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.
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.
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