​The Larry Bell Memorial All Girls Rodeo was started in 2018 with the goal of creating more competitive opportunities for female athletes, as well as to honor Larry Bell, who was a strong supporter of women in agriculture. A large part of this rodeo’s mission is to help level the playing field between male and female athletes to offer women the same level of competitive opportunity as male athletes. Since this rodeo began, it has quickly become a favorite stop for many female athletes, including Heeler DeAnna Thompson.The Oregon cowgirl has been an annual competitor at the Larry Bell Memorial All-Girls Rodeo since its second year of operation in 2019. Thompson often shares a dedication to supporting the mission of this rodeo, helping build opportunities for female rodeo athletes through her loyalty.There was, however, something different about the Larry Bell Memorial All Girls Rodeo this year: the rodeo was officially sanctioned with the PWR for the first time. Not only this, but it was also set as a PWR exemption qualified rodeo, meaning cowgirls had the opportunity to earn an exemption to the 2027 PWR Championship in Fort Worth, Texas. Thompson was excited at this change and opportunity; an excitement that could clearly be seen in her competition.Heeler DeAnna Thompson and header Mindy Haigh were able to compete a smoldering 10.9 second run, a run which will not soon be forgotten. Not only did these cowgirls win the event and punch their tickets to the 2027 PWR Championship, but they also set a new women’s arena record at the Brenton County Outdoor Arena. This truly impressive one that caught the attention of rodeo fans everywhere, especially the female athletes. Women in Rough Stock Take Steps Towards the 2027 PWR ChampionshipThanks to her event winning ride at the Cowgirls Kickin’ Cancer Women’s Rodeo in Durango, CO, Dayna Eilert becomes one of the first rough stock athletes to earn an exemption to the 2027 PWR Championships.In just its first year, the PWR has been taking huge strides in building competitive opportunities for women and offering a platform for great female athletes to receive the recognition they deserve. DeAnna and Mindy are two outstanding athletes who will have the opportunity to compete on the biggest stage in women’s rodeo. Furthermore, their incredible achievement in setting an arena record has been properly recognized and credited to them, rewarded with recognition from the event sanction PWR, and offering them hope and passion to move forward in their careers. They, and other female athletes, can do so with the knowledge that the rodeo world is changing for the better, growing and offering more platforms for women to compete, win, and earn.