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Where Are They Now? | Alumni Spotlight: Sami Rabas, Class of 2006
Updated: 5 hours ago
From Algoma to Texas, a love of horses helped shape a journey 1,288 miles from home.
When Sami Rabas graduated from Algoma High School in 2006, she knew she loved horses.
She probably didn't know that passion would eventually take her from Wisconsin to Illinois, Oklahoma and Texas, lead to a career in the energy industry, and ultimately become part of the life she built on her own ranch more than 1,200 miles from Algoma.
But that's exactly what happened.
Finding Her Path at Algoma
At AHS, Sami was involved in Ski Club, volleyball, basketball and softball. By her senior year, though, she made the decision to step away from school sports and focus more seriously on competing with her horse.
Looking back, she sees that as one of the first major decisions that shaped her future.
Her favorite high school memories include Ski Club trips, spending time with friends and, of course, fundraising for those trips by selling fruit.
Selling the fruit like the little entrepreneurs we all were just to have our trip paid for.
She also remembers Kim Nivala, who taught her business classes, as a teacher who made an impact.
One lesson from her Algoma years has stayed with her: don't be afraid to work hard and take a different path.
Following a Love of Horses
After graduation, Sami attended Black Hawk College-East in Illinois, earning associate degrees in Animal/Equine Science and Technology.
Her education quickly led to opportunities within the professional horse industry.
She interned with Cara Barry-Brewer Cutting Horses in Oklahoma, traveling throughout the country to competitions and working with cutting horses valued at as much as $150,000.
The following year, she headed to Texas for an internship at Josey Ranch, where she worked with young riders at rodeo camps and had the opportunity to learn in the world of legendary barrel racer Martha Josey.
Then came another big move.
In 2008, Sami packed up her horses and moved to Canyon, Texas, to attend West Texas A&M University. She earned her bachelor's degree in Agricultural Communications and Media, competed in college rodeo and later joined the university's Ranch Horse Team.
She also completed a marketing internship with the Tri-State Fair & Rodeo, combining her interests in agriculture, communications and the rodeo industry.
An Unexpected Career
Two weeks before graduating from West Texas A&M, Sami was offered a recruiting position with Precision Resource Company/Zachry Engineering Corporation.
That unexpected opportunity became the beginning of a 13-year career in the energy industry.
She spent 6½ years in energy recruiting before moving to NuStar Energy, where she worked in field HR and public affairs across a four-state region.
After NuStar's acquisition in 2024, she transitioned into regulatory work with Southwestern Public Service/Xcel Energy.
Today, she's come full circle, returning to System One, the company where her energy career began, now working in business development and building new client partnerships.
Giving Back Along the Way
While her career has changed, Sami's interest in education, professional development and giving back has remained consistent.
She's been involved with organizations ranging from childhood cancer advocacy and professional development to the energy and agricultural industries.
She currently serves on the Executive Board of the Big 5 Horse Show Association, where she oversees marketing, publicity and sponsorships. The organization raises funds for scholarships through horse shows and awarded $25,000 in scholarships to five students in 2025.
She's also a co-founder of the Permian Pipeliners Education Foundation, which supports scholarship and educational opportunities for students pursuing STEM-related careers.
For Sami, those opportunities are about more than simply being involved.
I am all about leaving things better than I found them.
1,288 Miles From Algoma
Eventually, Texas became home.
Sami's career took her throughout Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Colorado, and today she owns her own ranch in Texas.
But Wisconsin is still very much part of her life. Her family remains in the Algoma and Green Bay area, and she returns when she can.
And then there's the horse who has been there through it all.
The horse who came with Sami when she left home 20 years ago is still with her today at age 30, enjoying retirement in the pasture.
Today, Sami breeds, raises, sells and shows cutting-bred horses.
Horses aren't her only passion, either. She competes in Barn Hunt with her five-year-old CoJack, Eleanor, and admits she's still not sure which one of them is more competitive.
She's also learning golf and enjoys participating in clay shooting tournaments.
What's Next?
Sami is still looking for ways to build something meaningful.
She's interested in creating opportunities for women working in the energy industry in the Texas Panhandle, particularly through mentorship, professional development and networking.
She's also held onto an idea for a “horseless horse” program, designed to give someone who loves horses but doesn't have the resources to own one an opportunity to learn and participate.
It's something she hasn't given up on.
Looking Back
At 18, Sami couldn't have known that following her passion for horses would eventually take her 1,288 miles from Algoma, through multiple careers and industries, and into a life she never could have predicted.
Her advice to her younger self says a lot about her journey:
Don't be afraid to take the road that wasn't part of the original plan. Some of the best parts of your life will come from opportunities you never saw coming.
Texas may be home, but Algoma will always be where her story started.
Once an Algoma Alum, Always Part of the Story.
Stay Connected with AAEF
Algoma alumni have taken their experiences far beyond the classroom, and we'd love to stay connected with you! Join our alumni network to hear more stories like Sami's, stay informed about what's happening in Algoma, and discover opportunities to support future generations of students.
