Faced with the setbacks of the forties, a group of Texas women organized the Girls Rodeo Association in 1948. Since the 1950s, women have worked to close the gender gap in rodeo. They have competed in all-girl rodeos and sought to reestablish their lost status in men's rodeo. Charmayne James Rodman and other modern cowgirls have pushed far beyond the rodeo queen role. In 1992 Rodman rode Scamper to her ninth straight barrel racing title at Las Vegas.
Competitors run a cloverleaf pattern around three barrels.
Her string is a rodeo record for men and women. Rodeo culture is very tradition-minded. This traditionalism is reflected in the rodeo queen competitions still held. A Miss College Rodeo is chosen each year. Women must excel in appearance, sportsmanship, personality, congeniality, and horsemanship.