Fort Worth horsewoman and businesswoman Stacie McDavid wears the crown of cowtown.
As dawn dapples the brick and cobblestone roads of the Fort Worth Stockyards, a sharply dressed cowgirl confidently rides a massive spotted brindle longhorn down its storied streets. Adorned in a smart felt hat, embellished blazer, and custom cowboy boots, Stacie McDavid masterfully handles the 2,000-pound steer with ease. In this quiet yet dazzling moment during a fall photo shoot, she embodies the fascinating dichotomy that made the cowgirl a cherished folk hero in American culture: poise with exacting proficiency.
Hugged by the Trinity River, the Fort Worth Stockyards was a strategic epicenter for the cattle industry of the 19th century. First by famed cattle-drive routes like the Chisholm Trail and later essential railroad lines, the town handled and transported millions of cattle. The early success of Cowtown brought complementary cowboy accommodations like a coliseum (location of the first indoor rodeo) and dance halls (a precursor to the famed Billy Bob’s Texas). This ethos still permeates the city to this day, but now with a new level of refinement. An influx of museums, a thriving arts scene, and a surging tourism economy have established it as a world-class city.
Fort Worth has many monikers, but the “Queen City of the Prairies” has an appropriate ring, and in modern times Stacie McDavid wears its crown. The 69-year-old Fort Worth cowgirl has a dizzying list of accolades that would be tiresome to write if not so wildly impressive. A top athlete in the National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA), with earnings well over $1 million, she was inducted into the NCHA NonPro Hall of Fame in 2013, the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame in 2014, and the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame in 2019 — where she serves as vice president. She oversees the successful McDavid breeding, training, and ranching operation, with proven champions like Hes A Peptospoonful.
Independent of her equestrian pursuits, McDavid is a savvy businesswoman and dedicated philanthropist. Her first foray into business was a fitness-center franchise, which she grew to 32 locations by the age of 22. She was a key player in the automotive industry along with her husband, David McDavid, and is the current CEO of McDavid Investments Company. She recently served as chair and presiding officer of the Texas Woman’s University System Board of Regents, and she created a scholarship program for Denton High School, her alma mater, providing a full ride and mentorship for five graduates annually heading to Texas Woman’s University. Throughout the years, she has served on numerous nonprofit boards and assisted in the development of many museums and foundations…