at home and help others do the same.

 

After more than a decade in Terrell, moving to Stephenville left me looking for purpose all over again. Everything familiar was in flux—the rodeo my husband and I had devoted years to changed hands while the newspaper industry I’d spent 15 years working in was rapidly fading in the wake of online media. Our move was both a response and a fresh start.

But that feeling wasn’t new.

I was born and raised on Long Island, but even as a kid, I knew I didn’t belong there. My world was horses and rodeos. My dad a calf roper, and mom, a barrel racer herself, had survived severe burns as a child. A doctor suggested her parents get her a bike or a pony to encourage her to walk again. They chose a pony, and that pony changed her life— and later, mine.  She and my dad met while competing in a horse show and years later, as I began riding and competing, my dad became our greatest supporter. He hauled us all over the country chasing dreams together.

We traveled to Texas often for rodeos.  I was competing against adults by the time I was 10, and by 11, I attended a summer camp in East Texas run by Martha Josey, one of the most respected names in barrel racing. I ended up winning an event there, which boosted my confidence and showed me what was possible.

Growing up I traveled the First Frontier Rodeo Circuit with my family where I achieved a certain level of success, but it wasn’t until I purchased, A.C., the horse of my dreams that I became a multiple qualifier for Women's Professional Rodeo Association Barrel Racing Circuit Finals and National Circuit Finals.

By my mid-20s, I knew I had to leave New York. Texas was calling. I made the move, and it changed everything.  I also met my husband through the rodeo, and we spent 10 years living on a rodeo contractor’s land surrounded by livestock and rodeo activity. We worked rodeos, and eventually obtained the Whiplash Cowboy Monkey act, traveling with it for a decade. We still have Whiplash, and even wrote two children’s books, Whiplash the Cowboy Monkey Saves the Day and Whiplash the Cowboy Monkey Gets a New Ride.

While working rodeos, I was also working in newspaper advertising. I had no college degree, no formal experience—but I had a mentor who believed in me. I worked my way up to leading a staff of 12. I learned how to be resilient, creative, and find solutions fast.

So when we moved to Stephenville and I found myself starting over again, I leaned on what I knew—and also on my faith. It’s always been the foundation of everything in my life, helping me stay steady even when nothing else feels certain. That same mentor—now thriving in real estate—had told me, “You should get your license.” I’d brushed it off before, but now, with everything in transition, I kept hearing his words. Finally, in 2014, I went for it.

Through real estate, I found a way to bring together all the different pieces of my life. My advertising background helps me market homes, my rodeo experience makes working with land and ranches second nature, and my New York work ethic gives me the tenacity and go-getter approach that sets me apart. Most importantly, I’m driven by a genuine love for people, wanting to do whatever I can to help them as they navigate their move.

Real estate gave me a way to connect with the community and serve others. And as a result, I’ve grown deep roots here and strong sense of purpose. It led me to find other ways to serve too, working with kids through an equine learning program, leading the women’s ministry at my church, and serving as President of the Stephenville Association of REALTORS®. I’ve truly come to love this community, the incredible people here, and the opportunity I have to serve others every day.

 

Just as I’ve found where I belong, I want to help my clients do the same. That might mean finding a new home that better fits your needs, making a move, or connecting you with the people and places that help you become part of the community. I'm here to support you through all phases of your homeownership journey as your REALTOR® and friend for life.

 

Throughout the buying and selling process, I’m hands-on with every transaction. Staying close to the details helps me catch issues early, solve problems quickly, and give my clients the focused support they deserve from beginning to end. Communication is key: I’m responsive, clear, and straightforward. And when challenges come up, because in real estate there are bound to be a few road bumps, I act quickly, find solutions, and make sure you have everything you need to move forward.

 

What matters most to me is understanding your goals and making sure you feel informed, supported, and secure throughout the process. Buying or selling a home is a big decision. You deserve someone who shows up, does the work, and genuinely cares. And that’s what I promise to do for my clients every single time!

 

 

With gratitude, 

 

 

Nicole Petet