About Jennifer
Jennifer Nicholson
Executive Director Riata Ranch International
2023 Tad Lucas Memorial Award Recipient
and inductee into the National Cowboy Hall of Fame 2023
“You Earn your reputation in the arena, but you earn your respect in the barn.”
Horsemanship Mentorship Leadership Education Community Service
My story begins in the much the same way as every little girl who grew up with a passion for horses. My love and desire to ride at the famed Riata Ranch was more than passion..it was an addiction. I was enamored not only with all the horses, but the young women who became my mentors showing me the ins and outs of ranch life, horsemanship, team work and leadership training. I was very shy and insecure, so this kind of foundation built around horses and a western lifestyle was intoxicating to me.
I learned to ride and in a short time made the Riata Ranch Special Classes which meant I could buy my first horse and compete at shows specializing in reined cow horse competition. However, founder, Tommy Maier, decided to start a western performance team to compliment his award - winning horse show team. In between training days for the show team, I was also learning to trick ride along with my team mates. Before we knew it, Janna Copley, PeeWee Moreno, Laurie McWilliams and me, we were trading in our western saddles for trick riding saddles and we began a journey like no other as the first professional Riata Ranch Cowboy girls trick riding team traveling all over the Western United States. It was a wonderful time and we started with some of the most notable names in the business. Jack Roddy, Bob Cook, Lex Connelly, Edith Happy Connelly, Montie Montana and J. W. Stoker. But it was Cotton Rosser and the Flying U Rodeo where we cut our rodeo teeth! I’m Flying U Rodeo raised!
We had the opportunity to perform at some the most noted rodeos meeting some of the biggest names that the world of rodeo has produced. For me, a young girl from the suburbs, this was heaven! Soon, we began international travel building western riding in Europe in the early 1980’s. It was an exciting time to be on the forefront of the explosion of the Western Horse in Europe and abroad. With Tom Maier’s flair for showmanship, we spent more time in Belgium, Germany France, Italy and Switzerland than we did in our own country sharing our talents, life style and building respect for our western riding sports. It was a wonderful time meeting people from all around the globe who loved all the aspects of our western lifestyles as we do.
Besides appearing at rodeos across the country, I have been a part of many opening and half time shows for the NFL, including Monday Night Football Games, Play Off Championships, Super Bowls, and the American Bowl in Barcelona Spain. We also have participated in NBA events as well as Professional Baseball. I have been with the Riata team appearing in 22 countries on five continents representing the Western American life style in the rodeo arena and professional sporting arena turf.
One of my highlights was being chosen to appear with Reba McIntire, in her “I’m Gonna Take That Mountain” video trick roping along with my team mate Kansas Carradine and famed trick roper and one of our mentors, Gene Mclaughlin. This passion that I have turned into a way of life has been rewarding and has taken me places I could have never dreamed of going.
One of the most prestigious events occurred at Windsor Castle in England where the Riata team performed for Queen Elizabeth for her Diamond Jubilee Pageant, a celebration of her coronation 60 years ago. Besides performing for her majesty, I actually got to meet her and talk about Riata Ranch. What a thrill to meet one of the most well - known world leaders in our modern era and it’s all because I learned how to spin a trick rope and wear a cowboy hat.
In 2002 Riata’s founder passed away and we were faced with the question, Do we shut the doors or do we continue? The obstacle was that the company was bankrupt due to Tom’s years of major medical issues. A bit reluctantly, I took the reins and decided to forge forward. With a lot of uncertainty, grit and determination here we are; the company has been rebuilt, we have a new home base, added new offerings and instead of Riata Ranch going to the world, the world comes to Riata Ranch in Three Rivers California where we constantly connect people to the ranching and rodeo lifestyles. It’s a labor of love that I feel is more important than ever to educate people about livestock, how our food is produced and our western lifestyle.
Today I serve as the executive director for Riata Ranch and oversee the program offerings which also include the continuation of the Riata Ranch Cowboy girls western performance team. I also run an educational ranch experience retreat for people from all over the world who not only come to see the Giant Sequoia Trees, but get to live on a real working ranch as part of their vacation. In May of 2019, I lost my husband, Chad Nicholson, in an unexpected accident. Chad was my partner and he was loved and admired as a professional rodeo announcer and mentor to thousands of people. Such a loss of a wonderful human being. It is my goal to honor his memory by continuing our works of mentorship and leadership through our programs offered at Riata Ranch.
I am currently a member of the PRCA, Three Rivers Womens’ Club, Visalia Downtown Rotary Club, and serve as the current President of the Three Rivers Lions’ Club in California. In 2020, I will oversee the 69th Annual Three Rivers Team Roping that is a vehicle to help raise money for community projects as well scholarships for high school seniors.
As a Riata Ranch Cowboy girl I have been a part of the teams that have been nominated 5 times PRCA Dress Act of the Year.
I just recently received on behalf of my husband Chad, a Paul Harris Fellow from Rotary International
Lions District Award for Increased Membership
Clyde Kennedy Medal
Ronnie Richards Stock Horse Award
Books & Publications:
“Riata Ranch Cowboy girls - Life Lessons Learned from the back of a Horse”
“Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee…The World Comes to Windsor”
Riata Ranch International Accolades
Over the decades Riata Ranch has been recognized by local, state and federal officials for the appearances made by world renowned Riata Ranch Cowboy girls
2017 Riata Ranch International Diamond Anniversary 1957-2017
2011, 2013, 2014, 2015 & 2016 Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association - Dress Act Nomination
Nominated Top 5 Specialty Act of the Year
2012 US House of Representatives Resolution
Acknowledging our performance for Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee, Windsor England
2012 California State Legislature Resolution
Acknowledging our performance for Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee, Windsor England
2012 Tulare County Board of Supervisors Resolution
Acknowledging our performance for Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee, Windsor England
2010 American Cowboy Culture Award
Recognizing the valuable contribution Riata Ranch has made to America’s Ranching traditions thru education & performance
2007 California State Assembly Resolution
Recognition of Riata Ranch reaching 50 years as a business
2007 California State Fair
Recognition of Riata Ranch reaching 50 years as a business
1987 City of Visalia Proclamation
September 2, 1987 Riata Ranch Cowboy girls day, honoring our good will exchange trip to the People’s Republic of China
1986 Congressional Record, Washington D.C.
Recorded and recognized as America’s Goodwill Ambassadors on Horseback