COWGIRL 30 Under 30

From the cattle industry, to rodeo, and art, the Western way of life has always been the only way of life for Alexis O’Boyle. It was at the American Quarter Horse Association that she found her true calling in life: photography, journalism, and design work. She worked at AQHA for over 5 years, both in-house...

“I have always marched to the beat of my own drum. I’ve never exactly fit into a mold or been “pageant material.” The grit and hard work that’s part of growing up on a ranch in California’s Central Valley is what molded me the most. I began packing when I was 16 years old and...

Congratulations to 30 truly incredible women that will be honored in our COWGIRL 30 Under 30 Class of 2021. Out of 116 qualified, talented, diverse applicants, the selected 30 ladies represent the future of women in the Western industry. Their contributions will also drive the industry to new levels for generations to come. Industry sponsors...

Are you under 30, working in the western industry and deeply passionate about the future of western women? COWGIRL 30 Under 30 2021 applications are now open! Without a doubt, the landscape of the Western industry has changed. It has become modernized and digitized to an extent that has not been seen before. Behind the...

Reata Brannaman grew up on her family ranch raising and training horses. She spent her childhood traveling around the country helping her father Buck Brannaman put on horsemanship clinics and riding every kind of horse imaginable. In high school, Brannaman bought her own stallion and began raising her own line of ranch horses; it was this big...

Quincy Freeman-Eldridge grew up in rodeo and graduated from California Polytechnic State University with a degree in Agricultural Communications. Post-grad, Eldridge designed lines for Ariat International and Wrangler, and eventually founded the Western brand Rodeo Quincy, which can be found in more than 300 stores across the United States. Future for women in the Western industry...

Madison Shambaugh, nicknamed “Mustang Maddy” from her work with wild horses, teaches compassionate horse owners to connect with their horses and solve behavioral issues without force through her Horse-Human Connection Academy (HCA). Shambaugh is passionate about advocating for training methods that are based on compassion, understanding, science, innovation, and mindfulness. Future for women in the Western...

Amanda Alexander is a traveler, a storyteller, and a lover of artisan jewelry. She is the creative director of Peyote Bird Designs, a Santa Fe-based wholesale jewelry company specializing in native and American artisan jewelry. In her role, Alexander has migrated the Peyote Bird brand from private label to a leading industry standard. She has studied abroad in...