Art of the Cowgirl 2026 Recap

Horsemanship and Western art were on full display in Wickenburg, Arizona, as Art of the Cowgirl returned for five days of competition, craftsmanship, presentations and celebration of Western culture.

The temperatures rose at the end of February in Wickenburg, Arizona, just in time for the top cowgirls to roll into town for Art of the Cowgirl. In its second year at Rancho Rio, the event featured competition in the World’s Greatest Cowgirl, the Wrangler All-Women’s Ranch Rodeo, Merck Breakaway Roping and All-Girl Team Roping. Qualifier events were added in both the ranch rodeo and breakaway roping in 2026.

Morgan Holmes and her horse, Monster Truk, walked away with the title of World’s Greatest Cowgirl after an impressive showing in the finals. Holmes was featured in the February 2024 issue of Western Horseman. Her late grandmother, Charlene Morgan, was a Women of the West Award recipient, and her grandfather, Butch Morgan, remains involved with the magazine as brand abassador.

In addition to the competitive events, Art of the Cowgirl aims to celebrate and support cowgirls in Western arts and trades while funding fellowships that help emerging artists learn from master craftsmen. Master artists guided fellowship recipients in their respective crafts, while workshops and clinics were held throughout the week. The public could also watch a variety of presenters and performers.

Five days of horsemanship concluded with a successful invitational horse sale. Western Horseman Women of the West feature Keily Riata Stewart returned for the second year as the sale’s high seller with “Governor,” a 2011 Azteca-bred gray gelding that brought $225,000.

2026 Art of the Cowgirl Competition Results

Kimes Ranch World’s Greatest Cowgirl

Presented by Western Horseman

Finals Cumulative

1. Morgan Holmes — Monster Truk — 447.00 — $9,408
2. Carmen Buckingham — Kitty Wilkins — 440.50 — $5,880
3. Piper Yule — Bettin Blind — 439.50 — $4,704
4. Josie Pereira — Bid It — 434.00 — $3,920
5. Brittany Factor — SJR Diamond Rubies — 425.50 — $3,528
6. Johnny Rose Bray — Wright On Holly Time — 425.00 — $3,136
7. Kinsey Walz — Honky Tonk Dreams — 423.50 — $2,744
8. Chantz Stewart-Bond — Peptos Lil Pet — 410.50 — $2,352
9. Kelsey Thomas — Kit Kat Jerrie — 298.50 — $1,960
10. Paris M. Starn — Santanas Rey Gun — 287.00 — $1,568

Fence Work Finals

1. Carmen Buckingham — Kitty Wilkins — 147.00
2. Morgan Holmes — Monster Truk — 146.50 (tie)
3. Piper Yule — Bettin Blind — 146.50 (tie)
4. Brittany Factor — SJR Diamond Rubies — 144.50
5. Josie Pereira — Bid It — 143.50

Steer Stopping Finals

1. Morgan Holmes — Monster Truk — 151.00
2. Kelsey Thomas — Kit Kat Jerrie — 150.00
3. Carmen Buckingham — Kitty Wilkins — 148.50 (tie)
4. Piper Yule — Bettin Blind — 148.50 (tie)

Reining Finals

1. Morgan Holmes — Monster Truk — 149.50
2. Kelsey Thomas — Kit Kat Jerrie — 148.50
3. Carmen Buckingham — Kitty Wilkins — 145.00 (tie)
4. Paris M. Starn — Santanas Rey Gun — 145.00 (tie)

Tayler Teichert ropes one and pulls her slack in the team branding portion of the All-Women’s Ranch Rodeo.

Wrangler All-Women’s Ranch Rodeo

Finals

1. Rancho Deluxe — 24 — $13,500/team
2. Team Russey — 19 — $9,200/team
3. Reverse FP Cattle — 18 — $7,400/team
4. Vaqueras Locas — 14 — $5,200/team
5. Bar Diamond — 13 — $3,000/team

Merck Animal Health Breakaway Roping

Presented by Kimes Ranch

Average

1. Weslynn Reno — 10.23 on 3 — $10,000
2. Ryland Pintar — 10.98 on 3 — $6,000
3. Payton Feyder — 12.34 on 3 — $4,500
4. Haliegh Grant — 12.90 on 3 — $3,000
5. Melody Hale — 13.24 on 3 — $2,200
6. Tylie Norcutt — 13.47 on 3 — $1,700

Fast Time Round 1

1. Austee VonAhn — 2.54 — $1,000

Fast Time Round 2

1. Kennedy Buckner — 2.13 — $1,000

Fast Time Short Go

1. Ryland Pintar — 3.04 — $1,000

All-Girl Team Roping

Presented by Merck Animal Health

1. Brooke Jackson & Summer Tex — 35.16 on 4 — $15,600
2. Marcey Chavez & Sadie Grant — 40.56 on 4 — $10,880
3. Heather Rogers & Kaitlyn Torres — 44.11 on 4 — $8,040
4. Casey Hall & Chelsey Bushnell — 55.60 on 4 — $5,680
5. Michele Spurling & Jimmi Jo Montera — 30.12 on 3 — $4,240
6. Payton Feyder & Mattie Ward — 35.35 on 3 — $2,840

Fast Time Short Go

• Brooke Jackson & Summer Tex — 8.84 — $1,200

2026 Sale Recap

61 Horses Consigned | 45 Horses Sold

Sale Total – $1.67 Million

Sale Averages
Overall Average – $37,111
Top 10 – $75,200
Top 20 – $56,450
Top 30 – $46,633

Elite High Seller
“Governor” – $225,000
Consigned by Keily Riata Stewart, High River, Alberta, Canada

Cowkid High Seller
“Snickers” – $37,000
Consigned by Geraldine Patten (Agent: Tulsa Peterson), Wittman, Arizona