Written and Photographed by Dee Yates
As I pulled into Rancho Rio this February, the Arizona desert was alive with anticipation. Having covered western events for many years, I’ve witnessed countless gatherings, but the seventh annual Art of the Cowgirl at its new Wickenburg home struck a different chord in my heart. This wasn’t just another event to report—it was a vibrant celebration of our shared western heritage that reminded me why I fell in love with this way of life in the first place.
The magnificent 55-acre Rancho Rio facility, just minutes from downtown Wickenburg, proved the perfect backdrop for this extraordinary five-day showcase. Rancho Rio founder Ty Yost shared with me his enthusiasm: “I have been watching the Art of the Cowgirl for the past six years as it has grown and become just a fantastic event. We are so excited to bring the Art of the Cowgirl to Rancho Rio, not just for us, but for the entire town and community of Wickenburg.”
Throughout my career, I’ve always believed location matters in western events, and Mesa Pate, the dedicated Horse Sale and Competition Director, confirmed my thoughts when she told me, “The town embodies everything Art of the Cowgirl celebrates.”
From February 25 to March 1, 2025, I immersed myself in every aspect of the event—attending hands-on workshops where traditions were passed to eager learners, watching riveting horsemanship demonstrations that showcased the connection between horse and rider, listening to inspiring artist presentations that revealed the inspiration behind western creativity, enjoying soulful cowgirl musicians whose melodies blessed the desert landscape, participating in thought-provoking panel discussions about preserving our heritage, and witnessing an exceptional horse sale that exceeded all expectations.
The carefully curated trade show was a treasure trove of western artistry. I found myself lingering at booths displaying original art, apparel, gear, gifts, and accessories—all created with obvious love by talented cowgirl artisans. More than once, I pulled out my notepad to jot down contacts for future feature stories in our publication.
When the Kimes Ranch World’s Greatest Cowgirl competition presented by Western Horseman began, I staked out my spot along the arena fence. The energy was electric as elite horsewomen showcased their versatility and horsemanship. Over five days of fierce competition, these remarkable women demonstrated unmatched skill and breathtaking finesse across multiple disciplines.
I’ve covered Kelsey Thomas’s career since her early days, so watching her and her exceptional mare Kit Kat Jerrie claim their fourth championship title filled me with pride. This legendary duo’s dominance was evident throughout the competition, with victories in the Steer Stopping Finals (149.50), Fence Work Finals (148.00), and preliminary rounds in both Herd Work (148.00) and Fence Work (150.50).
Thomas took home an impressive $10,000 cash prize, a gorgeous Martin Saddlery trophy saddle, a Montana Silversmiths trophy buckle, a boot jack donated by Western Horseman, SLIDE Joint Care Products, and a free breeding.
“This victory isn’t just a win—it’s truly a legacy in the making!” -Kelsey Thomas
The top 10 competitors showcased extraordinary talent across all events, with total payouts reaching $49,500.
- Kit Kat Jerrie & Kelsey Thomas – 592.50 – $10,000
- Monster Truk & Morgan Holmes – 578.50 – $8,500
- Sweetes & Kate Buchanan – 574.50 – $7,000
- Spin N Twist Arey & Dylan Sponseller – 572.50 – $6,500
- Kit Kat Royal & Jenna Stolting – 571.00 – $5,000
- Soula Hickory Star & Tylie Norcutt – 563.50 – $3,500
- Ze Sparkin & Jennifer Holland – 560.50 – $3,000
- Travelinonmoonshine & Sadie Grant – 550.00 – $2,500
- Bob J Wilson & Whitney Hall – 432.50 – $2,000
- Melvin Jonez & Carmen Buckingham – 135.00 – $1,500
In the Herd Work Finals, Dylan Sponseller and Spin N Twist Arey topped the competition with an impressive 150.00 score, followed by Kelsey Thomas and Kit Kat Jerrie at 148.00, and Kate Buchanan and Sweetes at 145.50. Bob J Wilson and Whitney Hall earned fourth with 143.50, while Kit Kat Royal and Jenna Stolting secured fifth with 143.00. Tylie Norcutt with Soula Hickory Star and Sadie Grant with Travelinonmoonshine tied for sixth with 141.00. Morgan Holmes and Monster Truk placed eighth with 140.00, Jennifer Holland and Ze Sparkin ninth with 139.00, and Carmen Buckingham and Melvin Jones rounded out the top ten with 135.00.
The Fence Work Finals saw Kelsey Thomas and Kit Kat Jerrie take the win with 148.00, earning a beautiful custom wood carving made and donated by Richelle Munro. Tylie Norcutt and Soula Hickory Star secured second with 147.00, while Whitney Hall and Bob J Wilson claimed third with 145.00. Jennifer Holland and Ze Sparkin placed fourth with 144.50, Dylan Sponseller and Spin N Twist Arey fifth with 140.00, and Morgan Holmes with Monster Truk sixth with 139.00. Jenna Stolting and Kit Kat Royal earned seventh with 137.50, Kate Buchanan and Sweetes eighth with 135.50, and Sadie Grant with Travelinonmoonshine ninth with 132.00.
In the Reining Finals, Morgan Holmes and her home-raised equine athlete, Monster Truk, claimed victory with a remarkable 150.50 score. Jenna Stolting and Kit Kat Royal secured second place with 147.50, while Kelsey Thomas and Kit Kat Jerrie took third with 147.00. Jennifer Holland and Ze Sparkin placed fourth with 145.00, and Kate Buchanan with Sweetes fifth with 144.50. Whitney Hall with Bob J Wilson and Dylan Sponseller with Spin N Twist Arey tied for sixth with 144.00. Tylie Norcutt and Soula Hickory Star earned eighth with 142.50, and Sadie Grant with Travelinonmoonshine ninth with 137.50.
The Steer Stopping Finals saw Kelsey Thomas and Kit Kat Jerrie dominate with 149.50. Kate Buchanan with Sweetes and Morgan Holmes with Monster Truk tied for second with identical scores of 149.00. Jenna Stolting and Kit Kat Royal secured third with 143.00, Sadie Grant and Travelinonmoonshine fourth with 139.50, Dylan Sponseller and Spin N Twist Arey fifth with 138.50, Tylie Norcutt and Soula Hickory Star sixth with 133.00, and Jennifer Holland and Ze Sparkin seventh with 132.00.
The preliminary rounds were equally impressive. In the Herd Work Preliminary, Kelsey Thomas and Kit Kat Jerrie won with 148.00, taking home $600 and Montana Silversmiths Trophy Buckles. Vanessa Ratliff and Bet Hesa Start placed second with 146.00, earning $300 and SLIDE Joint Care Products. Kylie Haskins with Cold Harde Cash and Kate Buchanan with Sweetes tied for third with 145.50. Dylan Sponseller with Spin N Twist Arey and Jenna Stolting with Kit Kat Royal tied for fifth with 145.00. Tylie Norcutt with Soula Hickory Star and Carmen Buckingham with Melvin Jones tied for seventh with 144.00. Jennifer Holland and Ze Sparkin placed ninth with 143.50, while Chantz Stewart with Buster Time and Paris M Starn with Santanas Rey Gun tied for tenth with 142.00.
In the Reining Preliminary, Jenna Stolting and Kit Kat Royal topped the field with 149.50, earning $600 and a custom bronze donated by NRHA. Kate Buchanan and Sweetes placed second with 149.00, taking home $400 and Slide Joint Care Products. Morgan Holmes and Monster Truk secured third with 147.50. Paris M Starn with Santanas Rey Gun and Dylan Sponseller with Spin N Twist Arey tied for fourth with 147.00. Lausanne Hillmuth with The Wright Approach and Kelsey Thomas with Kit Kat Jerrie tied for sixth with 146.00. Jennifer Holland and Ze Sparkin placed eighth with 145.50, Marisa Julian and Spooky N Smart ninth with 145.00, and Kylie Haskins with Cold Hardened Cash tenth with 144.50.
The Fence Work Preliminary saw Kelsey Thomas and Kit Kat Jerrie win with 150.50, receiving $600 and a Montana Silversmiths Trophy Buckle. Bailey Barrett and Magnetic Chex earned second with 149.50, taking home $400 and SLIDE Joint Care Products. Morgan Holmes and Monster Truk secured third with 148.00. Carmen Buckingham with Melvin Jones and Dylan Sponseller with Spin N Twist Arey tied for fourth with 147.50. Karey Louthan with Surely This Time and Sadie Grant with Travelinonmoonshine tied for sixth with 146.00. Whitney Hall with Bob J Wilson and Kate Buchanan with Sweetes tied for ninth with 144.00.
In the Steer Stopping Preliminary, Kelsey Thomas and Kit Kat Jerrie won with 148.00, earning $600 and a Montana Silversmiths Trophy Buckle. Dylan Sponseller and Spin N Twist Arey placed second with 147.00, receiving $400 and SLIDE Joint Care Products. Jenna Stolting and Kit Kat Royal took third with 146.00. Chantz Stewart with Buster Time and Tylie Norcutt with Soula Hickory Star tied for fourth with 145.50. Kiely Walz and Honky Tonk Dreams placed sixth with 145.00. Marisa Julian with Spooky N Smart and Kate Buchanan with Sweetes tied for seventh with 144.50. Alexis Decker and Hail Of A Shine secured ninth with 144.00, while Sommer Amos with Big Buck Shot and Sadie Grant with Travelinonmoonshine tied for tenth with 143.50.
The 2025 Art of the Cowgirl Invitational Horse Sale was a highlight I won’t soon forget. The sale grossed $1,441,500 with an average of $27,198 per horse. The top 10 averaged $53,267, top 20 averaged $37,258, and top 30 averaged $32,058. I’ve covered horse sales across the West for decades, and these numbers are truly remarkable.
The high seller that had everyone talking was Soul Ridge Lamont Flame, known affectionately as “Ben,” consigned by Keily Stewart of High River, Alberta, Canada. This exceptional 2018 Registered Canadian Bay Gelding commanded $200,000, purchased by Angela Husemann of Winnipeg, Manitoba.
“Years of time and commitment goes into these animals, it’s a big deal for me to let them go. One day, when my cards are right, I’ll hold on to every last one of them.” -Keily Stewart
Stewart’s roots in horsemanship run deep. She grew up in the mountains of British Columbia, spending seasons in a Canadian horse-ran outfitting area, packing into the backcountry. Her horses are recognized for their exceptional foundation and real-life ranching experience, making them some of the most sought-after offerings at the sale. As a returning loyal consignor, she’s built a reputation that draws serious buyers.
In the Cowkid Select sale, “Cowboy,” consigned by young Saylor McPhail of Canyon, Texas, sold for $36,000 to Javier Rodriguez of Las Vegas, New Mexico—a price that brought a standing ovation from the crowd.
The Wrangler All Women’s Ranch Rodeo, presented by COWGIRL Magazine, was another event I covered extensively. Team Bar G, featuring Megan Gunter, Kylie McLean, Brooke Curuchet, and Kim Grubbs, displayed remarkable toughness and cowgirl spirit to claim the championship. In the Sorting & Doctoring Preliminaries, presented by Bishop’s Trailer Sales, this same team demonstrated exceptional skill, getting their cow sorted and doctored quickly to take the win.
The Branding Preliminaries, presented by Priefert, went to team Vaqueras Locas, consisting of Whitney Hall, Kelsey Love Thomas, Codie Brown, and Dylan Sponseller, who showed incredible teamwork and precision. The Ranch Horse Preliminaries presented by Brennan Vineyards saw a tie between Team Espuela’s Kelsey Love Thomas and Team Three Bar Quarter Horses’ Breanna Jenkins, both scoring 75.
The roping arena proved just as exciting. Oregon’s Natalie Thompson wins in the Merck Animal Health Breakaway Roping, while California’s Brooke Jackson and Summer Tex secured the win in the All-Women Team Roping with teamwork.
Beyond the competitions, what struck me most was the heart of Art of the Cowgirl—its fellowship program. This initiative unites emerging female artisans in traditional trades like silversmithing, leathercraft, boot making, horse training, and fine art with masters in their fields. These partnerships ensure our cherished traditions continue while empowering and educating women. As someone who has spent a lifetime documenting western heritage, I find this aspect particularly moving.
Mesa Pate explained it perfectly when she said, “We really focus on creating a hands-on experience. We encourage everyone to come take it all in and support our artists. The vibe of Art of the Cowgirl is so welcoming, whether you’ve been to a past event, or this will be your first. It’s a place to experience the true cowgirl spirit and connect with Western culture and the people who create it.”
As I packed up my camera on the final day, I knew this event would feature prominently in our next issue of Ropers Sports News. The overwhelming success of this year’s gathering has already created anticipation for 2026. Applications for the trade show will open this summer, and event tickets go on sale September 1. I encourage all our readers to visit www.ArtoftheCowgirl.com or follow them on Facebook and Instagram for updates on ticket sales, host hotels, and the exciting schedule of events.
Reflecting on the five days I spent at Rancho Rio, I’m reminded why I’ve dedicated my life to sharing stories of Cowgirls and western heritage and now I get to bring them to Ropers Sports News. The cowgirl spirit is alive and thriving in Wickenburg. Through events like Art of the Cowgirl, our timeless traditions continue to inspire, educate, and unite us all in appreciation of the West’s enduring legacy.
To every cowgirl who brought heart, grit, and talent to Wickenburg this year: you are all legends, and your passion inspires not just me, but every one of our readers at Ropers Sports News. We’ll see you next year at Rancho Rio!
