The National Cowgirl Hall of Fame will welcome to its 2021 induction class Lari Dee Guy, the eight-time Women’s Professional Rodeo Association World Champion, who’s spent the majority of her career tirelessly advocating for female ropers’ inclusion at all levels of rodeo.
The 2021 Induction Luncheon and Ceremony on April 27, 2021 at the Dickies Arena.
Guy, 49, of Abilene, Texas, grew up on her family’s multi-generational ranch that they continue to operate today. A 2020 qualifier to the inaugural National Finals of Breakaway Roping, Guy excelled in junior rodeo and college rodeo, before focusing her efforts on winning Women’s Professional Rodeo Association world titles in the heading, heeling, breakaway roping and all-around. She’s won every major ladies’ roping title, from the Wildfire Ladies Only to the BFI’s All-Girl Team Roping. All the while, Guy established herself as a leading rope horse trainer in both the calf roping and the team roping, partnering with long-time friend 26-time PRCA World Champion Trevor Brazile in their training business.
Guy’s intensity as a competitor has earned her over $1.5 million in career earnings.
Courtesy WCRA/BullStock Media
“Her biggest contribution is that she made her way in the industry before there was a clear path for her to do it,” Brazile said. “We’ve been friends since we were kids at the junior rodeos, and back then everyone had the John Wayne approach to making a horse. But there she was, as a woman, making better horses and doing it her way. And she didn’t get the chance to show those horses off on the main stage like the breakaway ropers can do today. She was making a name for herself before women’s roping rose to the level we see it today, so it took her longer to get the credit she deserved. But she was so good, people couldn’t help but notice.”
Even more, Guy continuously pushed for the elevation of women’s roping, through teaching young girls and future greats at roping schools all over the US, Europe and Australia, to her successful #RopeLikeAGirl campaign—a tagline Guy coined to help empower women in roping that’s been a rallying cry for the growth of the sport.
“I’ve been so blessed in my career with great horses and great opportunities,” Guy said. “But it’s been clear to me—especially the last 10 years—that I needed to leave the sport better than I found it. The ladies who came before me—Betty Gayle Cooper, Wanda Bush, so many more—did their part and more. It was so important for me to do the same—to be grateful for all that we have, and to continue to push for women in roping to be given the stage on which we deserve to compete.”
She’s been influential in the push to create the National Finals of Breakaway Roping (where she’ll compete Dec. 8-10 in Arlington, Texas, during this year’s NFR). And she’s worked with Jolee Jordan, WPRA roping director, throughout the year that—despite a global pandemic—has ushered in a new era of breakaway roping at ProRodeos across the country.
“She’s got such a great attitude, and she’s a role model for young people and people like me, too,” Jordan said. “How she handles herself, her professionalism, and her ability—they’re all so admirable. She agreed to help me out when I became roping director, and she’s a wonderful sounding board. I just appreciate the thoughtfulness she gives to issues when I ask her for her opinion. She listens and takes it all in and forms opinions. Even when she has her own opinion, she listens and sees all sides.”
Full 2021 Class:
Pop Chalee
Lari Dee Guy
Kathryn Kusner
Lavonna “Shorty” Koger
Miranda Lambert
