Megan Vanderslice Named Dianne Eppers Cowgirls ROC Recipient

Megan Vanderslice of Denton, Texas, has been recognized with the Dianne Eppers Cowgirls ROC (Reaching Out into the Community) Award. She received the award during a luncheon held during the NSBA World Championship Show and Breeders Championship Futurity in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Megan is a dedicated horse trainer specializing in youth riders. Megan found a passion for volunteerism as a teenager in Oklahoma, volunteering at a handicapped riding stable. She founded the MVP Academy in Pilot Point, Texas, to provide reduced-cost lessons for families who may not own a horse. She also led a fundraiser for children with congenital heart defects, then turning to ‘Bryan’s Blessing Bags’, essential items given to families to make hospital stays more comfortable. What started as 50 bags has now expanded to giving at two hospitals in the Dallas Area. Megan also has work with the NSBA Foundation for the Mental Health Matters Campaign. 

Megan was one of five women recognized as finalists for the Cowgirls ROC award this year. The other finalists included: Mandy Cleveland of Denton, Texas; Natalie Fredenburg of Straughn, Indiana; Susie Johns of Scottsdale, Arizona; and Jenn Wheeler of Hollister, California.

In addition to the awards presentation, luncheon attendees watched a fashion show that detailed the latest trends in Western fashion and keynote speaker Courtenay Dehoff shared a message encouraging women to continue to show up, be authentic to themselves and never give up on their dreams and aspirations.

About The Award

The Dianne Eppers Cowgirls ROC award is named in honor of Dianne Eppers of McHenry, Illinois. Dianne was an original member of NSBA when it began in 1983 and volunteered for the association from its infancy, and brought her business sense to the NSBA office when she served as the association’s executive director from 2007-2020. Megan becomes the fifth recipient of the award and joins past honorees Cindy Cosentino of Omaha, Nebraska in 2022; Lynne Puthoff of Milton, Ohio; Pat Clements of Dallas, Texas, in 2024; and Jennifer Hulcher of Pilot Point, Texas, in 2025.

Three tenants make up the core attributes of the Cowgirls ROC award:
•    celebrating the accomplishments of female NSBA members that serve and impact the show horse community;
•    celebrating the female donors who help bring the work of the NSBA Foundation to members;
•    celebrating the diversity, inclusion and contributions of all member voices to the NSBA membership.

To learn more about the Dianne Eppers Cowgirls ROC award, please visit nsba.com/cowgirls-roc. To suggest a nominee for the 2027 award, please contact a member of the NSBA board of directors or the NSBA Foundation board of directors.

NSBA press release:  https://nsba.com/archives/megan-vanderslice-cowgirls-roc