About the Hall of Fame

Our legendary Honorees, past and present, remind us of the opportunities we can and will continue to explore. The Hall of Fame’s purpose is to honor and promote those women who have made and are making a lasting impact in and around horse culture or within the area broadly construed as Western. The Museum proudly celebrates living and deceased Honorees who represent diverse backgrounds, ethnicities and cultures. Many of our Honorees are nationally and internationally recognized artists or writers, champions and competitive performers, entertainers, ranchers, or trailblazers and pioneers. Over 200 extraordinary women have been inducted into the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame since 1975.

The Museum Board of Directors is proud that over the last five years significant progress has been made in identifying and honoring women of color in the Museum’s Hall of Fame. However, more progress is needed. Consequently, the Museum will remain diligent in its efforts to seek out and honor Black, Indigenous, and other women of color, past and present, whose stories have been underrepresented in the history of the West.

The 48^th Annual Induction Luncheon and Ceremony will be held on Tuesday, November 12, 2024, at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas.

Table Sponsorships available for purchase starting July 1. To purchase, CLICK HERE.

Individual Tickets available for purchase starting September 30.

For more information, please contact Emmy Lou Prescott at emmylou@cowgirl.net or Jennifer LeGrand at jlegrand@cowgirl.net.

2024 INCOMING INDUCTEES

Beth Cross – California

Beth Cross revolutionized equestrian and western sports by introducing performance technology into riding boots when she co-founded Ariat International. After earning her BA from the University of Colorado and her MBA from Stanford University, she saw an opportunity to improve upon the traditional riding boots she wore growing up on her family’s farm in Pennsylvania. Today, Ariat is internationally known as the largest western and English footwear and apparel brand in the world with 1,200 employees across California, Fort Worth, UK, Mexico, and China. Under Cross’ leadership as CEO, Ariat leads the market in designing and manufacturing the most innovative footwear, apparel, and denim for the world’s top equestrian athletes.

JJ Hampton – Texas

JJ Hampton was born and raised in Stephenville, Texas and competed in her first rodeo at four-years old. She went on to rope at Tarleton State University and build a career as a 17-time Women’s Pro Rodeo Association world champion and 25-time national champion. In 2016, Hampton opened her own real estate business, JJ Hampton Realty in Erath County, Texas. Between roping, real estate, and raising her family, Hampton also prioritizes giving back to her community. She produces the annual Johnny Wayne Hampton Memorial Roping in honor of her late father, benefitting a scholarship fund for Tarleton State University students.

Kaila Mussell – Canada

Kaila Mussell was born in Canada and grew up competing in barrel racing and steer riding, and she trick rode professionally at the Calgary Stampede before beginning her career as a saddle bronc rider. In 2002, Mussell entered what was considered a male domain and competed in her first saddle bronc riding event placing among the top performers. Later that year, she pushed the boundaries even further, becoming the first woman to win a Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association sanctioned saddle bronc riding event in Oregon. She went on to fill her PRCA and Canadian Professional Rodeo Association permits, becoming the first woman to hold professional status as a saddle bronc rider.

The Pack Horse Library Project – Kentucky

The Pack Horse Library Project, an initiative of the Works Progress Association (WPA) during the Great Depression, hired women as librarians and sent them out on horseback into the rugged 10,000-square-mile portion of eastern Kentucky. They provided some of the hardest hit people of the Depression who lived there with books and other reading materials. From 1936 to 1943, these “book women” rode out at least twice a month, in all kinds of weather, with each route covering 100 to 120 miles a week. At its height, the program helped serve almost 100,000 people.

About the Induction Ceremonies

Over 200 remarkable women have been inducted into the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame since 1975. Every year, four or five women are chosen from a pool of hundreds of worthy nominees to be honored at the Induction luncheon and ceremony.

Oral Histories

The National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame gathers first-hand accounts of historical events from Hall of Fame Honorees in order to preserve their history and impact on the West for present and future generations.  Theseoral histories provide us with a unique source of documentation about extraordinary women – pioneers, artists, writers, entertainers, ranchers, and rodeo cowgirls. Click here to watch.