By Hannah Barricks
Photography by Crystal Wise
Tradition carries weight in Fort Worth, and within that microcosm, no one throws their weight around better than the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo. Here, careful planning can often bring slow change, but when it comes, it resonates.
This spring, Lauren Lovelace Murray stepped up as the first woman to serve as Executive Vice President of the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo. A change celebrated by many. But for Murray, a Grapevine-native with educator parents and no deep ties to agriculture, the appointment was less about breaking barriers and more about fulfilling her lifelong passion.
“One of my first toys was a My Little Pony, and that was the beginning,” Murray says.
She’s sitting on horseback behind Dickies Arena, her husband, Patrick, stands nearby, ready to help if necessary. The horse, named Blue, is a stunning gray American Quarter Horse that belonged to Patrick’s late uncle and now lives with the Murrays. Around the ankles, Blue’s coat resembles capillary waves, the diamond pattern created by tension at the water’s surface.
In her youth, Murray’s love of My Little Pony gave way to riding lessons at Ride with Pride in Southlake, and continued through high school and college. Under the mentorship of riding instructor Doreen Bruton, Murray earned a coveted invitation to compete in the Invitational Ranch Girls races at the Stock Show in 1999 and 2000. All the while, she never wondered if her family’s lack of history in the sport held her back or lessened her credibility.
“I’ve always felt very accepted in agriculture,” she says. “Even though I wasn’t raised that way, I’ve always enjoyed the Western lifestyle.”
After earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees in animal science at Texas Tech, she took a temporary position in the Stock Show’s media center, helping reporters navigate agricultural terminology. A season at Rodeo Austin broadened her experience, but it was Fort Worth that called her home.
In 2005, she joined the Stock Show full-time as a Horse Show Secretary at just 24 years old. Over the next two decades, she moved through roles as horse show assistant, assistant operations manager, and eventually Horse Show Director.
Finally, she reached a well-deserved milestone in April of 2025, becoming the Executive Vice President of the Stock Show after her predecessor, Bruce McCarty, entered semi-retirement.
While Murray didn’t initially dwell on being the first woman in the role, she admits to feeling the weight.
“I didn’t focus on that at first,” she says. “I’ve been grateful that my skill has always mattered more than anything else, here. But also, I feel so incredibly humbled and honored by the recognition of my peers and everything that comes with it.”
Murray also serves as a Texas director for the American Quarter Horse Association and president of the citizen support group for the Fort Worth Police Mounted Patrol.
The Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo is more than an iconic event; it’s an economic powerhouse and non-profit supporting Texas’ youth.
“The stock show contributes around $100 million in economic impact every year,” Murray says. “When you add in everything we do at Will Rogers year-round, the number becomes huge.”
From ballet recitals to car shows, the historic Will Rogers Memorial Center has hosted events in Fort Worth for nearly 100 years, partnering with the Stock Show on various events, and accumulating normal wear and tear along the way. Over the summer, the Stock Show closed the coliseum to begin a multi-phase renovation project, with Murray assisting operations. Facility upgrades include renovated bathrooms with hot water, improved HVAC systems, better seating, brighter spaces and updated concession areas. The changes are necessary, of course, but when made to a historical site in Fort Worth, they carry that familiar weight.
“There’s a tremendous responsibility to preserve tradition,” she says. “There’s also a tremendous responsibility not to stay stagnant.”
Striking a balance between preserving Fort Worth’s Western heritage and embracing modern expectations is all part of the job.
To that end, Murray remains passionate about the Stock Show’s role in education and inclusivity by supporting youth programs like 4-H and FFA.
“Agriculture has a place for everybody if you’re willing to work towards it and learn from it,” she says.
The Stock Show’s scholarship program remains central to her mission. Programs such as Equine IQ and Equine Public Speaking have awarded more than $80,000 to students, with or without animal projects, annually, ensuring opportunities stretch beyond the show ring and reach other little girls like Murray.
“Showing these animals is a huge responsibility for kids,” she says. “It teaches them how to care for something else, giving them kindness and life skills for the future.”
She knows this firsthand, crediting her success to hard work and the many mentors she met along the way, like Bruton and Patti Colbert, as well as Bruce McCarty, Brad Barnes and Matt Carter.
Now, as Executive Vice President, she hopes to provide the same support for the Stock Show’s small but dedicated staff.
“Our staff is small compared to the size of the show,” she said. “We all have to support each other.”
Murray lives in North Fort Worth with Patrick, who works for Bonds Ranch, runs a cow/calf operation and sells real estate for TT Ranch group, a division of Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty. It’s a busy life, and together they share two horses and three dogs. Murray is also stepmother to Mackenzie, 22, and Adam, 16.
“My personal goals are to keep learning, stay current with trends, and build strong professional relationships,” she says.
For Murray, becoming the Executive Vice President of the Stock Show is more than a job — it’s her legacy, and one that carries weight. The culmination of a young girl’s dreams, not raised in agriculture, but found belonging. Now, a woman, opening doors for others.
As Fort Worth grows and changes, Murray reminds us that wherever there’s tradition, there’s weight, but also opportunity for growth, and Fort Worth is right at the heart of it.