Alexa Wilcox Honored as Member of the COWGIRL 30 Under 30
NMJC women's rodeo head coach Alexa Wilcox has been named to the COWGIRL Magazine 30 Under 30 Class of 2024.
The COWGIRL Magazine is in its fourth rendition of the 30 Under 30 list. According to the magazine, the COWGIRL's mission is to seek out and publicly recognize young women who are making a name for themselves in the western industry. The magazine aims to create and grow a network of individuals who can serve as role models and mentors for the future leaders.
The COWGIRL Magazine chose 30 women to be honored out of a pool of 162 applicants. A panel of six judges chose the 30 leaders based on letters of recommendation, application questions, social media presence, experience in the western industry, and a variety of other attributes.
Coach Wilcox said it came as a surprise to be included in the exclusive COWGIRL 30 Under 30 list.
"I honestly was extremely shocked," Wilcox said. "There are so many amazing women in the western industry accomplishing great things; to be named one of the top 30 is an incredible honor."
The winners will participate in the Wrangler COWGIRL 30 Under 30 Empower Gala, a luncheon, and a leadership workshop March 8-9 in Fort Worth, Texas during the RFD-TV's American Rodeo. There, Coach Wilcox and the other 30 Under 30 honorees will be privileged to interact with several icons and sponsors in the western industry.
"Coach Wilcox has been instrumental in the growth of our women's rodeo program in the short time she has been with us here at NMJC," NMJC Director of Athletics Deron Clark said. "We are proud to have Alexa represent herself and NMJC nationally as a COWGIRL 30 Under 30 honoree."
The Fowler, Colorado native distinguished herself from the others on the 30 Under 30 list with her head coaching experience and continued service to the community. Wilcox's service to others extends beyond her coaching duties at NMJC.
"I currently serve on the Board of Directors for Her Mighty Hands, a non-profit focused on providing agricultural education to women farmers in Africa, as well as serving on the Lea County Fair and Rodeo Royalty committee, helping with the clinic and the contest," Wilcox said. "I've also been heavily involved with the American Quarter Horse Association and the addition of the Open Breakaway class."
Service to the community is a characteristic that Wilcox hopes to pass along to her student-athletes as the head coach of the women's rodeo team.
"One thing I used to say a lot when I worked for the non-profit in Africa is that 'we're better together'," Wilcox said. "I try to tell my girls at NMJC that as well. We're better as a team working together."
Coach Wilcox mentioned she could count on one hand how many female head coaches are in the college rodeo world and how she understands that representation matters. Wilcox went on to say that having the head coaching role at NMJC was "certainly influential" in her confidence to apply for the COWGIRL Magazine 30 Under 30 honor.
"One of the attributes that makes me different from the other applicants is my role as a rodeo coach," Wilcox said. "The COWGIRL magazine wants to honor women they think capture the spirit of the western industry – women breaking the mold certainly does."
"You don't see women's rodeo head coaches very often," Wilcox said. "The fact that NMJC saw potential and then supported me to be a head coach was a big step in my career. For me to have that support and know that the institution has my back and believes in me is always empowering."
The gaining of a new network of cowgirls is something that Wilcox is looking forward to in March at the Wrangler COWGIRL 30 Under 30 Empower Gala.
"It'll be amazing to be able to go and meet 29 other women that are role models to the next generation of cowgirls," Wilcox said. "We have similar goals and passions, which is really inspiring."
A question that stuck out to Coach Wilcox in the application process was "If selected, how would you use your affiliation with this program to further create an impact within the western industry?". Wilcox was passionate that her goal was to help cowgirls "find their purpose".
"I want to use this platform to help cowgirls find their purpose, especially in the western industry," Wilcox said. "I hope for women to know that the ways in which they're different don't make them any 'less', but instead add so much more to the industry and our way of life. My vision for the future of western women is one where women are equipped with confidence and purpose in who God designed them to be."