Jo Ellard grew up in a small town in Mississippi, the oldest of identical twins, both were born with a love of horses and a drive to succeed. Some of her favorite childhood memories are the hours she spent playing with dime store toy horses & throwing a leg over anything (the arm of a chair, the t-post support that held up her Mother’s clothesline, her Mother’s mops & brooms, her grandfather’s big red propane gas tank, her grandfather’s jersey heifer); anything that could take the place of the horse she so greatly dreamed of having. Ironically, Jo still owns two armchairs that are now 70 years old because she couldn’t dispose of her “first horse.”
Jo utilized her God-given gifts of leadership and athletic attributes early on. She and her twin sister were top-of-the-class academic students eager to take leadership roles in almost everything. Gifted athletically, Jo ultimately set all-time scoring records in High School girls' basketball, lettering for five years, earning many MVP awards, and ultimately having her basketball jersey retired. Today, it sits alongside only one other retired jersey in her high school’s trophy case.
After High School, Jo followed in her mother’s footsteps by pursuing a career in healthcare as a Registered Nurse specializing in critical care nursing. At the age of 22 she was hired to head up a newly established Intensive Care-Coronary Care unit. Before age 25, she moved to supervise all critical care units and became the assistant director of nursing. Her job required her to travel to seminars across the country studying cardiology & critical care & in turn, teaching her staff the latest advances in critical care nursing. At one of these meetings, she met her late husband, Bill, a cowboy-turned-insurance executive, and her life course changed westward. By the way, Jo still owns the lounge booth she was sitting in when she met Bill. Together, Jo & Bill lived the Texas dream by building a highly successful insurance company, raising two sons, and immersing themselves in their passion project of developing ranches in Mississippi, Kansas, Wyoming, and Texas. Jo's childhood obsession with horses was finally a reality. In addition to cutting horses, the Ellards developed nationally acclaimed Hereford cattle. Both Jo & Bill served in leadership roles of the American Hereford Association.
After her sons graduated from high school, Jo had more time to devote to learning the sport of competitive cutting horse competition. Her success on the circuit included the NCHA Rookie of the Year award in 1991. Over the next 25 years, Jo would work tirelessly at excelling in the sport, winning numerous competitions with lifetime earnings exceeding $750,000 and achieving the NCHA Non-Pro Hall of Fame.
Jo Ellard began to take on leadership roles in the cutting horse industry early in her career. She is currently serving her 21st year on the NCHA Board of Directors. She has served on the Stallion Owners Committee, Long Range Planning Committee, Youth Committee, and Limited Age Committee. Jo served from 2013-2016 on the NCHA Executive Committee as V.P., President-Elect, and was the National Cutting Horse Association President from 2015-2016. Currently, Jo serves as a Trustee of NCHA Charities Foundation.
However, perhaps the role she’s most proud of is her work developing the National Youth Cutting Horse Association, which she patterned off of her experience with the American Junior Hereford Association. Ellard spent 10 years on that endeavor and saw firsthand the benefits for today’s youth, from strengthening family bonds to equipping them with skills for the future.
Her work cultivating the National Youth Cutting Horse Association earned her a coveted place in the NCHA Member Hall of Fame, the youngest member ever inducted.
Ellard’s EE Ranches is a collection of 5 ranches across the US, including an AQHA Ranching Heritage eligible Stallion Station in Whitesboro, Texas, and a cutting horse training facility in Pilot Point, Texas. EE Ranches is a leader in the equine industry, an ALL-TIME top 25 AQHA BREEDER with offspring earnings exceeding $5,200,000 and thousands of AQHA points.
Her relentless entrepreneurial spirit and love of the city of Fort Worth prompted Ellard to embark on her next great life adventure. For 30 years, Jo had been spending up to 90 days a year in Fort Worth, competing in the NCHA Triple Crown events, attending meetings, serving as President of NCHA, and attending social gatherings. Jo’s motto, “I live in Dallas, but I LOVE Fort Worth,” could not resonate truer. Over time, Ellard purchased a cottage in the North Hi Mount historical neighborhood and acquired almost 2 acres in the cultural district of Fort Worth right on Camp Bowie Blvd. For a time, it was unsure what this coveted land should house. Finally, creating a 5-star luxury hotel that would place Fort Worth at the top of Texas hospitality became the vision. As with her other visionary endeavors, hard work made the dream a reality, and Bowie House was created. With its refined equestrian vibe, the blend of worldly luxury, and iconic Western hospitality, the newly opened Bowie House has become a favorite not only for locals and travelers but has placed Fort Worth on the international hospitality map as one of the most desired hotels in the world; (Michelin Guide-one of only 3 hotels in the entire state of Texas to receive a coveted 2-star rating); (Travel & Leisure-One of the Best Places to go); (TIME Magazine-World’s Greatest Places 2024); (Conde Nast-Fort Worth’s wonderful debut to the world)--another success story for a passion-fueled and adventurous life.