The word “cowgirl” represents more than just boots and a cowboy hat; from the boardroom to the arena, there are women across the country who embody the principles and values of Western culture in their everyday lives. The Cowgirl Gathering was created to offer these women the opportunity to connect, as well as showcase the rich, unique lives of women in the Western world. This year’s event, which will be held from April 25 through May 11, will feature all-women rodeo competitions, fashion showcases, Western art, networking opportunities, and much more in the historic Fort Worth Stockyards.
The event is hosted by the American Paint Horse Association and Marked for Greatness Properties. Kathryn Allen came to the event with a background in events and nonprofit work, and a love for all things Western. After securing her first position with the American Paint Horse Association, Allen moved into her current role, which includes leading the organization of the Cowgirl Gathering. “After getting involved with the industry, I quickly fell in love with all things Western and equine,” Allen shared.
Photo by Dylan Davidson
The inaugural event was held in 2020. While that year and several following it proved to be difficult due to COVID-19, the Cowgirl Gathering filled a void in the industry. Women in Western sports, from rodeo to reined cow horse, were topping leaderboards with increasing frequency, and also representing Western values in their lives on the ranch, as mothers, entrepreneurs, artists, and businesswomen. The organizers also saw an opportunity to further showcase this on a national stage. “Women athletes, and women in the Western industry, weren’t getting the recognition and celebration they deserved,” Allen shared.
The inaugural event was a huge success. “The very first gathering was held in November of 2020, and it was incredible. Our barrel race that year actually ran for 24 hours straight,” Allen recalled.
Knowing they were onto something valuable, the organizers decided to move the event to May, partnering with the Women’s Rodeo World Championships. Barrel racing, breakaway roping, and team roping competitions are held throughout the event, which is now the last chance qualifier for the Women’s Rodeo World Championships. This year, the team roping and breakaway competitions will be held at the Kerry Kelley Arena in Weatherford; the barrel racing will be held at Arena 377 in Stephenville.
Photo by Dylan Davidson
The all-women team roping event has a $10,000 payout, drawing in top competitors from the U.S. and Canada. The highly-competitive barrel racing and breakaway roping also give women the opportunity to win top prize money. “It’s giving them the chance to earn more money and recognition, which is the whole goal,” Allen shared.
Art is another focal point at the Cowgirl Gathering. A juried show and showcase are hosted in partnership with the Cowgirl Artists of America. This year, the art showcase will be moving to an entirely online platform, opening the door for more women to participate. “We wanted to open the door and provide more artists with the opportunity to share and promote their artwork on a larger platform,” Allen said.
During the first weekend of May, the Cowgirl Artists of America will host live demos in the Stockyards, and artists will also speak about their work, building a life as an independent artist, answer questions, and more.
Photo by Kaycie Timm
Western fashion will also be on display throughout the event. The Fort Worth Stockyards is the heart of Western fashion, making it a perfect location for showcasing cowgirl style. From traditional boots and hats to more elevated takes on corporate cowgirl and street style, the Cowgirl Gathering will showcase the variety of forms Western fashion can take on. Many popular Western wear brands will be represented. Western fashion will be featured throughout the event, and fashion lovers will also have the opportunity to attend the Cowgirl Gathering Fashion Show on May 3 in the Stockyards Station. Allen shared, “We will celebrate the many hats that the cowgirl wears, whether that’s corporate cowgirl or a ranching cowgirl.”
The Cowgirl Conversation, which will be held on May 3 from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., will feature speakers from throughout the industry. Women like Erin Taormino, who was just crowned the first female winner of the World’s Greatest Horseman, clothing entrepreneur Amanda Kimes, and journalist Janie Johnson Finlay are just a few women from the long list of top-notch speakers featured in past years.
Photo by Kaycie Timm
Marketing, performance horses, rodeo, storytelling, veterinary medicine, music, design, and much more will be covered by the featured speakers at this year’s event. Allen is especially excited about this year’s Cowgirl Conversation and has seen a lot of inspiration come from putting women in the room with leaders whom they look up to. Empowerment, individualism and tenacity — three pillars of the cowgirl spirit the Gathering focuses on — are apparent in every panelist’s story, and attendees often walk away feeling motivated to chase down their own dreams.
“I think that so often, we see an interview or social media, and we immediately put that person on a pedestal, and put separation between ourselves and them. Getting to sit in a room and hear someone’s story, and learn that they are just another human, another girl who had a dream, is valuable. They had fears and hesitations, and they overcame that,” Allen shared. “There’s a different relation and connection. It sparks conversation and hopefully builds more self-confidence in the attendees.”
The Cowgirl Gathering draws women from within the industry, but also offers the opportunity for those who are interested in becoming involved — or who just want to learn more about the Western world — to connect with the community. The event brings in women from across the country and also catches a few who happen to be visiting the Stockyards.
Bringing different communities of women together, with varying involvement and skill levels, is beneficial on many levels. Throughout the event, women learn about one another through conversation and also offer inspiration to one another. “This is one of my favorite parts,” Allen shared. “We bring in so many people from different backgrounds. We have aspiring athletes, those who want to be more involved in rodeo, corporate cowgirls and women interested in the equine world.”
Businesswomen and entrepreneurs, many of who live in the city, are also well-represented. “Women come who are young professionals, but they still have that spirit of a cowgirl. We bring in a lot of young women who are looking for a network and a community to inspire and motivate them,” Allen added.
Women who make their living as cowgirls will also be in attendance. “We also bring in a good crowd of women who are already in the Western industry, and they’re looking to deepen their connections and network,” Allen explained.
For those who cannot attend in person, the Cowgirl Gathering and Cowgirl Artists of America art showcase will be viewable online for the whole month of May. Tickets for the in-person event are available online at cowgirlgathering.com, and Rodeo Life readers can also pick theirs up at a discount using the code Rodeo15 at checkout.
