IFYR Profile: Seeing 'double' Texas style

You might think you are seeing double, but you’re not.
Competing in the International Finals Youth Rodeo this week are two sets of Texas twins; Sierra and Sheridan Hodge and Devin and Darla Caddell. A quick conversation with the look-alike ladies proves that just because they are identical doesn’t mean they’re not unique.
“I don’t like it when people can’t tell us apart,” said Sierra. “You’re always going to be a twin, but you’re an individual. We may look alike, but we are totally different.”
Sierra and Sheridan are the 18-year-old daughters of Jimmy and Kim Hodge of Johnson City, Texas, which is located about one hour north of San Antonio. Devin and Darla, now in their fourth year at the IFYR, are the 18-year-old daughters of Rocky and Kim Caddell of Devine, Texas. Devine is about 30 minutes south of San Antonio, the girls said.
The Hodge sisters and Caddell sisters are well acquainted with each other, and have competed in numerous rodeos alongside one another.
The girls pride themselves on their individuality as well as their togetherness. Sierra and Sheridan will tell you how unique and individual they are, but will finish each other’s sentences while doing so. Darla and Devin may no finish each other’s sentences, but they are apprehensive about being apart for the first time when they start college this fall.
“I don’t know how that’s going to go,” said Darla, who will live on campus at Texas A&M University. Devin will live off campus.
“We’ve always had this freaky twin thing going on,” Sheridan said.
The trait is so prevalent, the girls said, that they could almost read each others minds while playing basketball together.
Darla and Devin said they have never actually finished each other’s sentences, but they do feel extremely close to each other.
“It’s more like a best friend connection,” Darla said.
The connection comes from being around each other all the time, Devin said, and it has given the sisters the ability to build each other up in ways other friends could not do. They are able to be blunt, honest and “straight up” with each other, she said.
“We push each other. We encourage each other to do better,” Devin said. “I think we’ve held a lot of higher expectations for each other.”
Despite the fact they are technically competing against each other in the IFYR, the girls are more concerned about their siblings than themselves.
“We’re each other’s biggest fan,” Darla said of her relationship with Devin. “There’s no rivalry. As long as she does good, I’m happy.”
Sierra said she and Sheridan would both prefer first place, or at least first and second place. No matter what the outcome, however, they always root for each other.
“We’re against each other, but we’re for each other,” Sierra said.
Sierra and Sheridan are competing in breakaway roping and goat tying at this year’s IFYR, which continues through Saturday at the Heart of Oklahoma Exposition Center in Shawnee.
Darla and Devin are both competing in breakaway roping and barrel racing. Darla is also competing in goat tying, and Devin is also competing in pole bending.
Sierra and Sheridan were born into the world of rodeo, they said. Their grandfather was a two-time world champion; their grandmother is a Texas rodeo hall of fame inductee; their mother was a high school and college champion; and their father competed in the National Finals Rodeo three times.
“My dad always jokes around and says we were bred to be rodeo cowgirls,” Sierra said.
Sierra and Sheridan started the rodeo life very early, but became a little burned out on it by the time they hit junior high school. The girls stopped competing for a while and concentrated on other sports, but eventually found their way back to rodeo.
“It made me appreciated it more,” Sheridan said of their time off. “I really wish I had never quit. I love it.”
“I think rodeo has taught us a lot of life skills, like responsibility,” Sierra said.
Darla and Devin began riding in rodeo-related events at the age of 2, and have since been the only members of their family to really pursue the sport. Darla is a Texas High School Rodeo Association reserve champion barrel racer, and Devin is the 2006 IFYR All Around Barrel Racer.
Sierra is a three-time Texas high school rodeo qualifier; a LSYRA All Around Cowgirl; and a Wrangler All Star Team member. Sheridan is a four-time Texas high school rodeo qualifier, and a Wrangler All Star Team member.
The Hodge sisters both plan to attend Vernon College this fall, and the Caddell sisters will both major in business at Texas A&M University. They said they may, or may not, go into business together after college.
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Jason Smith may be reached at 214-3932 or william.j.smith@news-star.com.