Search For Legendary Cowgirls Is On
They are a diverse group with names like Temple Grandin and Cynthia Ann Parker, women who have been inducted into the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame…and the search is on to find 2012 nominees. I recently spoke with Diana Vela, the Director of Exhibits and Education for the National Cowgirl Museum in Fort Worth and she kindly explained that the inductees for the Cowgirl Hall Of Fame come from a variety of backgrounds.
Vela: “Generally when you hear the word “cowgirl” you tend to think of someone who works horseback but it’s really cowgirl broadly construed. There are a lot of women who helped shape the American west and they describe their experience perhaps through art like Georgia O’Keefeor writing like Willa Cather. We also have Justice Sandra Day O’Conner as a Hall of Famer. She was the first female appointed Justice of the Supreme Court and she was also raised on a ranch called the Lazy B. It is really any female who has some how had an impact on the shaping of the American west. “
So put on your thinking caps because we’ve got a lot of amazing Northwest women who deserve recognition. Deadlines tor nomination forms are August 15 and can be downloaded on line at www.cowgirl.net. And if you are in Ft. Worth don’t miss visiting the National Cowgirl Museum I did a couple years ago and was moved by all the western icons I encountered from the 19th century to the present. Truly a must see.
