Ranch Rodeo Cowgirls Are Coming To Town

Glam and grit will be demonstrated at the Women's Ranch Rodeo Association/Ritchey Tags World Finals Rodeo.

Lauren Fritzler | Oct 19, 2023

Gracen Walker

October 20-21, the 2023 Women’s Ranch Rodeo Association/Ritchey Tags World Finals Rodeo will take place in Pawhuska, Oklahoma. The ladies will compete over the course of two days to determine the champion women’s ranch rodeo team.

The perfect combination of style and grit, ladies competed as a team to earn points throughout the season. They competed in events such as doctoring, double team roping, sorting, and trailer loading. At each ranch rodeo, a talented lady is awarded the Top Hand award and one horse is awarded Top Horse award. These awards are determined by judges and given to exceptional athletes.

"It's a privilege to get to compete against and alongside some of the best cowgirls out there," said Gracen Walker, team member on the Vaqueras Locas Women's Ranch Rodeo Team. "I'm looking forward to doing what I love and having fun!"

The mission behind the Women’s Ranch Rodeo Association is to celebrate the way of life women lead while promoting rodeo. The association doesn’t require team members to own or be employed by a ranch. They understand that cowgirls

After two days’ worth of competition, a team of gritty cowgirls will earn the Women’s Ranch Rodeo Association/Ritchey Tags Championship title.

Going into the Women’s Ranch Rodeo Association/Ritchey Tags World Finals Rodeo, the standings are lead by Vaqueras Locas with 1,153 points. They’re trailed by Push Hard Cattle Company, who earned 887 points throughout the season. In third place is Morton Cattle Company with 745.5 points. These teams will battle it out October 20 and 21.

For more information about the Women's Ranch Rodeo Association/Ritchey Tags World Finals Rodeo, visit www.womensranchrodeo.org.

Published Oct 19, 2023

LAUREN FRITZLER

Originally from Northeastern Colorado, Lauren grew up on a farm and ranch where she was heavily involved in production ag. The small Colorado town allowed Lauren to flourish. Lauren’s family has a generational love for rodeo and she was naturally attracted to the western lifestyle. From an early age, she would compete in rodeos and travel with her mom to rodeos around the state while juggling school involvement. She prides herself in not only competing in rodeos, but winning rodeos on horses raised on the ranch. Lauren got to Texas as fast as she could. She currently attends West Texas A&M University where she studies Agricultural Media and Communication with a double minor in Ag Business and Economics and Broadcast Journalism. She is an Agricultural Ambassador for the Department and serves as the President for Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow. When Lauren is not in the classroom, she is striving for excellence in her professional life. She has completed an internship at the College National Finals Rodeo and the Tri-State Fair and Rodeo, where she gained skills to make her mark on the western industry. She uses her graphic design skills to create logos for small businesses, travels to spend time with family, and immerses herself into the rodeo world. No matter where life takes her, Lauren is strong-willed and dedicated to her God-given purpose. Day by day, she aspires to be an advocate for agriculture and the western lifestyle. Lauren Fritzler believes we are all lifelong students, that the western lifestyle allots extensive learning opportunities throughout a lifetime. In efforts to teach others about rodeo, she is thrilled at the opportunity to collaborate with Sports Illustrated Rodeo Daily.