Sisterhood on the Prairie | Series No. 1

Sisterhood on the Prairie is more than a series for me. It is a space. A space that is dedicated to the women that have been of inspiration to me in more ways than one. A place to share the stories of strong women who have influenced me in the pasture, in business and in faith. You’ll meet women who started from scratch, fought for what they believe in, and stayed soft while being strong on their drive to succeed. My hope is that through sharing their stories, you will be reminded that there’s more than one way to get somewhere — and that even when your way isn't my way or her way, it is still very worth walking as long as you just keep going.

This series exists to spotlight the kind of resilience that often goes unseen — but never unfelt.

xx.

Cydnee McClelland’s Journey

While I’m out here learning to live the Bailey Raye way, one woman has been bold in cheering me on since we first connected over social media years ago. I’ve rarely met a Kansan woman I wasn’t instantly fond of and Cydnee is no exception! She too, has covered her fair share of the countryside through the years and I’m sure she will agree when I say we most definitely always know when we are not in Kansas anymore. Though, if we didn't, one of you out of staters would surely remind us that we aren't!

My sweet friend Cydnee grew up in Osage County, where home for her will always be Double H Ranch in Scranton, Kansas. A ranch-raised mama, wife to a traveling rodeo man, and the heart behind Triple J Ranchwear. Her story is stitched with long days, deep faith, bold dreams, and a steady kind of influence.

She’s didn't just build a business — she is building a life that reflects what she believes in. The kind of life that reminds the rest of us it’s okay to go slow, to go your own way, and to trust the timing of something bigger than yourself.

This is her way. And I’m honored to share it.

CYDNEE MCCELLAND

In her early years, she probably wouldn't be surprised if you told her she would end up running her own boutique one day as she always grew up with the drive to be a businesswoman. Beginning with her lemonade stands she would run in the heat of the Kansas summers. I can assure you all that I personally, did not ever think to drag a lawn chair up our eight-tenths of a mile long driveway to try and convince the K-state traffic and motorcyclists on HWY 177 to stop for a drink. She then went on to try her hand at bracelets and jewelry making through the years as she relocated to Topeka, KS around age 9 where she lived until she was 23 and met her husband, Tristan where they now reside in a small town in Illinois.

Cydnee grew up being homeschooled. I remember when I learned of this our first time hanging out and I'm sure she could visibly see the shock on my face when she told me. Hearing about the "homeschool stigmas," I was genuinely floored as the girl that stood in front of me that day, did not appear to be any of the things I had heard about. During her senior year of high school, she set out to pursue an education at a local community college where she stayed for another year and eventually, made the decision to drop out.

Q: Where did your passion or skillset come from?

A: "I ended up dropping out of college because there was nothing that set me on fire. I began working full time and had the idea of a boutique stuck in my head for a few years before actually getting the courage to go for it. I always wanted to be my own boss and had been doing side gigs since the Scranton days. I never looked back."

Being the determined woman she is, she continued to turn lemons into lemonade, launching Triple J Boutique. The name originating from three J's: her middle name Janae, Jesus and Jeans.

With any business adventure, you eventually have to face the legality side of it all: trademark and copyrights, paying for a website URL, getting a general business license, figuring out permits if needed, insurance, contracts with vendors — the list goes on and on. Even if you're capable of handling the backend like running social media, coding a website, or being your own product photographer... there is a LOT that goes into running a small business beyond the fun stuff like shopping for inventory. And let’s be honest, the system isn't built to help you succeed.

Just a gentle reminder before sending that hateful DM to a woman who’s out here fighting against a system built for large, urban, male-led enterprises; not for a woman juggling helping out on the ranch, a toddler, and an online boutique — pause. Maybe your package was late. Maybe your message didn’t get answered right away. But some things are simply out of one’s control. Especially when you're just one woman, learning the ropes of running a business, and still human too.

• Majority of small business owners wear every hat: marketing, finances, customer service, operations — often without help or formal training.

• There’s little margin for error: unlike big corporations, small businesses don’t have safety nets, funding cushions, or even a team.

• Access to support is limited: securing funding, health insurance, childcare, and fair exposure is harder for small businesses (especially rural, female-owned ones).

• Regulations, fees, and taxes often feel more punishing than helpful.

Let's take this time to reiterate that even though I went to college, finished in four years, and walked away with two degrees… I don’t own a business, barely have a savings account worth mentioning (thanks to a heap of out-of-state student debt), have a dog and no husband. Meanwhile, Cydnee attempted college, chose a different path where she pursued a business that’s been thriving for SIX years, all while getting married and building a family. It’s stories like ours that I want to bring to light because they show just how different our paths can look, and how none of it defines our worth. We get to decide what we want to define us and that is truly a blessing to not take lightly.

Cydnee admitted something I think a lot of us feel but rarely say out loud: “Help from others sometimes feels like failure to me.” Said from an independent woman that was raised in the Ag world, built a business from the ground up all while navigating motherhood at the same time, and yet she still needs this same gentle reminder that we all do. Asking for help isn’t weakness — it’s faith in action. However, we too can do our part to take action and help out by supporting even when we don't have the money to support our friends in the way we wish we could. "Supporting a small business is something people just say, but when you actually support us - whether that’s a like, comment, share, or purchase we truly are so grateful."

It really is as simple as using your phone for good and actually interacting with content when you see your friends & family posting. That is what feeds the algorithm and what shapes your personal feed. Interact with the people and things that you are wanting to see. Show up and support your people because you never know what a valuable friendship can come from someone you did, literally meet through social media.

Q: What does sisterhood mean to you in this season of life that you are in currently? 

A: "Sisterhood is honest, forgiving, loyal, and understanding. Not something that is surface level, but deep and powerful."

It took Cydnee moving away from her hometown to truly see who her real friends were. The value of female friendship is something we all seriously need in this world that holds so much beauty in power. But distance has a way of revealing things as Cydnee started to notice who was talking behind her back, who wasn’t being truthful, and who simply stopped showing up as she continued down her path. Now, her circle looks different — and stronger. She has a solid group of girls back home who consistently show up for her and make her feel seen, loved, and cared for. Because the ones who truly value you? They’ll keep showing up. No matter the miles between or months that go by without a catch-up call.

How Cydnee Refills Her Cup — Creatively & Spiritually

• Returning home to Kansas — especially a quiet ride with her grandpa to check cows. It’s a reminder that "the simple things still matter most."

• Riding horses and working with her hands — staying grounded in the kind of labor that keeps both the mind body and soul moving is essential.

• Setting personal goals and chasing them — using ambition as fuel. “I’m competitive by nature — I want to be the best. While that can turn negative, I try to keep it positive and let it push me forward.”

• Planning fun getaways a couple times a year — because stepping away is a great way to feed your creative spark.

Q: How would you finish this sentence: “There’s more than one way to…”

A: "Live your life. Make sure you choose the one that fulfills your soul, not your flesh."

It’s easy to look at someone like Cydnee, beautiful, grounded, successful — and assume it’s always been that way as she has so many of the things that I'm still praying for. But that’s what makes her story matter. She’s walked through real mistakes and real healing and she’s not afraid to say it like it is:

"I am not perfect, and I never want to come off as such. I have lived the life of sin and full-filling fleshly desires, and it didn’t just hurt me, it hurt other people. I want people to see who I am now and the things I have overcame. I am so grateful for all the people in my life who stuck by my side during those times in my life and saw the hope in me. You know who you are, and I love you all dearly."

If you are in the market for quality western wear and a brand who stays unique and true to her no matter what the trends are, meet my sister!

SOCIALS: @Cydnee.Janae | @TripleJRanchwear