Balancing Passion and Purpose: How Katie Van Slyke Became an Outdoor and Equestrian Influencer by Staying True to Herself
I was thrilled to have the chance to sit down with content creator and influencer, Katie Van Slyke. Katie is a multi-talented influencer and content creator who has made waves in the outdoor and equestrian worlds. From humble beginnings to a flourishing online presence, Katie’s journey is a testament to the power of authenticity, passion, and dedication. As a hunter, horse enthusiast, and advocate for the Western lifestyle, she’s cultivated a following that resonates with people from all walks of life. Today, she opens up about her unexpected rise to social media fame, the balancing act of multiple hobbies, and her mission to make the equestrian community more accessible to newcomers.
I’ve been following you for quite some time now on social media but can you dive a little deeper into how you’ve grown into the presence you currently have online?
It was very much an accident. It started back in 2017, and I’m sure there were big influencers back then, but I wasn’t aware of them, how brand deals worked, or even how you could make money off of social media. I posted an outdoorsy picture that got reposted on a bunch of different Instagram pages, who then tagged me, and a bunch of people started following me. That was my first big jump, but until then, I had only really shared horse stuff. I was fresh out of college and over the summer, going into fall, I started sharing a little bit more about hunting and the outdoor lifestyle. Then that was my next big push, people really resonated with that content so my following really grew fast after that. In 2017 I started with, probably, 3000-4000 followers in April, and then by September, I had 50K, then by that next April, I had 250K and then it just kind of kept going from there. All of the growth at that time was almost strictly from content in the outdoor space.
It’s funny because I came from a background of showing horses when I was growing but at the time, no one wanted to hear about it. Back then, being a horse girl was not a cool thing and it wasn’t anything that anyone wanted to learn about. Which is why I kind of just leaned into the outdoor space, in addition, my show horse had just retired, and I wasn’t showing very much because I was in college. I didn’t really start sharing horse and farm content until the 2021 foaling season. That was about the time when I started my TikTok and I had a couple of videos blow up with the horses. That was the year I started showing the horses a lot more but still very heavy in the hunting space. I still didn’t think people cared that much about horses. but then it started growing like wildfire. Then the biggest boom that got everything going was the addition of the mini cows, Poppy and Petunia.

If we went back five or six years ago, is this where you thought you would end up?
Oh my gosh, no. I had no clue and I still very much just kind of try to leave things as open as possible, because every time I try to make a plan, it doesn’t work out. It’s definitely in God’s hands and his plan is so much better than mine. Whenever I leave it up to that, it ends up working out so much better. But I never could have fathomed what the situation is right now, and I couldn’t be more grateful for it.
You’ve had your hands in a lot of buckets with everything from hunting to showing horses and several things in between. Can you speak a little bit about what it’s been like to balance and grow all of those hobbies? And maybe touch on some of the challenges you’ve come across as well.
I think there’s something to say about being in different seasons of life. I had my very heavy show horse season, which I would hope to have again. Then in college, I leaned into my other interests like hunting. And that was something that my husband and I bonded over when we first started dating. So I didn’t leave the horses behind, but I put a little more time into those interests while I could. Then it got to the point where the business side of things was leaning farther into the farm and horse side. So I still hunt, but I don’t do as much in the hunting industry these days. Right now, I’m in the horse breeding season and I kind of hope that continues.
One thing that’s important to note is that I couldn’t have this many interests without the help that I have and without a supportive family. For example, I used to be the one helping my husband put in all the food plots for hunting, and I still do a little bit, but he takes over a lot more of setting the deer stands and putting the trail cameras out. So if I didn’t have him sharing that interest with me and having him help me in that way, I wouldn’t be able to have my hands in so many other buckets. So a big part of it is all the amazing help that I have as well, not only in life but in the barn with the horses and my stallions as well.

With having so much influence online, is there anything in particular that you hope to get across through your content?
There are a couple of answers to that because the one thing I think I’ve always focused on throughout the entirety of my presence on social media is to be yourself and not mold yourself into what other people want you to be. That was a big thing in the hunting space, I always had on fake lashes and had my makeup done and people had such an issue with that. Then if you’ve been in the equestrian community for five minutes, you know how critical it can be. It can be such a hard world to come into if you did not grow up in it, have super supportive parents when you were younger, or if you weren’t financially able to at the beginning. But in my videos, I like to create a foundation for people who don’t know horses or don’t have the tools and access to knowledge about horses or the industry. So sometimes my videos might seem very simple, but I want to make that knowledge accessible and encourage people who want to get into it because that’s the only way the industry will survive if new people get into it. That’s a very big mission of mine.
You share a ton of real-life moments in your journey, including the births of many of your horses, vet visits when things don’t go as planned, and emotional moments such as when you won the auction for your stallion, VS Code Red. Where do you draw the line as far as sharing online goes? How do you determine what gets shared and what doesn’t?
I do share just about everything and so it’s hard to say what I don’t, but I would say
the one thing that I can think of as an example. We had a tragedy this last foaling season, and we lost a mare and her foal. We actually had to do an infield C-section, and that wasn’t going to be the most respectful thing for me to show. So online, I very much glazed over it and told my audience that she passed, and then it was horrific, but it was not, in my mind, respectful or needed to show more details than that. I felt like I could get across that it was horrific without all those extra details, so I try to keep the respect of the animal at the forefront. I really do share a lot of details, but sometimes it’s better just to make a video saying, “Here’s what happened..” but not necessarily show all the details.

At this point in your journey, you’ve expanded to having your own merch, your own line of silicone rings with Groove Life, expanding your mini farm, and owning a multi-million dollar stud. Is there anything else on your bucket list that you’d like to pursue?
Honestly, right now, I’m giving all my time and effort into those things. I think if you get too greedy, instead of focusing on what you have, that’s when the danger zone hits. So I am just focusing on what I have right now and being so grateful for it. I am open to new adventures, but I do not have anything in mind right now, just kind of leaving it up to God and whatever he has planned.
As we wrap up today, I just want to acknowledge how brave you’ve been in pursuing your passions, regardless of what’s been thrown your way. With that being said, what would you say to someone who might also have several hobbies or passions that they are balancing and are feeling pressured to pick one thing or the other?

I would just say, follow what’s important to you and if only one thing is important to you, then that is totally fine, you shouldn’t have to be good at everything. But if you want to wear more than one hat, then more power to you. I think you can do it, but I would say don’t try to do it by yourself. If you have the ability, if you have friends, if you have a supportive family, if you have a spouse, if you have partners, lean into them and build a strong core, because that’s really the only way you can do it.
If one thing is clear from this conversation with Katie, it’s that her journey is far from over. With a commitment to staying true to herself, a passion for sharing her knowledge, and a deep respect for the animals she works with, Katie continues to inspire her followers every day. Whether she’s hunting in the great outdoors, tending to her mini farm, or showcasing the many facets of horse ownership, Katie’s message remains consistent: follow your passions and embrace the unexpected twists along the way. Her story is a powerful reminder that with the right support system and an open heart, you can pursue multiple dreams without compromise.
If you’re looking for a wholesome content creator that you can feel good about following, I highly recommend giving Katie a follow on your favorite platform. I’ve listed her social media handles below and you can learn more about Katie and her farm adventures at KatieVanSlyke.net.

Follow Katie Van Slyke on Social
YouTube: @katievanslykelife
Facebook: Katie Van Slyke
Instagram: @katievanslyke
TikTok: @katievanslyke
Author
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Hi everyone! I'm Krysta Paffrath, I am a proud Arizona native who has a passion for everything business and rodeo. I am beyond thrilled to be the Editor in Chief for Modern Cowboy Magazine and Ten Gallon Talk. My adventurous and entrepreneurial spirit has guided me to work in many places like the WYO Quarter Horse Ranch in Thermopolis, Wyoming, a working cattle ranch in Seligman, Arizona, and many places in between. I am passionate about preserving the western way of life and working with different brands and rodeos to make that happen. If you're looking for a write-up, please shoot me an email at krysta@tengallontalk.com. Learn more about me at krystapaffrath.com. Looking forward to hearing from you!
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