Gloria Lupton Tennison Pioneer Award
Established in honor of the local philanthropist, Gloria Lupton Tennison, this award distinguishes those who have pioneered new approaches to public service in the areas of business, law, sports, the arts, or humanitarian causes. It recognizes the difficulty in creating new avenues of service, while applauding the determination and trailblazing efforts of those who have successfully created programs.
Previous award winners include:
- 2025: Alice L. Walton
- 2017: Ann D. Romney
- 2012: Nancy Brinker
- 2010: Ruth Carter Stevenson
- 2009: Laura W. Bush
- 2005: Anne Armstrong
- 2001: Lynne V. Cheney
- 1999: Nancy Lee Bass
Fern Sawyer Award
Named after a 1976 Honoree and champion cowgirl, this award distinguished an individual or organization that has worked toward and contributed to the advancement of the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame.
Previous award winners include:
- 2022: Nadine Lipson
- 2012: Renda Tillerson
- 2011: Patti Colbert
- 2007: Alice L. Walton
- 2006: Edward P. Bass
- 2003: Van Romans
- 2001: Sheila Welch
- 2000: Georgia Mae Ericson
- 1994: Anne W. Marion
Patsy Montana Entertainer Award
Named for 1987 Honoree Patsy Montana, this award recognizes those whose work in the entertainment field continue to advance the tradition of the cowgirl in the areas of film, television, music, writing and theatre.
Previous award winners include:
- 2024: Laura Lynch
- 2023: Lainey Wilson
- 2022: Faith Hill
- 2021: Christina Voros
- 2016: Callie Khouri
- 2000: Jessie the Cowgirl from Toy Story 2
- 1996: Emmylou Harris
Mitzi Lucas Riley Award
Established in honor of 1996 Hall of Fame Honoree Mitzi Lucas Riley, this award recognizes young adults who promote Western heritage in the community through education and volunteerism. This award encourages involvement in preserving the Western culture and legacy.
Honoree Mitzi Lucas Riley has said that the saddle was her playpen as a baby. Born into rodeo royalty having Tad Lucas for a mother and Buck Lucas for a father, Mitzi made her professional trick riding debut at age six when she and her mother performed together in Pueblo, Colorado. A daring trick rider, she performed in rodeos across the country, from Madison Square Garden to the Calgary Stampede. Mitzi served on the board of the Rodeo Historical Society, establishing the Tad Lucas Award to recognize outstanding women in rodeo. Mitzi has held fast to a life-long dedication to the Western heritage, and to promoting cowgirls.
Previous award winners include:
- 2024: Paola Pimienta
- 2023: Lorene Agather and Sainty Nelsen
- 2018: Brooke Wharton
- 2016: Amy Doris Bell
- 2014: Amberley Snyder
- 2013: Missy Bonds
- 2010: Adelaide Royer and Mary Margaret Richter
Mary Jane Colter Award
This award, named for 2009 Honoree Mary Jane Colter, distinguishes those women who create, design, build, and interpret the traditions of the West.
Mary Jane Colter was one of the few female architects of her era. She has eleven buildings on the National Register of Historic Places, five of which have been designated National Historic Landmarks. Each year, as many as 5 million visitors pass through the collection of buildings she designed or decorated in Grand Canyon National Park. For inspiration, Colter looked to nature and was known for creating structures in harmony with the environment.
Previous award winners include:
- 2025: Johanna Ortiz
- 2018: Kathleen Moody
- 2015: Double D Ranch
- 2014: Jan Barboglio
Sergeant Reckless Award
Named for the most decorated war horse in modern history, this award recognizes animals, individuals, or groups who risk their lives for the betterment of others, and who stand courageously in protection of others.
Sergeant Reckless, a mare, held official rank in the United States military and served in many combat positions during the Korean War, including one in which she completed 51 solo trips, covering 35 miles in a single day, transporting over 9,000 pounds of recoilless rounds – and saving lives in the process.
Previous award winners include:
- 2021: Lucca K458, USMC
- 2019: Robin Hutton
Jerry Ann Taylor Best Dressed Award
Named for Jerry Ann Taylor, a daring trick rider and 1986 Honoree with an incredible sense of style, this award recognizes competitors whose style captures their individuality and showmanship.
Following her passing in February 2012, a fund was started to reward cowgirls who embody her famous sense of style. The WPRA developed the criteria for the judging which took place the first nine go rounds at Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (WNFR) and the final night of the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo (FWSSR).
Previous award winners include:
- 2023 FWSSR: Sissy Winn
- 2023 NFR: Sissy Winn
- 2022 FWSSR: Sissy Winn
- 2022 NFR: Margo Crowther
- 2021 NFR: Molly Otto
- 2020 FWSSR: Jimmie Smith
- 2020 NFR: Tiany Schuster
- 2019 FWSSR: Stevi Hillman
- 2019 NFR: Jessica Routier
- 2018 FWSSR: Sadye Simpson
- 2018 NFR: Jessica Routier
- 2017 FWSSR: Kathy Grimes
- 2017 NFR: Kimmie Wall
- 2016 FWSSR: Shelly Anzick
- 2016 NFR: Michele McLeod
- 2015 FWSSR: Kendra Dickson
- 2015 NFR: Fallon Taylor
- 2014 FWSSR: Jane Melby
- 2014 NFR: Fallon Taylor
- 2013 FWSSR: Kendra Dickson
- 2013 NFR: Fallon Taylor
- 2012 NFR: Mary Walker
