story by Billie Franks founder and
board member
Brought together by the Women’s Ranch Rodeo Association, Jenna Stierwalt, and sister Sage Adams, from Fort Pierce Florida, Neesa Smith, Hydro, Oklahoma, Billie Franks from Ramona, Oklahoma and Lori Campbell from Riverton, Nebraska. The ladies were all ranch raised with a heavy cowboy influence. Taking pride in the ranching life style, learning good work ethic and to take pride in whatever you do and to never give up.
Sage remembers Dad always expected the best and most from me and my sister. Both Dad and Papaw knew any task they threw at us it would get done. Billie remembers her Papa asking before they started a task “Do you think we are man enough?” Lori’s Dad knew between her and her brothers Lori would be the cowboy.
Jenna husband Shane and children call Stierwalt Ranch home outside Shidler, Oklahoma. Sage takes care of the Missouri division. Neesa husband Nacona and daughter Newly call Hydro, Oklahoma home on the White Creek Ranch. Billie and husband Chet have a place outside of Grenola, Kansas. Davison Cattle Company of Arnett, Oklahoma is where Lori, Jeremiah and their 3 boys call home.
Jenna and Sage started rodeoing at the young age of 6. Neesa started when she was 12. Neither Billie or Lori rodeoed as kids.
Jenna, Billie and Neesa started women’s ranch rodeos together in 2010. Neesa broke her arm early in the year. Jenna and Billie had 16 teammates that year, it was a rough going but ended up placing 3rd overall for the year and 4th in the average at the finals. 2011 Neesa came back and Sage joined the team. The four have rodeoed together off and on ever since taking time off to have babies and job changes. The girls have seen a small part of the world together one ranch rodeo at a time winning buckles, saddles and world championships. They have been blessed with Lori filling in over the years, meanwhile competing on other teams for the past 14 years.
Jenna’s favorite part of Women’s Ranch Rodeo is competing mainly but also the like-minded people and friends she has made. Neesa’s is the competition, knowing that you’re only as good as your competition the WRRA has always pushed her to do better and be better inside and out of the arena. Billie’s is competition, working together as a team and the lifetime friends she has made. Lori’s is the roping and the friends she has made and roping with her friends at the rodeos. Sage’s is meeting all the other handy cowgirls that were raised like she was, raised as cowboys.
The 5 main events are all ranch related and showcase the teamwork & skills of the girls and their horses. Branding Jenna will normally rope with Neesa and Billie working the ground and Sage branding. Sorting depending on what horses the girls are riding normally will determine who is on the line and who sorts the same with the Trailer Loading. Doctoring and Stray gathering Jenna will take the first head loop with either Neesa or Billie taking the heel shot. You can put Lori at any position on the team and she will be mounted to do the job, plus she is a bulldogging machine! It’s a challenge to heel the stray gathering steer before Lori can dismount and mug him down!
Jenna’s horse Sorrelly is a machine and has won top horse quite a few times, her younger horse WeeMan is pretty handy also. Neesa retired old reliable Josh a few years back and started riding Six who now is Newlys horse but she lets Mom borrow. Sage has ridden 3 horses Rex, Blackberry and Jenna’s WeeMan. Billie has been through 3 bay horses, the gray mare “p” and currently takes her young horse Gato.
Through ranch rodeo the girls hope they can educate others that women are part of the ranching industry in and out of the pasture. Working together with their husbands and children to preserve the western way of life. Jenna’s advice now that she is raising cowboys is you don’t have to do hard work but it’s important to work hard and love whatever it is you do. Lori tells her boys to remember your word is bond. Neesa’s advise Love God! Let him shine through your work and be the best YOU, you can be!
