Visit to Court's Saddlery

It is always a pleasure visiting Miss Rodeo America sponsors and I had a wonderful time visiting the Court family and Court's Saddlery in Bryan, Texas. While in the Lone Star state, I had the privilege of spending time at their shop and sight-seeing. Kathy and I spent a day at Court's Saddlery, where I learned about the saddle-making process and how tool leather. On our second day, we visited local sights and spent time at the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library, where I met President Bush. I had a short stay in Bryan, but was a great trip. Thank you to Kathy and Jimmy for their kind hospitality!

Miss Rodeo America Mid-Year Meeting

Viva Las Vegas! I was thrilled to have had the opportunity to attend this year’s Miss Rodeo America Mid-Year Meeting. Usually Miss Rodeo America’s schedule does not allow her to attend, so it was a special treat for me to have the chance to be on hand for the meeting.

Thank you to the Miss Rodeo America volunteers, National Advisory Council members, National Directors, Miss Rodeo America Scholarship Foundation board members, and the Executive Board members who traveled to Las Vegas for the meetings. The Miss Rodeo America organization is truly blessed to have such dedicated, wonderful volunteers. I had great time seeing everyone again, sharing stories of my travels, and weighing in on the discussions about the 2011 pageant.

The “big news” of the weekend was the increase in scholarships for the top ten finalists and Miss Rodeo America at the 2011 Pageant. I cannot say thank you enough to the Scholarship Foundation for all of their work to continually increase the scholarship opportunities for the MRA Pageant Contestants. Other new “news” about the pageant will be discussed in the upcoming Miss Rodeo America Newsletters, so be on the lookout.

In addition to the Mid-Year meetings, while I was in Las Vegas I also had the opportunity to attend the PBR World Cup Red Carpet event and the Academy of Country Music Awards. Thank you to Wrangler Jeans and Shirts for making it possible for me to attend the ACMs! I had a fabulous time with the Miss Rodeo America group at the ACMs. The show was the best I’ve seen in Las Vegas, well maybe except the Miss Rodeo America Fashion Show!

Pocatello, Idaho: DNCFR

I arrived in the beautiful Gem State ready for a great rodeo, and I was not disappointed. I attended last year’s Dodge National Circuit Finals Rodeo (DNCFR) and thoroughly enjoyed attending and promoting the championship event. This year’s 24th edition of the DNCFR was no different!

The sixteen visiting state and circuit queens, the DNCFR court, and I spent our mornings at schools, nursing homes, radio stations, and community businesses promoting the rodeo. In addition to our visits around the cities of Pocatello and Chubbuck, I was honored to meet the mayor, speak at the local Rotary Club meeting, emcee the DNCFR queen coronation, and serve as a guest on Steve Kenyon’s Pro Rodeo Live radio/webcast during the nightly rodeo. It was a fun-filled, exciting week!

Thank you to Jackson’s Convenience Stores sponsoring my visit to Pocatello and to Carma Madsen and the DNCFR committee for their gracious hospitality.

Ogden, Utah: Rodeo Queen Boot Camp

Amanda (MRWI), Katie (MRWA), Measha (MRID) and I

With clinic participants Syndne, Randi, and Shania

All of the girls after the mock pageant

Kissimmee, Florida: Silver Spurs Rodeo

I left a snow covered Mississippi on Valentine’s Day for the Sunshine state. I arrived in time to meet the Miss Silver Spurs judges and pageant director Laura Kessler for dinner at Kissimmee’s famous Catfish House. Our fun-filled, fried foods dinner was just a prelude to a great week in Florida—packed full of fun excursions, school visits, the Miss and Little Miss Silver Spurs pageant, and of course, Osceola county Florida’s own Silver Spurs Rodeo.

Miss Rodeo America is normally a judge for the Miss and Little Miss Silver Spurs pageant, but due to my rodeo schedule at the Dixie National, I was unable to arrive in time to judge. Instead, I had the opportunity to interact with the contestants and speak during the fashion show. I had a blast getting to know each of the girls and watching them compete. Kudos to all of the contestants—they were such a stellar group!

The sixteen visiting state queens, myself, and the newly crowned Silver Spurs court visited Osceola county schools on Wednesday and Thursday. We had a fantastic time with the students at the different schools; they were great audiences and asked a ton of questions. My favorite was when I was asked to demonstrate Bull Riding. I tried to give thorough description and presentation, but alas since I am not PRCA bull rider, I looked a bit amateur. Thankfully, the kids didn’t point out that I wasn’t near the caliber of J.W. Harris or Chance Smart!
The 124th Silver Spurs Rodeo was a grand event. I rode in the opening ceremonies with the visiting queens and then signed autographs during the rodeo. Although all of our PRCA rodeos are great sporting events to come and watch, each is unique. I’ll remember the Silver Spurs rodeo for its celebrated tradition of being a huge community event with international flair. I greeted rodeo goers from several different countries, all who came because they had never seen a rodeo and had heard about Silver Spurs Rodeo.

In my spare time in Florida, I participated in three of the infamous “hog hunts,” relaxed on Cocoa Beach with the other queens, touched a live, wild alligator on an airboat ride (I am not kidding either!) and went to Walt Disney World with the Miss Silver Spurs judges DeAnna Power, Carla Cowley, and Cara Christiensen, and my host while in Florida, Ms. Laura Kessler. It was a fun week filled with great memories…and I will look back with laughs on the fact that even after four hog hunts—counting the one I went on last year as well as this year’s trips—I have yet to get close to a wild hog. I am beginning to think that they really don’t exist and that hog hunting is somewhat like snipe hunting! Regardless, I loved every minute in the Sunshine state, and I hope that one day the Kessler family might invite me back to Florida to attend their wonderful rodeo and chase the ever-elusive infamous Florida hog.

Jackson, Mississippi: Dixie National Rodeo

It was an honor to attend the 45th Dixie National Rodeo—my home state of Mississippi’s largest rodeo—as Miss Rodeo America. I was in Jackson for four days and had the honor of speaking to the Mississippi legislature, riding at the rodeo and in the Dixie National Parade and spending time with the eight visiting titleholders.

I drove down the day before the rodeo began to visit the Mississippi Legislature. Senator Gary Jackson (no relation to me) presented me with a Mississippi Senate Resolution honoring my selection as the first Miss Rodeo America from Mississippi. It was a privilege to speak to the House of Representatives and the Senate and share with them about Miss Rodeo America, the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, and the western lifestyle. Thank you to Miss Rodeo Mississippi board members, Cathy Brown and Deborah Tucker, for accompanying my family and me to the event.

On Thursday, Friday, and Saturday we had five inches of snowfall in central Mississippi; however, the snow and ice did not deter the rodeo! Stace Smith and Smith, Harper, and Morgan Rodeo Company put on another great show this year, complete with fierce competition, great concerts, and of course, “our” comedian, Lecile Harris. Congratulations to all of the PRCA cowboys and WPRA cowgirls who picked up checks at the Dixie National!

I rode at each performance and then signed autographs during the rodeo with Amber (Miss Dixie National), Vanessa (Junior Miss Dixie National), and the Miss Rodeo Mississippi titleholders—Katie Jo, Hillary, Kate, Hannah Claire, Cheyenne, and McKinsy. I had fun spending time with the girls, interacting with the crowd, signing autographs and giving away replicas of the Landstrom’s Miss Rodeo America crown at the rodeo. It was definitely a great weekend—my thanks to the Mississippi Fair Commission and the Miss Rodeo Mississippi Association for hosting me at the Dixie National Rodeo!

Denver: National Western Stock Show and Rodeo

I spent eighteen days in the Mile High City and it was a fantastic first trip as Miss Rodeo America. From riding at the National Western Rodeo to the visiting the Colorado State Senate, there was never a dull moment! The NWSS has a little bit of everything—trade show, equine activities, stock show, PRCA rodeo, and much more. Thankfully, Dodge Rodeo provided me with a great 2010 Ram pickup to drive during my stay in Denver to help me try and keep up with all of the festivities!

I was honored to ride at each performance, carrying the American flag as well as the banners of the PRCA Sponsors. I appreciate the generosity of the Mr. Pat Grant, Mr. Leon Vick, and Mr. Marv Witt and everyone on the National Western committee in allowing myself and the visiting state queens to be a part of this year’s rodeo. In addition, thank you to Jodie Witt for coordinating time at the NWSS, to MRA Sponsors John Cavey and Pat Thompson for their kindness in hosting me for meals, and to everyone at Cervi Championship Rodeo for providing me with great horses to ride while I was in Denver.

When I wasn’t at a rodeo performance, I had the opportunity to take part in the stock show activities. I enjoyed attending the National Western Extravaganza, the Stock Show parade, the Citizen’s of the West dinner, the Boots and Business luncheon, the “Goat Roping,” and the Grand Champion Steer Selection…it would be very difficult to pick a favorite event! Many thanks to Ms. Rita Carey and Ms. Deb Dilley for helping coordinate my schedule and accompanying me to the different events.

The 104th National Western Stock Show and Rodeo was a fun and amazing adventure; a hearty thank you to the NWSS and everyone in Denver for their hospitality!