Lavonna “Shorty” Koger is an Oklahoma native with over 40 years of experience in restoration, fitting, sewing, and design of cowboy hats. A former rodeo contestant, she is now one of today’s leading industry hatters. She started Shorty’s Caboy Hattery in 1990 in the historic Stockyards City, OK, one of the few entirely woman-owned and...
The legendary Oklahoma native has achieved a rare pinnacle with 35 No. 1 singles and over 56 million albums sold worldwide. The Country Music Hall of Fame and Hollywood Bowl member has won 15 American Music Awards, 14 ACM Awards, 9 People’s Choice Awards, 7 CMA Awards and 2 Grammy Awards, in addition to an...
McEntire’s first brush with fame came at an early age, when she often led her fellow classmates and teachers in “The Star Spangled Banner” during school assemblies. Her parents didn’t have the extra funds for her to pursue a singing career, so she earned her teaching certificate from the state of Oklahoma and began riding...
A barrel racer for five decades and with 11 World Championships over that time, Burger is a trailblazer with longevity. At a young age, she was diagnosed with Perthes Disease, which is a painful and debilitating illness that causes inflammation and arthritic-like symptoms in the hip sockets. Her father had her ride horses to ease...
Pauline Nesbitt, born Jane Slovensky in 1905, was raised on a Wisconsin farm where she first fell in love with horses. She began her rodeo career at age 17 as a bronc rider, but after seeing Tad Lucas perform in San Antonio, she made the switch and added trick rider to her list of abilities....
Mary Emma Manning was considered to possess an untamed will, and married the famous Wild West showman and performer, Pawnee Bill, in 1886 who was nine years her senior. For her wedding gift she received a pony and a Marlin .22 target rifle. In 1888, they launched Pawnee Bill’s Historic Wild West show which later...
Kay Whittaker Young has been riding her entire life; she began competing at the professional level at age twelve. A member of several organizations, Young has sat on the board of Barrel Futurities of America since its inception. Additionally, Kay served as vice president and president of the GRA/WPRA. As president she promoted barrel racing...
Terry Stuart Forst, a rancher and innovator, manages the oldest family ranch in Oklahoma – the 7S Stuart Ranch. Under her leadership, her family’s ranch has become one of the most profitable in the Southwest, one of the best North American quarter horse ranches in the nation and earned the AQHA Best Remuda Award in...
Rebecca learned about horses from the cowboys she grew up around. Often called a “natural-born horseperson,” she spent more time with horses than at school. Rebecca gained an excellent reputation as a breeder of fine horses. Founder of the American Paint Stock Horse Association, precursor to the American Paint Horse Association, she began a movement...
