The Cowgirl Gathering is a celebration in the heart of Fort Worth, designed to showcase spectacular, inspirational women from all walks of life who embody the spirit of the American Cowgirl. Whether you are a competitor or just want to experience the spark of that cowgirl essence, the Cowgirl Gathering is your event.

From ranches to rodeo arenas, from running businesses to families, modern-day cowgirls continue to thrive, living by the pillars of empowerment, individualism and vigor.

This year's event is just a few days away, May 12-15, and you don't want to miss all the action!

Visit cowgirlgathering.com for the full weekend event itinerary.

The 2023 Kimes Ranch Essence Exchange Speakers:

Emcee: Chelsea Edsall

Chelsea Edsall doesn’t take herself too seriously and brings a unique sense of humor to her career path.  Growing up in the equine industry and experiencing horse show life from a young age, Chelsea learned to find humor and fun in the normally stressful situations of competitions. Her Instagram account (#cheersitschelsea) and YouTube channel feature the humorous side of the business, with photos and adventures spotlighting the comic aspects of the equine lifestyle.

Adrian Brannan

Adrian is a Billboard chart topping singer-songwriter who is equally at home in the branding pen,onstage or on a bucking horse.Her critically acclaimed 4th album “Desert Dwelling Mama” was released in the Top 5 Billboard, iTunes and Amazon Music charts, as well as winning a coveted Wrangler Award from The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. Adrian’s second book “Dear Cowgirl: 100 Poems of Hope” debuted to a massive response this winter, and her new album is expected for release in the fall.

Anna Woolsey

Anna Woolsey is 23 three years old and resides in Skiatook, Oklahoma. Anna has a long history of being a rodeo queen. She won her first title at age thirteen while competing in her first-ever pageant, and immediately became hooked.She went on to be crowned Miss ACRA, Miss Rodeo Oklahoma Teen, Cavalcade Queen, Miss Rodeo Oklahoma, and more.To represent the IPRA as Miss Rodeo USA is an honor she has been dreaming of since the beginning.

Carter Smith

Carter Smith hails from Northern California where she grew up riding and showing horses in several disciplines. After graduating from Pony Club, she primarily competed in AQHA all-around events in high school and got hooked on reining. After college, Smith started her career in marketing & retail and after a 20-year run, she decided to marry her passions of e-commerce and horses and launch 100X Equine in 2019. 

Chelsea Shaffer

Chelsea Shaffer is the Western editorial director for The Equine Network, overseeing the content strategy for The Team Roping Journal, Horse & Rider, The Breakaway Roping Journal, Calf Roping.com and Barrel Racing Magazine, as well as all of the brands’ streaming video platforms. She’s also one of the founders of Rope Like A Girl, a brand celebrating and empowering women in rodeo and across rural America. A graduate of Ohio University, Shaffer grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and she worked her way into the Western industry from the outside.

Christa Lafayette

As the Founder & CEO of Etalon, an equine genetics company, Christa Lafayette has combined her greatest passions: Horses, science and discovery! This unique company combines cutting-edge genetic technology with horse person know-how resulting in an accelerated discovery platform powered by horse folks.

Fanchon Stinger

Fanchon Stinger is the Emmy winning co-host of PBR Now and a contributor to Western Sports Roundup and NFR Tailgate airing on Cowboy Channel and PlutoTV. Fanchon continues to speak nationally, host events, and create positive & inspirational media content through her production company FLS Media & Strategic Solutions.

Joni Nash

Born and reared on a family farm in Georgia, Joni took her southern roots and moved to Oklahoma as a college student. While in college, Joni began her career in the auction business to pay for her college tuitions. Graduating from Oklahoma State University and Southwestern Christian University, she continued to work as a freelance auctioneer. Joni quickly learned she enjoyed aiding non-profits beyond their fundraising efforts, and extended her career to non-profit management. 

Leah Herrington

Leah Herrington is the Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Community Coffee®,  America's largest family-owned retail coffee brand. She has more than 25 years of experience leading  consumer brands both domestically and globally across various industries with companies such as Nestlé Skin Health®, Mary Kay®, Quaker State®, Revision Skincare® and Pepsico®. 

Linsay Sumpter

Linsay Rosser Sumpter is a woman that wears many hats. Born and raised within the rodeo business, a wife of a six-time NFR steer wrestler Wade Sumpter, mother of two, rancher, and horse trainer, with a passion for preserving the western lifestyle and rodeo, she is determined to continue expanding the opportunities for women in rodeo. 

Lisa Lockhart

The rodeo record books should have an entire chapter dedicated to Lisa Lockhart. Lisa and her equine partner “Louie” might be the greatest tandem to ever blaze by barrels. The dynamic duo made a staggering 85 runs together at the Wrangler NFR between 2010 and 2019, with “Louie” named as Equi-Stat’s highest-earning horse of the decade.

Megan Wimberly

Megan Wimberley is a contemporary western and wildlife artist and the founder of Cowgirl Artists of America (CGA). Wimberley founded CGA in 2021 to help increase opportunities and representation of female western artists through community, education, collaboration, and promotion. Since 2021 CGA has provided numerous educational resources, partnered with fantastic organizations such as the Cowgirl Gathering and Art of the Cowgirl to provide promotional and representational opportunities, and more. CGA has grown rapidly and continues to expand its resources, opportunities, and partnerships. 

Melanie Smith

Melanie has been selling horses for over 15 years-she has sold thousands of horses all over the world. Her fierce desire to match incredible horses with buyers led to a huge success in the industry. Melanie became known for her honesty, integrity, and quality stock in the world of western cowhorses.

Sarah Falen

Sarah Falen is a 6th generation rancher from Cheyenne, Wyoming. Growing up with a passion for agriculture and the cattle industry, she followed her parents' footsteps in obtaining a law degree to help with advocating for their rights, liberties, and keeping farmers and ranchers on their land, feeding the world.

Stephanie Nash

Stephanie Nash is a TPUSA Ag Ambassador, and 4th generation dairy farmer originally from central California, now living in middle Tennessee. Stephanie and her family moved their farm in 2013 after regulations took a toll on her dairy farm. Stephanie is a believer in freedom and fighting for farmers across the United States. Stephanie has created a new respect for agriculture, connecting with American families with her series “The Life of a Farmer” and now partners with the “Untold Stories” of Ag women connect.

Tracy Sheffield

Tracy Sheffield has been active in horse racing since moving to Texas in the 1980's. She began her  career in racing galloping and training running quarter horses for a private farm in the Rio Grande  Valley. During this time Tracy worked actively to make pari-mutual wagering legal again in Texas.  Tracy is the managing partner of a small thoroughbred breeding and racing operation in the Texas hill  country. The partnership has been breeding and putting thoroughbreds on the track in Texas since  2005. As managing partner Tracy is responsible for selecting the horses for the breeding program and  with her background as a licensed trainer she selects the trainers for her horses as well.

Cowgirl Hotlist

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