The late Cindy Fowler honored with renaming of rodeo arena
The Chelan County Fair & Rodeo suffered a loss this summer with the unexpected passing of Cindy Fowler, a dedicated cowgirl who has left a lasting impact on equestrian sports in north central Washington.
Fowler was not only a longtime member of the fair board and its rodeo committee, but she also founded the Tillicum Riders Rodeo Drill Team, coached the Washington High School Equestrian Team for 14 years and lobbied for the creation of a Chelan County Fair & Rodeo queen.
In her time as a beloved coach and mentor, she also provided her own horses for young riders who did not have them, spreading the love of equestrian sports and sportsmanship throughout the community.
“She set the bar super high, but never so high that we would fall,” said Shannon Sims, a friend of Fowler’s and longtime member of the rodeo drill team. “She always had such high confidence in us. Without her, I would never have been a barrel racer.”
This fair season, Fowler will be honored both nights of the PRCA Pro Rodeo in the county’s rodeo arena, which has been renamed the Cindy Fowler Memorial Arena in her honor.
The county resolution renaming the rodeo arena states that Fowler “exemplified the spirit of volunteerism, community pride and dedication to rural traditions that are the foundation of the Chelan County Fair & Rodeo.”
It further states that Fowler’s “enduring impact on Chelan County is felt not only in the arena that now bears her name, but in the lives of the countless individuals she inspired, mentored, and supported. Her legacy is one of heart, heritage, and hope. With deep gratitude and admiration, we dedicate this arena to Cindy Fowler—a true trailblazer, community leader, and beloved friend.”
The PRCA Pro Rodeo is set to begin at 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 6, and 1 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 7. Each day, about 15 minutes before the start of the rodeo, Fowler will be honored with a moving riderless horse ceremony, in which her friend Stacy Harris will lead Fowler’s prized Appaloosa Dot around the arena. With Dot will be Fowler’s boots and cowgirl hat.
“Dot was always her most beloved horse,” Sims said.
Then an eight-rider drill team will put on a fast and thrilling show – just how Fowler would have wanted it. Each of the horses will have glitter Cs on their rumps in Fowler’s honor. The team has been practicing a “possum roll,” a new maneuver Fowler added for this year’s drill team.
The drill team consists of Harris, Kristen Nestor, Kaylee and Faith Smith, Heidi Swoboda, Olivia Hurley, Sarah Leonard and Kryn Shannon. Sims has led the drill team with Tanya Thompson.
Her friends wanted to honor both Fowler as well as her plans for the drill team this year, Sims said.
“It’s going to be hard to stand in her shoes. She was bigger than life,” Sims said. “But we came together and divvied up her duties… She has been guiding us and leading us from heaven.”
Last Updated: 09/05/2025 09:56 AM
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In her time as a beloved coach and mentor, she also provided her own horses for young riders who did not have them, spreading the love of equestrian sports and sportsmanship throughout the community.