{{short description|American cowgirl (1917-1993)}}
thumb|right|Fern Sawyer '''Fern Sawyer''' (1917 – October 16, 1993, also known as '''Fern Eidson'''<ref name=":3">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10762318/|title=Cattle, Cowpokes, Cowboys Show Set for Museum Today|date=15 September 1957|work=Lubbock Avalanche-Journal|access-date=4 May 2017|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>) was an American cowgirl, rodeo champion, politician and inductee into the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame and the Rodeo Hall of Fame of the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum. She was the first woman to win the cutting horse competition at the 1945 Fort Worth Fat Stock Show and Rodeo. Sawyer was also the first woman appointed to the New Mexico State Fair Board. She was well known for her "flashy attire," according to the ''Santa Fe New Mexican''.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.santafenewmexican.com/pasatiempo/art/museum_shows/the-bold-buckaroo-an-exhibition-of-mythic-and-bona-fide/article_6a90f9a6-a2d8-11e2-b7cf-001a4bcf6878.html|title=The bold buckaroo: An exhibition of mythic and bona fide cowboys|date=12 April 2013|work=The Santa Fe New Mexican|access-date=2017-05-04}}</ref> She lived in Crossroads,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10762575/|title=Cutting Horse Contest Is Scheduled Today in Levelland Arena|date=7 October 1945|work=Lubbock Avalanche-Journal|access-date=4 May 2017|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Lovington,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10762441/|title=Rodeo|date=17 August 1955|work=Abilene Reporter-News|access-date=4 May 2017|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> and Nogal, New Mexico.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Roll|first1=Pat|last2=von Lackum|first2=Laurel|date=January 1994|title=News, Trends, and Facts Shaping Your Horse World|url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=f5h&AN=9405052315&site=ehost-live|journal=Horse & Rider|volume=33|issue=1|pages=11|url-access=subscription|via=EBSCOhost}}</ref> She was also a charter member of the National Cutting Horse Association and the first director of the Girls Rodeo Association.<ref name=":4">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10763062/|title=Rodeo Star Joins Hall of Fame|last=Kailer|first=Pat|date=16 May 1976|work=Albuquerque Journal|access-date=4 May 2017|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>
==Early life== Sawyer was born near Yeso, New Mexico.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10760798/|title=Fern Sawyer First Woman to Serve on State Fair Board|last=Thompson|first=Fritz|date=10 September 1972|work=Albuquerque Journal|access-date=4 May 2017|page=20|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Sawyer grew up on a ranch where her father insisted she "perform as well as the men if she was to help with the ranch work," according to the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame.<ref name=":0" /> Sawyer began to enter rodeo competitions while she was in high school.<ref name=":1" /> She attended Texas Tech for about 3 years, studying home economics.<ref name=":1" /> At Texas Tech, she was going to be kicked out for attending a rodeo.{{Sfn|Jordan|1992|p=232}}
== Career == She was sponsored by Madison Square Garden in a rodeo event in 1939.{{Sfn|LeCompte|2000|p=121}} In 1943, she defeated twenty men in the Pecos rodeo.{{Sfn|LeCompte|2000|p=150}} Sawyer was also the first woman to win 1st place in the cutting horse competition at the 1945 Fort Worth Fat Stock Show and Rodeo.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=http://www.cowgirl.net/portfolios/fern-sawyer/|title=Fern Sawyer|work=Cowgirl Hall of Fame & Museum|access-date=2017-05-04}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10761185/|title=Fern Sawyer First Woman to Serve on State Fair Board|last=Thompson|first=Fritz|date=10 September 2017|work=Albuquerque Journal|access-date=4 May 2017|page=26|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> In the 1945 show, she was the only woman competing.<ref name=":4" /> In 1946, she came in second in cutting at the Fort Worth Stock Show.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10762216/|title=Homer Pettigrew and Fern Sawyer in the Money at Fort Worth|date=11 March 1946|work=Clovis News-Journal|access-date=4 May 2017|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> In 1947, she earned the title of All-Around world Champion Cowgirl.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10763009/|title=Fern Sawyer Winner of Cowgirl Laurels|date=26 September 2017|work=Lubbock Evening Journal|access-date=4 May 2017|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Sawyer stopped competing in rodeo in 1949.<ref name=":2" /> She worked as a judge for rodeo and other equestrian contests afterwards.<ref name=":3" /><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10762896/|title=Queen Contestants Will Compete|last=Placencio|first=Ed|date=1 August 1975|work=The Gallup Independent|access-date=4 May 2017|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>
In 1963,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10761131/|title=Five Ranchers on State Fair Board|date=10 September 1972|work=Albuquerque Journal|access-date=4 May 2017|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> she was appointed by Governor Jack Campbell to become the first woman to serve on the New Mexico State Fair Board.<ref name=":1" /> In 1969, she was elected the Lincoln County Democratic Party chairperson.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10762725/|title=Fern Sawyer Re-Elected Democratic Party Leader|date=31 October 1971|work=Albuquerque Journal|access-date=4 May 2017|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> She was not re-appointed to the state fair board in 1974 after she backed the opponent of Jerry Apodaca for New Mexico governor.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10762053/|title=Governor Gives Views on Mrs. Sawyer's Defeat|date=17 May 1976|work=Hobbs Daily News-Sun|access-date=4 May 2017|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10762145/|title=Fern Sawyer Will Lose Position on Fair Board|last=Mahr|first=Ed|date=15 December 1974|work=Albuquerque Journal|access-date=4 May 2017|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10762650/|title=2 Official Off Fair Commission|last=Martinez|first=Tomas|date=4 April 2017|work=Albuquerque Journal|access-date=4 May 2017|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>
== Death and honors == In 1976, she was inducted into the Cowgirl Hall of Fame.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":4" /> In 1991, she was inducted into the National Rodeo Hall of Fame at the National Cowboy Hall of Fame.{{Sfn|LeCompte|2000|p=206}}<ref>{{cite web|title=Rodeo Hall of Fame Inductees|url=https://nationalcowboymuseum.org/rodeo-hall-of-fame/5200/|website=National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum|access-date=28 May 2017}}</ref> In 1985, she was inducted into the NCHA Members Hall of Fame for her extraordinary contributions to the sport of cutting.<ref name="CHY">{{cite book|title=Cutting Horse Chatter 2005 Yearbook & Directory|publisher=National Cutting Horse Association|date=2005}}</ref> An award is given by the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame in Sawyer's name to recognize cowgirls and ranch women who excel in their field,<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=bwh&AN=5584978&site=ehost-live|title=Five to Be Hall Inductees During Luncheon Today|last=Riley|first=Pat|date=9 November 2001|work=Fort Worth Business Press|access-date=4 May 2017|url-access=subscription |via=EBSCOhost}}</ref> and who help advance the mission and recognition of the museum and hall of fame.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=tih&AN=65086708&site=ehost-live|title=National Cowgirl Museum Award Goes to Bertram Rancher Colbert|date=3 August 2011|work=Burnet Bulletin|access-date=4 May 2017|url-access=subscription |via=EBSCOhost}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.cowgirl.net/hall-of-fame/awards/|title=Awards - Cowgirl Hall of Fame & Museum|work=Cowgirl Hall of Fame & Museum|access-date=2017-05-06}}</ref> The Fern Sawyer Award from the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame was named after her. The inaugural presentation of the award was in 1994 to Anne W. Marion.<ref>{{cite web |title=Fern Sawyer Award |url=http://www.cowgirl.net/hall-of-fame/awards/ |website=Cowgirl Hall of Fame & Museum |access-date=February 9, 2020}}</ref> In 1995, she was inducted into the Western Heritage Museum & Lea County Cowboy Hall of Fame.<ref>{{cite web |title=Lea County Cowboy Hall of Fame Inductees |url=https://www.nmjc.edu/museum/exhibits/current/inductees.aspx |website=Western Heritage Museum and Lea County Cowboy Hall of Fame |access-date=March 24, 2020}}</ref> Sawyer died in 1993 of a heart attack while riding a horse.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pbs.org/pov/archive/justfortheride/movie/fern.html|title=Fern Sawyer|website=PBS|access-date=2017-05-04}}{{dead link|date=June 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://media.museumofnewmexico.org/events.php?action=detail&eventID=932|title=Ranch Women of New Mexico|date=2011|website=Museum of New Mexico|access-date=2017-05-06}}</ref>
== Personal == Sawyer married Scharbauer Eidson of New Mexico in December 1948. They lived in Crossroads, New Mexico, at the time. Their ranch, the Sawyer Ranch, is located in the middle of a big oil field which has paid off.<ref name="Abilene">{{cite web |title=Fern Marries Scharbauer Eidson Dec '48 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/20086867/fern_marries_scharbauer_eidson_dec_48/ |website=Newspapers.com |publisher=Abilene Reporter-News |access-date=September 20, 2019 |date=December 11, 1948}}</ref> Later, the Eidsons lived on the Shoe Bar Ranch in Lovington, New Mexico. In her latter days, Sawyer took on gentler pursuits such as judging and horse cutting.<ref name=":3" />
==References== ;Specific {{Reflist|30em}}
;General * {{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gos1lThtsfcC&pg=PR4|title=Cowgirls: Women of the American West|last=Jordan|first=Teresa|publisher=University of Nebraska Press|year=1992|isbn=0803275757|edition=2nd|location=Lincoln, Nebraska}} * {{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ApBAVdQBLpEC&pg=PR4|title=Cowgirls of the Rodeo: Pioneer Professional Athletes|last=LeCompte|first=Mary Lou|publisher=University of Illinois Press|year=2000|isbn=0252068742|edition=Illini Books|location=Chicago}}
==External links== * [https://findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=37798761 Fern Sawyer], Find a Grave memorial
{{Authority control}} {{Use American English|date=September 2021}} {{Use mdy dates|date=September 2021}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sawyer, Fern}} Category:1917 births Category:1993 deaths Category:People from De Baca County, New Mexico Category:Cowgirl Hall of Fame inductees Category:Texas Tech University alumni Category:New Mexico Democrats Category:Ranchers from New Mexico Category:Cutting (sport) Category:NCHA Hall of Fame (members) Category:Rodeo performers