Collegiate Cowgirls Take Over!

The eye of a hurricane. The calm before the storm. The cowgirl methodically picks her rope off her saddle. Carefully undoing her tie strings and twirling her rope for the perfect loop. Head down. Patience.

She had a pushy cow. Tail up, it took off down the fence. The cowgirl had made two hard and fast fence turns. One to the left and one to the right.

As she takes her rope down, the crowd might think she's forgotten it's a timed event. Or maybe, we're all still in awe of the courage laid out before us, seconds ago. We are holding our breaths in anticipation, in excitement.

Off she goes loping and lining the cow out for the flawless catch.

Gracie Bricker from West Texas A&M University ties with Evan Means from Texas Tech University for the Non Pro High Cow Work score at the 2022 Hughes Ranch Trailers Collegiate Ranch & Stock Horse National Championship Show.

It was a close race for the young ladies. They both were awarded a breeding to MC Cowhammer for their wins.

This was one example of the serious girl power viewers could admire from collegiate cowgirls last week!

Fourteen colleges and universities with a total of 115 riders came together last week in Amarillo to compete for their school in two go-rounds with four events each- ranch riding, ranch trail, reining, and cow work.

Means won the Non Pro National Champion title with Bricker in Reserve. Madilyn St. John from Texas Tech University won the Limited Non Pro Reserve Champion title.

The Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo awarded a $6,000 "Outstanding Freshman Award" scholarship to JT Danielechi from Oklahoma State University. A freshman from each team was nominated by their coach. Then, they were interviewed and observed closely by judges all week.

Overall, Texas Tech University won Division 1 with the University of Arkansas as the Division 2 winner. Each winning team took home a trailer!

Congratulations to all those who competed!