National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame Induction Day 1
- December 13, 2017
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- Tiffany Schwenke
Posted in: Featured, Ranch Life
I feel so fortunate to have been invited by my friend and mentor Rhonda Sedgwick Stearns to attend the 42nd National Cowgirl Museum & Hall of Fame Induction event in Fort Worth, Texas.
Cover of Honoree Yearbook 2017. (Check back with cavvysavvy.com for future series of blog posts about many of the National Cowgirl Museum Honorees.)
Rhonda Sedgwick Stearns was inducted into the National Cowgirl Museum & Hall of Fame in 1977. She is the only living honoree from her year of inductees or any previous. Rhonda has performed the invocation for the induction ceremony for many years. She is such an amazing, God-loving lady. She does a great job leading everyone in prayer. It was so fun to attend the event with Rhonda. She knows almost everyone attending the event and introduced me to some many amazing people. It was an experience I will remember forever.
Rhonda mentioned where my finger is pointing.
The day before the luncheon everyone checks into the event host hotel, Hyatt Place Fort Worth Historic Stock Yards. Amazing ladies and their families have traveled from near and far to attend this event. Many of them knew each other in their days of glory as rodeo entertainment acts, performing at cowboy gatherings, or competing against each other in rodeos, and of course from meeting here at this event for the past several years! This event is like a reunion of very special friends. Friends who have spent their lives with similar interests and one thread connecting them all… the horse. This year’s event theme was “It’s never just a horse.” A sentiment that is true in my heart.
First page in Honoree Yearbook.
After everyone is checked into the hotel they either go relax and visit in the hospitality room or go out for a little afternoon shopping and site seeing around the Fort Worth Stock Yards. There is so much cowboy history in the Stockyards district. The Stockyards are full of original buildings, big mule barns, legendary steakhouses, saloons, shops, and a small part of what was the actual stockyards.
Fun environment in the famous Fort Worth Stock Yards.
A small remaining part of the original Fort Worth Stock Yards. (Check back on cavvysavvy.com for a future blog post all about the Fort Worth Stock Yards.)
National Cowgirl Museum & Hall of Fame goals and purpose.
The National Cowgirl Museum & Hall of Fame was originally in a small town called Hereford, Texas. The new facility that debuted in 2002 in Fort Worth is absolutely beautiful! There is so much to see and so many stories of amazing women to try to soak in.
Watch this great video about the National Cowgirl Museum & Hall of Fame.
The National Cowgirl Museum & Hall of Fame may be about preserving the past but you will find many advanced, high tech exhibits inside!
Video about the new displays and exhibits at National Cowgirl Museum –
Because of the new 2017 National Cowgirl Museum & Hall of Fame inductees and who they are; there was quite the buzz going around! It made the anticipation and excitement build in months prior. The unique and amazing 2017 National Cowgirl Hall of Fame Inductees include Reba McEntire and her mother Jacqueline Smith McEntire, Margaret McGinley Dickens, Mary Burger, and Ashley Collins! Former First Lady of Massachusetts, Ann D. Romney, was awarded the Gloria Lupton Tennison Award.
The evening before the main event the National Cowgirl Museum holds a mixer party for everyone to get to visit, eat, and have a few drinks!
Rhonda Sedgwick Stearns and Jan Youren visiting in the hotel lobby.
Everyone gets freshened up and meets in the Hyatt Place Hotel lobby. Then chartered buses pick up the honorees and their guests at the hotel to take everyone to the museum. The bus was filled with laughter and excitement! It was an awesome experience to be on a bus sitting next to ladies who are world champions, Guinness book of world record holders, famous authors, roman riders, trick ropers, and so many other awesome accolades!
It was fun getting to spend time visiting with trick riders Mrs. Karen Vold and Linda Scholtz!!
It was late in the evening and getting dark outside as the bus pulled up to the National Cowgirl Museum & Hall of Fame. It was my first time seeing the building. It was beautifully lit with lights and was quite the sight to see. The mixer was such fun! I even got a selfie picture with Reba!
A statue outside the National Cowgirl Museum & Hall of Fame
Mural on the side of the National Cowgirl Museum.
So fun getting a selfie with Reba! She gave me a big hug and told me I was sweet.
Rhonda and me.
After the mixer we got bused back to the hotel and got a good night’s sleep. The next day was the 42nd National Cowgirl Museum & Hall of Fame Induction Luncheon. You can read about it and watch videos in my next post, National Cowgirl Museum & Hall of Fame Induction Day 2.
National Cowgirl Museum & Hall of Fame website and Facebook page.
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Posted in: Featured, Ranch Life
About Tiffany Schwenke
My family has been ranching and raising horses for over 100 years. We raise, train, and market AQHA horses at North Four Mile Creek Horse Ranch. We produce the annual event WYO WILD RIDE RANCH RODEO. I am a wife and a mother to 3 amazing...