Julia Dondero
Western Sports Journalist | COWGIRL 30 Under 30 Class of 2025
As seen in: Western Horseman, The Cowboy Channel, COWGIRL Magazine, BFI, WCRA, WRC, IPRA, IFYR, Ropers Sports News
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Kade Berry Writes a New Chapter of Cheyenne Frontier Days History
A sold-out crowd of 19,000 roared with excitement at the largest outdoor rodeo in the world. Anticipation filled the air, making the otherwise dry Cheyenne climate heavy with the unanswered question: Who would etch their name into the 2025 history books?What started in 1897 as a community celebration of cowboy skills quickly evolved into the largest outdoor rodeo on Earth—better known as the “Daddy of ’em All.” Now paying out more than $1.16 million in prize money, Cheyenne Frontier Days lives u...
Ledgends Dan Mortensen, Benny Binion, And Shawn Davis Named 2025 Vegas NFR Icons
Rodeo great Dan Mortensen will be honored as a 2025 Vegas NFR Icon, joining legendary contributors Benny Binion and Shawn Davis as the latest figures celebrated for their lasting impact on the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.
Las Vegas Events announced the trio will be recognized during the 40th edition of the NFR, held Dec. 4–13 at the Thomas & Mack Center. Mortensen, a seven-time PRCA World Champion, will be honored during the Dec. 5 performance, with Binion and Davis recognized the following...
Las Vegas Events announced the trio will be recognized during the 40th edition of the NFR, held Dec. 4–13 at the Thomas & Mack Center. Mortensen, a seven-time PRCA World Champion, will be honored during the Dec. 5 performance, with Binion and Davis recognized the following...
Book The Perfect Dude Ranch COWGIRL Vacation This Summer!
If you're looking for a summer getaway that offers more than just a change of scenery, a dude ranch vacation might be exactly what you need. With horseback riding, open landscapes, and a slower pace, these ranches provide a chance to unplug and reconnect—with nature, with others, and with yourself. Whether you're an experienced rider or just curious about the Western lifestyle, we've rounded up some of the best destinations for an unforgettable cowgirl escape.
Read More: Summer Bucket List For...
Read More: Summer Bucket List For...
CINCH World Championship Junior Rodeo Crowns 2025 World And Event Champions - COWGIRL Magazine
The 2025 Cinch World Championship Junior Rodeo (WCJR) wrapped up a thrilling week of elite youth rodeo action at the Lazy E Arena, where hundreds of competitors from across the country battled for championship titles and their share of more than $410,000 in prize money.
From fast times to high scores, the event showcased the future of rodeo. Oklahoma’s own Blaze Carter clocked a 7.81-second run to claim the Youth Tie-Down Roping title and $1,550, while Shayde Jackson (Burbank, Okla.) won the Yo...
From fast times to high scores, the event showcased the future of rodeo. Oklahoma’s own Blaze Carter clocked a 7.81-second run to claim the Youth Tie-Down Roping title and $1,550, while Shayde Jackson (Burbank, Okla.) won the Yo...
Julia Dondero - COWGIRL Magazine
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All rights reserved. Use of thi...
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Hadley Thompson Emerges Victorious at National High School Finals Rodeo, Earning Three National Titles
Home-state cowgirl Hadley Thompson of Yoder, Wyoming, made her mark on the 76th edition of the National High School Finals Rodeo (NHSFR), held at the Sweetwater Events Complex in Rock Springs, Wyo, earning an impressive three national titles.Making history, the Cowboy State athlete took home the coveted All-Around Cowgirl, Breakaway Roping, and Goat Tying titles. In addition to the prestigious honors, Thompson beamed as she carried her new Todd Slone saddles and Gist buckles home.“It was a very...
Weekly Wire: California Rodeo Salinas Previews World Championship Races
As the dog days of summer roll on, so does the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) season. With major rodeos like California Rodeo Salinas concluding, fans and athletes alike are watching the world title races begin to take shape.Nestled alongside the picturesque Monterey Bay and in the heart of the Salinas Valley lies a “Ro-DAY-o” unlike any other. While the agriculturally based “Salad Bowl of the World” is best known for its homegrown produce, Salinas is also known for its historic r...
All-Around Badlands Cowboy Bodie Mattson Overcomes Adversity to Repeat Success in Colorado Springs
“Keep entering.”In the wise words of Bodie Mattson’s University of Wyoming rodeo coach—and four-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier—Seth Glause, sometimes you just have to keep entering.Keep entering, keep learning, and keep going.It was this mantra that led the 2024 NFR Open All-Around Cowboy to his second consecutive all-around title in the Pikes Peak foothills of Colorado Springs. A champion of the Badlands Circuit’s Tie-Down Roping and All-Around titles, Mattson accomplished a feat not many...
Weekly Wire: Cowboy Christmas Concludes, Regular Season Earnings Records in Sight
With just over two months remaining in the 2025 Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) season, the race to the National Finals Rodeo (NFR) in Las Vegas is officially in top gear. The conclusion of the Fourth of July rodeo run—unofficially coined Cowboy Christmas by athletes chasing lucrative payouts—brought major shakeups and record-breaking performances to the world standings.From Calgary to Estes Park, Elgin, Colorado Springs, and beyond, the week of July 6–12 proved especially fruitful...
Western Industry Leaders Take Home Wrangler BFI Week 11.5 Top Honors - FULL RESULTS - Bob Feist Invitational
Longtime friends and western industry leaders Barry Berg and Monty Crist took the Monday off from their day jobs and walked away with top honors at the 2025 Wrangler Bob Feist Invitational (BFI) #11.5 Businessman’s Team Roping, earning an impressive $175,000 payday.
Teaming up for the first time at the famed Lazy E Arena, Berg and Crist found great success in their hands. In addition to the substantial payout, the cowboys also received an extensive prize package, including Cactus Saddles, Gis...
Teaming up for the first time at the famed Lazy E Arena, Berg and Crist found great success in their hands. In addition to the substantial payout, the cowboys also received an extensive prize package, including Cactus Saddles, Gis...
Let er’ Buck: A Living History On The Green Mile
Printed in Western Horseman Nov 2024
With over a century's worth of stories told on Pendleton, Oregon’s green mile, the Pendleton Round-Up is one of rodeo’s most iconic venues.
With over a century's worth of stories told on Pendleton, Oregon’s green mile, the Pendleton Round-Up is one of rodeo’s most iconic venues.
If This Stetson Could Talk, John Wayne’s Stylistic Legacy In a time where it’s ‘cool to be (and dress) cowboy’ again, John Wayne’s style and legacy live on. By: Julia Dondero Stetsons down H
Printed in Western Horseman August 2024
