When the cotton string on the end of Jackie Crawford’s breakaway rope snapped off her saddle horse in Chicago on Jan. 11, 2019, the cowgirl from Stephenville, Texas, made history. 

“I knew when it broke off I was fast enough for the fifty [thousand], I was just waiting for that clock to say it,” said Crawford.

“I knew if I could get it on that calf fast enough, he was going to let up a little bit,” said Crawford of her shootout round draw. “It was kind of ugly, I turned my horse sideways, which is kind of a no-no in the breakaway but I didn’t care, I wanted that $50,000.”

This run may not have been the prettiest one Crawford's ever made, but it certainly could have meant the most after Crawford had become an unofficial “spokesperson” for the event of breakaway roping. The accomplished roper had been pushing to get the event into more rodeos and have it displayed equally alongside the other seven professional events. 

When asked what it meant to her to work towards getting the event of breakaway roping on the same stage as the other “traditional” rodeo events, she had to take a moment to formulate the words.

“It’s just the right timing for me,” Crawford began. “I hope that right here, is just the beginning for breakaway ropers. I want to continue to work to make it better and better, to where we're on more platforms just like we were here tonight.”

Crawford -- who fell in love with roping when she moved with her family to Sallisaw, Oklahoma, at age 12 -- has enjoyed a very successful roping career thus far. She’s now earned 14 WPRA world titles, has competed alongside the men in the PRCA, and was the first woman to qualify for the American Semifinals in team roping.

Not only do these new opportunities open up a whole new world for Crawford and her fellow competitors, but also the next generation of female ropers. 

“I just think that there’s a lot of young talent coming up and I just hope that we’re paving the way and giving them something to look forward to, work towards and be inspired by,” said Crawford.

Watch the entire Windy City Roundup in Chicago below:

Unlock this video, live events, and more with a subscription!

Sign Up

Already a subscriber? Log In

It only took her 2.28 seconds to make history, but Crawford says it also took one group making a decision to include the event in their association to make that possible. 

“The WCRA will never understand the gratitude we have for them for giving us the chance and being the first pro rodeo of this level to step out and say ‘you’re an equal event.’ It’s amazing. We’re super grateful for that,” concluded Crawford.