RECIPIENT

Helen Groves was reared on the 825,000-acre King Ranch, where she learned about ranching, line breeding, genetics, and working cattle. Known as the “First Lady of Cutting,” Groves spent decades breeding, raising, and riding cutting horses. She began competing in cutting horse events in 1972 and won numerous championships before being inducted into the National Cutting Horse Association Hall of Fame. She was also inducted into the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame and the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame. Groves was a leading supporter of equine research and was active in both the cutting and racehorse industries. She also managed a cattle ranch near Baird, Texas.