30 Under 30 Class of 2026 announced
Now in its seventh year, the COWGIRL 30 Under 30 program has recognized more than 210 women for their notable work in the ag industry.
Established in 2020 and curated by COWGIRL Magazine’s editors and executives, the program reflects the “depth, diversity and evolving impact” of women involved in ag-related media, science, business, rodeo, fashion, etc. who are driving the Western industry forward.
According to COWGIRL Magazine Marketing Specialist and Publications Editor Jillian Sinclair, the selection process for the Class of 2026 was the most competitive to date.
“Nearly 200 applications were submitted from across the world and evaluated through a rigorous, multi-score process led by the COWGIRL team alongside a committee of respected female executives within the Western industry,” Sinclair writes in a Jan. 20 article announcing the honorees. “From this accomplished pool, 30 women rose to the top, recognized not only for professional achievement but for leadership, integrity and a deep commitment to the Western way of life.”
According to Sinclair, a new feature of this year’s COWGIRL 30 Under 30 program is the COWGIRL Leadership Summit, open to women of all ages and professions.
“Designed to inspire, connect and equip women across the Western industry, the three-day summit brings together leading female executives, entrepreneurs and changemakers for dynamic programming focused on leadership, growth and opportunity,” she writes.
The summit will take place in conjunction with the Seventh Annual Wrangler COWGIRL 30 Under 30 Empowered Gala, in which the Class of 2026 will be formally recognized. The event is set for May 20-23 at Live! by Loews in Arlington, Texas.
Cowboy State representative
Wyoming’s own Tori Teegarden, agriculture and federal lands policy advisor in the Office of U.S. Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY), was among those named in COWGIRL Magazine’s prestigious list.
Teegarden was raised with deep ties to the ranching industry in both Wyoming and Colorado, earning degrees in animal and meat science from Colorado State University (CSU) and Texas A&M University (TAMU).
From there, she pursued internships to gain hands-on experience in beef packing, research and policy on Capitol Hill.
Today, Teegarden is based in Washington, D.C. where she handles Barrasso’s agricultural, natural resource and federal lands and water portfolio. In this role, she bridges science, policy and advocacy to ensure the voices of Wyoming’s ag industry are well represented in national decision-making.
“Teegarden is passionate about advocating for the people of agriculture. She values the industry’s ability to adapt across generations while maintaining its mission to feed and fuel the nation, and she takes pride in safeguarding Western heritage through policy work,” Sinclair writes.
Western women
In addition to Teegarden, a handful of other women hailing from the Mountain West were also named in the COWGIRL 30 Under 30 Class of 2026.
Officially based in Utah, Braidie Jill Anderson has strong ties to the Cowboy State.
Anderson is the owner of Roamstead Ranch, a direct-to-consumer beef and bison operation, and a professional backcountry outfitter associated with J&J Outfitters, which provides outfitting services across Utah, Idaho and western Wyoming.
Prior to this, Anderson was Miss Rodeo Wyoming and a TV reporter and spokesperson for the Utah Department of Agriculture.
Fellow Utahn Jacee Lancaster was born and raised in south-central Idaho and now serves as the livestock director at the Utah State Fair in Salt Lake City where she oversees all livestock events and produces Utah’s Own Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association Rodeo.
Hailing from Boise, Idaho, Annika Johnson works as a feedlot consulting veterinarian for Veterinary Research and Consulting Services, while Cassi Nichols, a native of northern Colorado, now works as the sponsorship and endorsee specialist for CINCH, based in Grandview, Texas.
Another Coloradoan, Maggie Murphy, serves as the CSU horse judging team coordinator in Fort Collins, Colo.
Samantha Dopp is the director of equine and agriculture operations at The Ranch at Rock Creek in Philipsburg, Mont. and serves on the board of the Montana Reined Cow Horse Futurity.
Jamie Steen grew up on a ranch in eastern Montana and now serves as the Art of the Cowgirl executive director based in Worden, Mont.
Other honorees
Among the women included in COWGIRL’s 30 Under 30 Class of 2026 is a long list of individuals hailing from Texas.
They include Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Horse Show Coordinator Ashley Dibbs of Spring, Texas; TAMU College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences Clinical Assistant Professor Audra Jones of College Station, Texas; AgTexas Farm Credit Crop Insurance Agent Baily Summers of Amarillo, Texas; On-Air Sports Broadcast Journalist Hayley Novak of Terrell, Texas; Equibrand Products Group Public Relations (PR) and Social Media Coordinator Joy Nabors of Stephenville, Texas; Double K Digitals On-Camera Talent and Co-Founder Kennadee Riggs of Yoakum, Texas; National Cutting Horse Association Communications Manager Logan Lynch of Boyd, Texas; Rachel Cogle, assistant professor of equine industry and business at West Texas A&M University of Canyon, Texas; Cavender’s Boot City Western Marketing and Events Coordinator Sydney Shepard of Tyler, Texas and Taylor Christie of Tahoka, Texas, an ag science teacher and FFA advisor at Tahoka ISD.
Three individuals from Fort Worth, Texas – Double D Ranch Assistant Sales Manager Savannah Welborn; American Hat Company PR and Digital Media Manager Skylar Smith and Stevie Guess, western industry media and strategic partnerships coordinator at RFD-TV – were also honored.
Other honorees include Wrangler PR and Brand Collaborations Marketing Senior Coordinator Ashley Pollard of Greensboro, N.C.; American Quarter Horse Association Manager of Championship Shows Aubrey Braham of Thompson, Ohio; Brooke Kitting of Guymon, Okla., director of marketing and communications for Guymon Pioneer Days Rodeo and senior veterinarian for Seaboard Foods and Ariat International, Inc. General Manager Brooke Whitmer of Nashville, Tenn.
Rounding out the Class of 2026 are Kimes Ranch Digital Content Manager Camryn Faust of Scottsdale, Ariz.; 6666 Ranch Marketing Manager Carlie Pollmeier of Fort Scott, Kan.; BUCKEYE Nutrition Marketing Specialist Hannah Manns of Orrville, Ohio; Irina Pateras of San Luis Obispo, Calif., equine center manager for California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo and Sarah Kezar of Madison, Wis., assistant professor of weed science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Hannah Bugas is the managing editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.
