What began as a local effort to create more opportunities for girls in rodeo has grown into one of the Pacific Northwest’s premier all-girls rodeos.
This summer, the Larry Bell Memorial All Girls Rodeo reached another milestone. The Benton County Fair and Rodeo announced a partnership with Premier Women’s Rodeo, making the Larry Bell Memorial All Girls Rodeo the first event in the Pacific Northwest to serve as an official qualifying rodeo for the national organization.
Beginning this year, champions in seven events — team roping, breakaway roping, goat tying, pole bending, barrel racing, ranch bronc riding and bull riding — earn automatic qualification to the PWR Championship, scheduled for May 2027 at the historic Cowtown Coliseum in Fort Worth, Texas, where competitors will vie for a share of hundreds of thousands of dollars in prize money.
For Nicole Schrock, chair of the Benton County Rodeo Committee, the announcement represents years of work building opportunities for women in rodeo.
“When we first started talking about this event, our goal was simple. We wanted to create more opportunities for girls and young women to compete close to home,” Schrock said. “To now have a national organization recognize what we’re building here is incredibly exciting.”
The Larry Bell Memorial All Girls Rodeo honors longtime rodeo supporter Larry Bell, whose commitment to youth and agriculture helped shape Benton County’s rodeo community. Since its creation, the event has continued to grow, attracting competitors from throughout the Northwest and helping inspire the launch of the Spring Stampede All Girls Rodeo, giving female athletes even more opportunities to compete.
Morgan Young, who helped coordinate the new partnership, said the recognition reflects years of dedication from volunteers.
“This partnership is another huge step forward for our rodeo and, more importantly, for the incredible women and girls who compete here,” Young said. “We’re creating a direct pathway from Benton County to one of the biggest women’s rodeo championships in the country.”
PWR promotes female rodeo athletes through national competition, sponsorship opportunities and championship events. Since its inception, the organization has awarded more than $5.25 million to competitors, with the 2027 championship expected to feature more than $800,000 in payouts.
Young said the partnership also brings national exposure to Benton County through collaborative marketing, social media promotion and on-site coverage during the rodeo.
“We’re not just creating opportunities for contestants,” Young said. “We’re also shining a spotlight on Benton County and everything our rodeo committee has worked to build.”
Kristi Schrock, chair of the Benton County Fair Board, said watching the rodeo grow has been rewarding.
“We’ve always believed in giving young women the opportunity to learn, compete and grow,” Schrock said. “Seeing this program earn national recognition shows what’s possible when volunteers stay committed to a vision.”
That vision has extended beyond the arena. Nicole Schrock also serves as executive director of the Oregon 4-H Foundation and has helped expand opportunities for young women through the Benton County Fair and Rodeo Queen program, while Kristi Schrock has spent two decades mentoring contestants as chair of the Benton County Fair Board and adviser to the queen program.
Former Benton County Fair and Rodeo Queen and Rodeo Committee Vice Chair Rylee Henderer, who also serves as vice chair of the Benton County Fair Board, has watched the event evolve from the beginning.
“It’s incredible to see where this event has gone,” Henderer said. “The opportunities available to young women today are so much bigger than they were even a few years ago.”
The partnership continues Benton County’s efforts to elevate women’s rodeo while remaining rooted in the community.
