EVENTS
Saddle Bronc Rider
Trick and Roman Rider
Steer Wrestler
Anna Matilda Winger (Tillie Baldwin) was born at Avendale, Norway, in 1888, and emigrated to the United States in 1902 with aspirations of becoming a renowned hairdresser. After a meeting with cowboy-humorist Will Rogers in New York, however, she decided that horses, travel, and adventure would provide her a more interesting life. Around 1909 she joined the Miller Brothers 101 Ranch Wild West Show as a cowgirl trick and bronc rider. Tillie Baldwin probably adopted her stage name during the winter of 1909-1910, when she spent the off-season in Hollywood working with Bison Films. She entered her first real rodeo in Los Angeles, California, in 1911, winning the ladies bronc title riding “slick” instead of with “hobbled” stirrups. The following year Tillie captured the trick riding and all-around cowgirl titles at the Pendleton Roundup in contention with the great Bertha Blancett. In 1913 Baldwin won the cowgirl’s trick riding and relay race titles at Los Angeles; took the trick-riding and Roman riding honors at the Winnipeg Stampede; and repeated the trick riding victory at Pendleton, Oregon. Tillie Baldwin continued to ride for the Miller Brothers 101 Ranch for several years, produced her own cowgirl show for a time, and competed at several rodeo venues through the 1920s. Her skill and daring were matched by her fashion sense, for it was Tillie who introduced the practical arena outfit consisting of a middy blouse and bloomers for distaff rodeo competition. She retired from the arena in 1941 and became manager of the Fred Stone Ranch in Lyme, CT. Tillie Baldwin died in 1958 at age 80.
