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National Rodeo Hall of Fame
Inducted in 2024
Nancy Binford & Thena Mae Farr
1921-1998 1927-1985
Texas
Frustrated that women had largely been forced out of active competition in roughstock and timed events — except for barrel racing — by rodeo producers of the day, Nancy Binford and Thena Mae Farr founded the Girls Rodeo Association, which eventually led to female rodeo athletes earning winnings equal to their male counterparts.
Binford was born in 1921 and was raised on a 10,000-acre ranch near Wildorado, Texas. After earning a bachelor’s degree from Texas Tech in 1943, she taught physical education for a year before returning to the ranch and competing in various rodeos.
Farr was born in 1927 and grew up near Seymour, Texas. She began riding with her father at age two and was competing in barrel racing and cutting horse contests by age 10.
Discouraged by the lack of rodeo competition for women, as well as the fact that female rodeo contestants were awarded gifts instead of prize money, Binford and Farr held the Tri-State All Girl Rodeo in Amarillo, Texas, in 1947, which drew record crowds to the Tri-State Fairgrounds. The following year at San Angelo, Texas, Binford and Farr led efforts to establish the Girls Rodeo Association, which changed its name to the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA) in 1981. In 1985, the WPRA became the first women’s sports association to achieve equal pay for male and female athletes. Today, the WPRA is the nation’s oldest female sports association, and the only one governed by women.
Both Binford and Farr have been inducted into the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame.
Frustrated that women had largely been forced out of active competition in roughstock and timed events — except for barrel racing — by rodeo producers of the day, Nancy Binford and Thena Mae Farr founded the Girls Rodeo Association, which eventually led to female rodeo athletes earning winnings equal to their male counterparts.
Binford was born in 1921 and was raised on a 10,000-acre ranch near Wildorado, Texas. After earning a bachelor’s degree from Texas Tech in 1943, she taught physical education for a year before returning to the ranch and competing in various rodeos.
Farr was born in 1927 and grew up near Seymour, Texas. She began riding with her father at age two and was competing in barrel racing and cutting horse contests by age 10.
Discouraged by the lack of rodeo competition for women, as well as the fact that female rodeo contestants were awarded gifts instead of prize money, Binford and Farr held the Tri-State All Girl Rodeo in Amarillo, Texas, in 1947, which drew record crowds to the Tri-State Fairgrounds. The following year at San Angelo, Texas, Binford and Farr led efforts to establish the Girls Rodeo Association, which changed its name to the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA) in 1981. In 1985, the WPRA became the first women’s sports association to achieve equal pay for male and female athletes. Today, the WPRA is the nation’s oldest female sports association, and the only one governed by women.
Both Binford and Farr have been inducted into the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame.
