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A Double Dose of Hometown Hospitality!

Just a few days after returning from the east, I was westward bound to my home state of Washington for the Ellensburg Rodeo. Born and raised in Ellensburg, I was thrilled to be able to make at least one performance of a rodeo that I’ve never missed in my lifetime! I began my travel on a Wednesday that brought me into Seattlelate but regardless, my sister Jessica was waiting in the baggage claim for me upon arrival. After being gone for over 3 months, I was ecstatic to see family! I spent the night with her and the following morning my mom arrived to pick me and bring me over the mountains home to Ellensburg. My dad was waiting for me when we pulled into the driveway and the evening was filled with stories and being reunited with family (and pets!).  My first full day at home was spent relaxing before a busy day on Saturday. The annual Junior Rodeo hosted by the Ellensburg Rodeo Posse was held at our local arena and I was given the opportunity to carry the American flag in their grand entry. What a thrill it was to carry the flag in my home arena in front of friends, family and community members! Even more exciting was riding my own horse! My sassy, slightly out of shape horse was a handful but he was MY handful none the less!

Sunday brought us gorgeous weather and friends and family gathered for a small homecoming party that my mom and sister loving referred to as the ‘Stars and Stripes’ party! It was great to visit with many of those that would be busy all rodeo week and I may only get to see in passing from one event to the next! Monday was dedicated to my sister, so we ran errands together, shopped (as usual!) and ate at our favorite restaurant that I’d be craving for months! The following day was the kick off to a crazy schedule! It all began with an autograph signing at a local western store, Old Mill Country Store where I was greeted by many familiar faces. I was then off to run errands and visit friends before attending the Ellensburg Rodeo kick-off party for a brief hour then rushing out to WestStar arena. The Repp family, who sponsored me as Miss WestStar to compete for Miss Rodeo USA, holds an annual open team and tie-down roping as well as a dinner and gathering the night before. I was thrilled to help out the Repp’s by being a runner during their successful auction and visiting with many of their generous sponsors. With a more hectic day to follow, I hit the hay!

With King TV from Seattle on hand, I saddled up at the WestStar roping for a full day at the ranch. Thank you to the crew from King TV for coming out to the roping and I can’t wait to see the story! With the Pro-Am team roping underway, I spent my time visiting with friends and later driving out the calves during calf roping. The day flew by and I was happy to have been a part of such a great event and help out a family that has continually supported me through the years. Thank you to the Repp’s! The next morning I was front and center for the opening of the Kittitas County Fair to sign autographs for those there as the gates opened. Seated beside the Ellensburg Royal Court, we signed numerous autographs and visited with the fair-goers. Later the same afternoon, my parents and I attend a sponsor party for the Ellensburg Rodeo as a pre-event for the Hall of Fame banquet that evening. We were running like crazy! The Hall of Fame banquet was a fantastic event that provided a unique experience as Miss Rodeo USA. Seated at a table with the reigning Miss Rodeo America, we enjoyed watching the three inductees make their way into Ellensburg Rodeo history as the top two ladies of professional rodeo looked on. Also, thank you to Mike Allen for purchasing my ticket for such a fun evening!

Friday was the opening day of the Ellensburg Rodeo with performance time kicking off at 7pm. The morning brought some sprinkling rain as I made my way to the Kids Corral at the rodeo grounds to create craft projects with the kids but luckily it cleared up as I saddled up my horse for grand entry. It was truly exciting to ride in my home arena as Miss Rodeo USA and thank you to the rodeo committee for allowing me to participate! With my horse put up for the night, I wandered the grounds seeing many more friends in my hometown around the arena, at the fair and in the Gold Buckle Club. What a night! It was a late evening and an early morning to follow with the big parade and myself as the Grand Marshal. I did my best to pack up before heading out the door for the parade because IMMEDIATLY following the parade I would be heading west to Seattle to fly back to Oklahoma. A HUGE thank you to James Smith for getting me my new, beautiful chaps just in time and to Susan of Riding High USA for the gorgeous red shirt, fit for a marshal! It was such a highlight to walk my home streets because of all the familiar faces and shouts of encouragement. It may have literally rained on my parade and soaked me by the time I hit the end of the route, but it was a fantastic experience and a memorable one!

Barely 24 hours later I was in Henryetta, Oklahoma for the Jim Shoulders Living Legends Rodeo and running on pure adrenaline! I was tired from the week in Ellensburg but being in Henryetta was like hitting both my hometowns in one weekend. Hampton Rodeo Company put on a great show for a packed house on Sunday night and the following morning for the parade, the streets were lined with spectators. Thanks to Amy for driving my Seth Wadley Ford truck down main street Henryetta, although with all her students watching-she had more fans than I did! As the day heated up, we all got ready for the Monday afternoon performance. It may have been hot but many true fans sweated it out with us and enjoyed the show. Thank you to Tom for letting me us Doc for Sunday’s grand entry and Kevin Hampton for loaning me his horse on Monday, I appreciate it!

Thank you to everyone in my hometown of Ellensburg for making my trip so memorable! I special thank you to my family for being there for me during my hectic schedule even though their schedules were as crazy as my own! I had such a wonderful time and it was much in part to all those in my community, thank you! A second Thank-You is in order to those who were on hand in Henryetta, thank you to Tom and Kevin for the horses, Amy for driving my truck through the parade and Tammy Hyatt for allowing me to participate in your rodeo festivities! I had an amazing time!

Two days rest and I was on the move again, this time heading northeast to Poplar Bluff, Missouri– Stay turned for this weekends stories!

West meets East in North Washington, PA!

WARNING: Long blog! Recommended to grab a snack and beverage to fully enjoy all my stories! :)

 

Barely 24 hours after wrapping up the McAlester Prison Rodeo, I was headed east to Pennsylvania for the 50th annual North Washington Rodeo. While a few issues with my flight brought me in later than expected, committeeman Jim Zanella was on hand at the airport to meet me just the same. We drove the hour or so from Pittsburg into the town of Butlerwhere I would be staying for the week. After a long day of traveling I was looking forward to a good nights rest before an eventful week of rodeo. With a beautiful gift basket in hand, I was escorted to my amazing hotel room at the Comfort Inn. Thank you to the wonderful people at the Comfort Inn for their support and hospitality, they even went as far as setting me up with a room complete with a hot tub! How incredible! I hit the pillow excited for the week ahead.

Monday morning Jim and I hit the road to visit multiple sponsors around the Butler area. I enjoyed getting a feel for my new surroundings and was pleasantly surprised by what I found in the light of day. Pennsylvania is beautifully green and filled with gorgeous rolling hills covered with thick vegetation everywhere you look. This girl from the Evergreen state was a happy camper! After making our rounds it was time to get ready for the evening parade to kick off the rodeo festivities. Saddled up and lined up, I was introduced to the 2009 North Washington Rodeo Queen, Brianna Ivory. While we would spend the next week together and many laughs, I was thrilled to share such a wonderful event with a very special young lady. Side by side we strutted our stuff down Main Street and followed the route to the rodeo grounds were we were met with hot dogs and smores around a campfire in the arena. Loaded full of sugar, we concluded the night and went home to start the rodeo fresh the next day.

Brianna and I had a lengthy list of generous sponsors in and around North Washington, therefore we were criss-crossing the area visiting many of the rodeo’s supporters. Their 2009 queen was a wonderful tour guide but it was soon time to change and get ready for the first performance of the rodeo! While a Tuesday night usually brings in smaller crowds, the rodeo held family nights on Tuesday and Wednesday where four children were admitted for free with the purchase of two adult tickets and I was happy to see the groups file in! With the families loaded down with rodeo foods and seated for the event, we kicked off grand entry. After making my laps around the arena, I was quickly off my horse and in the crowd enjoying the great show Rawhide Rodeo Company put on. A gorgeous afternoon made for a beautiful night all the way through the performance but as we were clearing the final bull rider, the sky opened up and began to rain. We were blessed, what timing!

For the next few days, Brianna and I wandered the area visiting sponsors as well as drawing crowds at local malls, restaurants and super stores such as Sam’s Club. We passed out a tremendous amount of flyers in hopes to fill the stands for the rest of the week and by Wednesday night, our attendance was already picking up. As the crowd filled in, Jerry Todd (announcer) began his welcome and kick-off of the show. I truly enjoyed the patriotism and excitement for rodeo action that folks had for this traditional sport in Pennsylvania. So far from where I’ve spent the majority of my life, it was refreshing to see people from the other side of the country hold the same values and traditions that I grew up with. The crowd loved every buck, rope thrown, and barrel turned! A stack of autographs and a funnel cake later, our night was coming to a close and one by one the cars vacated the massive field parking lot toward home.

Thursday brought radio interviews with local stations, where Brianna and I were able to share our excitement for the rodeo events yet to come and personally invite those nearby to join in the festivities. After our on-air debut, we found ourselves at Power Up Equipment for a radio remote and BBQ. Having a sister that lives in the Seattle area, I thought I knew many of the variety of terms and levels of rain but PA taught me a new one! During our autograph signing, hot dog cooking and radio interviews on the front lawn of Power Up, the dark clouds above began to ‘spit’ a little water! Unfortunately the light sprinkle and intensity of the clouds above, scared away a few and but not before we were able to give out some free rodeo tickets! The skies seemed to continually darken through the afternoon and by rodeo, the threat of a storm was serious. It began to rain as Brianna and I entered the arena for our presentation runs and we kicked up some dirt, in a hurry to seek some shelter from the soon-to-be downpour. By the time I reached the car, grabbed my hat cover and jacket, and found my way to the announcers stand, it was difficult to see the arena through the thick wall of rain. Because many of the spectators were soaked quickly because of the intensity of the rain, many stayed through the storm! There are some SERIOUS fans of rodeo in PA! By barrels, the area was retaining water and resembling a muddy pond while we waited to see if the storm would pass or intensify. Soon we had to evacuate the stands for threat of lightning and waited for someone to call the rodeo and make the decision to finish it out or resume in the morning. One big crack of thunder that shook the announcer’s stand and I wasn’t sticking around to find out! We all hurried home to wait out the storm that was said to get much worse. Needless to say, I was happy to reach the safe confines of my homey hotel room!

We awoke on Friday to a wet and muddy mess from the passing storm but it didn’t do much to damper our spirits! Jim Zanella had invited me to join him in visiting their local tourism group during their morning meeting. I enjoyed getting to meet many of the members who are so dedicated to the growth and prosperity of their community. That afternoon, Brianna and I visited a few tourist attractions in Butler, such as the local museum. We had fun touring the facility that held one of the first Jeeps made by the original company, Bantam, as well as a very large circus display made out of hand-carved pieces! Soon it was time to put away my camera and grab my chaps to saddle up for the fourth performance of the rodeo, this time with another member of the IPRA. Jesse Guillory, the IPRA field rep, had flown in from Texas to be apart of the 50th anniversary. After we enjoyed the nightly meal provided by the wonderful ladies in the events center at the rodeo grounds, we headed over to the arena to gear up for the show. After making my appearance in grand entry and a quick presentation run, I was off my horse and helping Jesse present a special award to the rodeo committee. A beautiful plaque was created by the IPRA to recognize the North Washington Rodeo for 50 success years and I was happy to be on-hand to help present it to a truly wonderful committee. Tough Enough to Wear Pink night went fantastic as well, and by the time the rodeo concluded, the sea of pink migrated toward the fields and I was hotel bound.

On Saturday, Brianna and I were invited to participate in a local 4-H show passing out ribbons. While we were only able to stay for a short while, we visited with the spectators and I even went for a short ride in a pony-driven cart! Making our way back to the Comfort Inn, we picked up Jesse and headed to our favorite restaurant for a pre-rodeo meal, Texas Roadhouse. Full on peanuts and rolls with cinnamon butter, we prepped for the final performance. We were blessed with a beautiful evening, a packed house and a phenomenal show for the many spectators to enjoy! The long week came to a close with one more amazing root beer float, a serious hand cramp from autographs and hugs all around to the fantastic committee of the North Washington Rodeo.

I met so many wonderful people in the small town of North Washington and beyond. Thank you to everyone who made my trip so memorable. To the MANY people who stepped up and loaned me a horse, thank you for your tremendous generosity. To the Comfort Inn, you treated me like true royalty and I can’t express my gratitude for making me feel so at home in a foreign place. To Brianna the 2009 N. Washington Rodeo Queen, thank you for sharing your rodeo week with a complete stranger and never complaining about sharing the spotlight, you are a beautiful and sweet young lady that will go far in life! To the committee and all the volunteer firefighters, be proud of the amazing show you have successfully put on for 50 years now, I can honestly say it was one of the best I’ve ever witnessed! It truly is the Rodeo Capitol of the East!! To Jim Zanella, thank you for your hospitality, kindness and willingness to give me the chance to participate in your celebration of your rodeo’s anniversary. I’m thankful for the wonderful experiences that you made possible and truly appreciate your support and friendship. I made lasting memories in the small town of North Washington and thank everyone for their contribution to making my visit so wonderful!!

Again, I apologize to everyone for the recent delays in my blogs being posted but the last few days have been filled with distractions! I’m home in Washington State! I arrived home late Wednesday night and have been busy with my family, friends and community. Thank you all for your patience and understanding. I can’t wait to share my stories from my hometown and the world famous, Ellensburg Rodeo but until then, God Bless!

The Largest (and wildest!) Rodeo Behind Walls

Two weeks straight of go-go-go and I’m playing catch-up on my blog! I left off with a trip to the Oklahoma State Penitentiary for the McAlester prison rodeo. After weeks of hearing how unique and crazy this event is, I decided I couldn’t miss the chance to witness it myself.

 

Driving up to the high security prison, surrounded by barbed wire atop white stone walls with armed guards ready to search your vehicle before entrance, was slightly intimidating but I was warmly welcomed. Mounted on Windy Lattin’s beautiful horse, Spook, I entered the stone wall enclosed arena for the first time. It was a sight to see! The arena is massive, the stands will hold thousands of spectators (which they will fill on Saturday nights!) and at the far end are the 13 bucking chutes below fenced-in seating where the prisoners are staged before riding. This rodeo is considered an IPRA rodeo because timed event contestants are members of the IPRA while the rough stock events are left for the prisoner competitors. After lapping the arena for the national anthem, I was out the gate and anxiously awaiting the first event, bulls and broncs are loaded into all 13 chutes with riders and are turned out at the same time. It was complete chaos but the crowd as well as competitors loved it! We were off to a great start!

 

Wendell Ratchford of Wild Horse Rodeo Company, who has always treated me so well, keep a close eye on me all night and allowed me to stay on horseback to ensure I had the best seat in the house! It gave a whole new meaning to “Up close and personal!” While I was in the arena the majority of the night, I made sure I was fully fenced in during Money the Hard Way. Prisoners would make their way to the arena floor and a Mexican fighting bull would be turned out with cash strapped to his horns. You can image how this went! Guys were getting thrown everywhere but never quit! It was definitely a unique event at a one-of-a-kind rodeo! Thank you to the McAlester Chamber for allowing me to participate, Windy for the great horse and Wendell for always taking care of me! What a night it was! Hang tight for my stories from my trip back east to Pennsylvania for the 50th annual North Washington Rodeo!

Pageants in Pawnee, Plays and....Prison??

Where did my adventures lead me this past weekend? Just northwest of Tulsa to the small community of Pawnee for the Pawnee Bill Memorial Rodeo was where I hung my hat for a few days while participating in their rodeo festivities as well as their local queen pageant. Hitting the road Wednesday afternoon brought me into town on a hot sunny afternoon to meet with Anita Johnson, queen director at the rodeo grounds. After being introduced to the queen contestants and settling into our beautiful host ranch, the Dancing Bean, we ventured back to the arena for a BBQ and a kids evening. With the princess, teen and queen titles of 2009 all up for grabs, girls from around the area were competing for the prestigious crowns. We sat around munching on delicious corn on the cob and getting to know one another before migrating toward the roping dummy and bucking bull they had set up for the kids to enjoy. We were all able to turn in early for the night and in hopes to rest up for the weekend, we hit the hay!

 

Bright and early the following morning we were nose the rail of the arena intently observing the horsemanship with umbrellas close at hand. While I was able to sit near the judges to watch the horsemanship patterns of each contestant, we were not sheltered from the incoming rain. Luckily, we received just a quick shower and managed to get all the girls off their horses and ready for the next event with only slight water damage to their beautiful queen hair! We visited a few sponsors in town, had a wonderful lunch at Kacie’s Diner and all hit the pavement running to get ready for the afternoon Speech & Style Show. Dressed in our finest queen duds, we strolled into a local church meeting room with friends and family of the contestants to enjoy an afternoon of speeches and modeling. The contestants sparkled in their gorgeous dresses and to say I was impressed with their speeches would be an understatement! They all blew me away and it was soon clear this pageant was going to be a horse race to the end! While sitting up in front of the group, I soon realized it was on my shoulders to entertain the audience while the judges were completing their score sheets between girls. I never knew I had so many stories until I began to search my memory bank with goofy and fun events that have taken place over the course of the last few months. I’m thrilled I managed to get some laughs and did my duty of killin’ time! Off to change again! From dolled up to dirty, it was time for the first rodeo performance and we rushed off the change and arrive at the arena to get the horses ready. Thank you to Kevin Hampton for letting me use his horse for the grand entry and arena runs on Thursday night, I enjoyed him tremendously! As it always seems to do, time flew by on horseback and I was hopping off and running around with autographs in hand before you know it. The night was a beautiful one and the rodeo wrapped up with Amanda McCoy, the 2008 Pawnee Bill Memorial Rodeo Queen and I, headed back for our comfortable beds at the Dancing Bean Ranch.

 

As Thursday had been, Friday brought a tight schedule for the contestants and I. We began our day with a tough interview session with the girls and I must say, they all passed with flying colors. I’ve never been so impressed! With a sigh of relief from each contestant, interviews were over and we celebrated with some tasty pizza and some comfy pink tshirts to change into before that afternoon’s round of sponsor visits. The girls were pretty in pink as we left Pawnee for the sponsors in and around the Stillwater area. We met with some of the fantastic people who help put on the rodeo and queen pageant each year and wrapped up our stops at a local western store in Stillwater for some quick shopping! You know us rodeo queens, we can’t pass up a western store to save our lives….or that might just be me! Bags in hand, we jumped back in my beautiful Seth Wadley pickup and headed back to Pawnee to get ready for the second performance of the Pawnee Bill Memorial Rodeo.

 

The contestants shined and glittered in their arena outfits for the grand entry and I was proud to be a part of this great group of girls as we wandered around the rodeo grounds selling raffle tickets and signing autographs for young fans. I must admit I took a short break toward the end of the night and sat down in an arena-side seat to watch one of the most unique events I’ve seen all year. While bull poker has been played around the nation with volunteers sitting at a card table while a mean fighting bull is released and the last one sitting wins, this was a new version for me. Apparently they were tired of paying for new chairs so they switched it up a bit! Instead, the contestants have a large hula hoop ring that they stand in and the last remaining in their hoop once the bull is released, wins. However, you must follow the bull to where he is, so you have a bunch of guys carrying hula hoops around their waist chasing the bull, many of which end up running from him as well. It is a hoot to watch and quite dangerous but a crowd pleaser just the same. After the last bull bucked, I was in the truck headed for the ranch with one eye open…not literally Mom, don’t worry!

 

With a hectic pageant schedule nearly completed, Saturday was a fairly relaxed day with parade beginning at noon. Thank you to Danny Newland for letting me ride his beautiful paint horse, I was the envy of all the queens and then some! The parade route was just a few blocks long therefore my arm didn’t have time to get tired before we were loading up the horses once more. After the parade, Amanda, her mother and I headed for Clicks, a local steakhouse for a delicious afternoon meal to celebrate our nearly over rodeo weekend. The final performance snuck up on us and we were back at the arena before we knew it, saddled up and ready to go for the coronation ceremony. My horses didn’t take too much grooming considering my maroon beauty of a truck from Seth Wadley was raring to get in the arena after a fresh washing! We loaded the truck full of wonderful prizes and rolled on in. A BIG thanks to Dr. David Jones for the beautiful photos of the coronation event and the Saturday night rodeo. I can always count on his photos turning out gorgeous and it is much appreciated! My future scrapbook thanks you! J Congratulations to the new royalty of the Pawnee Bill Memorial Rodeo, especially their 2009 Queen, Lacey Glover. We will be seeing you in January at the Miss Rodeo USA pageant!

 

Soon it was time to wrap up my weekend in Pawnee. Thank you to Anita Johnson and her family for their hospitality and friendship; to Kevin Hampton, Benny Jordan, and Danny Newland for the use of their wonderful horses; the McCoy’s for their kindness; and to Ronnie Jestes for all the laughs. I had a truly amazing time and made some memories I won’t soon forget! Because Tom Duvall was up in the steer wrestling during the final performance, Amy and the kids drove up to Pawnee and offered to ride with me home after the rodeo. I think I got my payback from our Cheyenne trip because while I slept and watched movies all way, her and Hayden crashed on the way home from Pawnee while I trucked on home to Hitchita. We made the driveway by 1:45am and were sounds asleep preparing for Sunday’s big event! The play “Wicked” in Tulsa at the Performing Arts Center! I had a great time with the Duvall family watching an amazing story unfold of the land of Oz before Dorothy arrived. It was truly fantastic and I recommend everyone see it if they get the chance!

 

That updates you all to right now, a week full of preparation for the prison rodeo in McAlester, OK on Friday evening and a flight out on Sunday morning for Washington, Pennsylvania! I can’t wait and I’m sure I’ll have some good stories to share! Until next time, God Bless and happy trails!!

Happy to Be an Honorary Member of East High School's Class of '89!

What do four girls, four states and twenty four hours of driving equal? ROAD TRIP! Amy Duvall, Hayden (Amy’s daughter), Rosetta (Amy’s mom) and myself hit the road early Thursday morning with Wyoming in mind. With Amy’s class reunion in her hometown of Cheyenne on Saturday night, we decided we would all join her in the trip northwest for a girl’s weekend!

 

After loading the cooler full of snacks and all the necessary junk food, we hit the trail for our 12 hour journey through Kansas, across Nebraska and into Wyoming. With Hayden hooked on the DVD player, Rosetta playing her latest game on her iphone and me catching up on a season of Greys Anatomy on my ipod, it’s a wonder Amy didn’t fall asleep behind the wheel with no one to talk to! She pushed right on through and we saw the city lights of Cheyenne glowing through the windshield at 10:30pm. Shortly after arriving at Amy’s friend Jen’s house, we hit the hay exhausted from our day of travel.

 

In the light of day on Friday morning, Amy, Rosetta and I toured the growing city of Cheyenne. I truly enjoyed getting to see where Amy grew up, went to school and the stomping ground of her college days! I told Amy I was in on the trip as long as we could hit just a few tourist locations in the area and true to her word, we took the five minute drive to the Colorado state line, saw the historic train depot downtown, and stood in the vacant arena of the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo. It amazes me that not a week sooner and the stands would have been fill to max capacity and just a few days later we drove right onto the track! Although disappointed I missed the rodeo festivities, it is on my to-do-list for sometime soon! That evening was Amy’s reunion Ice Breaker where I was able to tag along and meet many of her high school friends. I had a fun time watching Amy and her friends reminisce and it makes me look forward to my own reunion although it’s hard to imagine that far ahead, I’m still working on next week! J

 

Saturday brought sunshine and wonderful 80 degree weather for a picnic in the park with Hayden, Rosetta, Amy, myself, Jen and Jen’s daughter, Taren. The reunion included an afternoon get-together at the local park where Amy’s classmates brought their families to join in the fun. The kids (and adults!) had their faces painted, ate hot dogs and cake, as well as visited with one another. After the picnic we toured the 2008 National Library of the Year! You wouldn’t think a library would be so interesting but with Amy’s sister Kim as our tour guide, I was fascinated to see the state-of-the-art facility. Complete with self checkout computers, drive-thru return window, a floor full of kids activities that adults would want to partake in, balconies, sitting rooms with fireplaces, AND toilets with instructions! Curious about that last one? So was I! It’s a new green feature to use less water which I found interesting! With Amy’s big dinner and official reunion party that evening, we headed back to Jennifer’s for some tasty burgers and baked beans before gearing up for the big night. With Amy at her event, Jen and I got to spend some time together and I truly enjoyed getting to know her better. I can see why her and Amy are such good friends, plus I got some good stories on Amy now! Just kidding! Thank you to her and her family for opening up their home to us!

 

While Amy and I stayed with her friend Jennifer, Rosetta and Hayden spent time with Amy’s sister Kim that lives in the area. We woke up Sunday morning and said our goodbyes to Jen and her family before heading to the other side of town to spend a few hours visiting with Kim. We had fun watching Amy’s high school reunion DVD from the previous night and relaxing before the big trek home. Soon we had loaded up the car, got situated and turned toward home. Having to drive through the night, our trip was long and tiresome but by 3am we had arrived back at the Duvall home.

 

It was a whirlwind of a trip but a great one at that. We may have been in the car almost as much as out of it but we had fun none the less. Cheyenne is a beautiful town and I’m thrilled to add Wyoming and Nebraska to my list of states I’ve visited. Thank you to Amy and her family for letting me tag along for the wild adventure!

 

As for me, its time for bed because tomorrow I hit the highway once again, this time to the town of Pawnee, Oklahoma. I’m looking forward to the rodeo and their local pageant as well as seeing some old friends that I’ve met over the past year or so. With that said, I better get a good nights rest! Good night everyone!

Off to the Ozarks!

As I mentioned in my last blog, camped out in my hotel room desperately trying to catch up on my website WHILE at my next appearance, I was visiting the beautiful town of Ozark, Missouri. It seems my life has been a constant game of catch-up but as my director assures me, this will be the busiest time of my year. Trust me, I’m trying! It seems much has happened in the short week since I last checked in with everyone, so here is the 411:

My weekend in Ozark began early morning Thursday as I attempted to leave the Duvall household on time while violently tossing boots, hats and the like in my beautiful Seth Wadley Ford pick-up. Loaded to the roof and still picking out curls with my fingers, I hit the trail for the gorgeous area of southeastern Missouri. I arrived in Springfield, MO to meet Lyndia Chaffin, rodeo committee member, for a quick interview with Clint at 100.5 the Wolf. However, for all of you that know Clint, you are also aware that it is difficult to have a QUICK interview! We had a little too much fun by the time we walked out of the studio an hour or so later. After the radio show, it was already time to get geared up for the first performance of the 55th Ozark Booster Club Rodeo. Time flew and after changing clothes and pinning on my hat, I was finding my way through town (and mass construction! Uh!) to the rodeo arena. We were granted a beautiful, but warm, night for the first perf and it wasn’t long before the crowd began to build and the show would soon begin. A tremendous thank you goes out to the Chaffin family for letting me use their horse Zebell for the weekend! I think he loved his 15 minutes of fame! J As always, Hampton Rodeo Company put on a spectacular show with some of the best stock around and I was reminded of their quality entertainment as I visited with many of the spectators. A huge stack of autograph sheets later, the night was coming to a close. A big day was planned for Friday so I welcomed sleep the moment my head hit the pillow.

As scheduled, we were up and going early on Friday for a full day of sponsor visits. Thank you to all who contributed to help make the Ozark Booster Club Rodeo a success. It was a pleasure to meet many of you as well as receive the full tour of the town while making our rounds. My trusty sidekick, Mike Craine and I enjoyed our day together and had the motion of getting in and out of the van quickly, down to a science by the afternoon! I must’ve worn Mike out because I swapped out chaperones for Rick Chaffin to hit the final stops on our sponsor list, but we had just as much fun. We burned through the entire day and it was once again time to fill the stands of the arena. Attendance was wonderful and I must give credit for that to the gorgeous night we received. As much as I was tempted to enjoy the great show, I hit the stands and quickly found myself swarmed by youngsters looking for autographs. I have to say, this is probably my favorite part of my job because of the excitement you see on each one of their faces as you personalize a photo just for them! The last bull bucked and I ended my night visiting with the Huber family of Perryville, Missouri! Recognize that name anyone? My wonderful host family from my trip to Altenburg, MO! Even after a two week road trip across country, they jumped back in their vehicle to drive the few hours to visit me in Ozark. I was so thrilled to see them all and can not thank them enough for driving all that way! We talked until they shut the lights off in the park and we took the hint to mosey along. Thank you again to the Huber’s!

Saturday brought 70 degree weather to a region that has been hit hard with 90’s and above daily. This Washingtonian was THRILLED! I even broke out the jacket instead of a lightweight western blouse! Amazing, I know! We began our day with breakfast with Rick and Lyndia Chaffin and Mike Craine before heading out to visit a few more generous sponsors. The remainder of the afternoon was reserved for arts and crafts! Lyndia had a wonderful idea to use many of her older photos of the past Miss Rodeo USA’s visits to Ozark as well as the photos we took all weekend to make a poster to present to the rodeo committee. Sprawled out on their living room floor, I did my best to put together a display of five years of rodeo royalty. I figure it’s just gearing me up for scrapbooking this fall and winter! After changing for the final perf, I headed my Ford toward the arena one last time. Needless to say, the committee was excited to see our poster and I was thankful to be apart of the project! Our cool day had turned slightly chilly by mid-rodeo but many fought the “cold” and finished out the show…wrapped in blankets and heavy coats as I basked in the cool breeze of Washingtontype weather! Thank you to the Ozark Rodeo Booster Club for an amazing experience in your hometown!

…But my fun was far from over! Sunday morning I tossed everything I hauled into my hotel room back into my truck and drove the short distance to the Chaffin home. Rick and Lyndia’s sons, Cory and Joel agreed to take me to Branson to enjoy the amusement park, Silver Dollar City! I was ecstatic! Not 30 minutes from their doorstep, we meandered through the strip in Branson and hit Silver Dollar City in the early afternoon. Right off the bat we jumped in line for the Marvel Cave tour. Now what do you think of when you hear the word ‘tour?’ Sit in the moving tram as you sip your frozen lemonade? Not hardly! This tour was an hour or so long and 600+ steps through a cave that at times is hundreds of feet below surface with the opening room featuring an entry that has a 200ft drop to the bottom of the room! Did I mention you used to slide down from the entrance on your hinney in a pair of provided overalls in the 1940’s? Thank goodness for modernization and advanced stairwells! J Amazingly I made it through the cave without a massive attack of claustrophobia and we were out in the sunlight hitting the roller coasters! Now, normally I’m not the roller coaster type but knowing Joel and Cory wouldn’t let me live it down, I sucked it up! The first few were ok (and I held my lunch!) but then came Wildfire. Strapped in my seat, arms restricted from the safety bars and heading up the first massive incline is when I look over and see the dozen or so loop-da-loops that this coaster takes! I started hollering at Cory and Joel, which by the way, swear that I KNEW it went upside down BEFORE getting on, and held my breath as we began the ride! Those back home in Washington could probably hear my screams of, “I HATE YOU!” during the frequent loops but as it came to a stop and I began to breath again, I discovered that I loved every moment of it! With the coasters behind us, we ate our way through the park, did a number on the gift shop and hit the road home to Ozark. Thank you so much to Cory and Joel for showing me such a good time in Branson, great memories!

 

It was early Monday that I hit trail home to Henryetta and spend a few days to recoup from my wild weekend in Ozark. On Wednesday, Jenny Duvall, cousin of Tom and Amy, came over to take some truly wonderful pictures for a Cowgirl Jewels photo shoot. I recently received a gorgeous bronc halter and blinged out flip flops from Cowgirl Jewels that I was looking forward to showing off! Thank you to Cowgirl Jewels for their sponsorship and support, the halter and flip flops are beautiful! A big thanks also goes to Jenny for taking time to shoot a few photos and getting some amazing shots. After my close-up (hehe), I hit the hay for an EARLY morning on Thursday.

 

With the Miss Rodeo Oklahoma pageant going on in Oklahoma City, I was excited to see the high profile pageant and watch many girls I knew compete for titles. Thursday morning was horsemanship at Bridlewood Arena, same facility we hold our Miss Rodeo USA clinic in October, more on that soon! The rest of my day was filled with a few sponsor visits in the city and lounging by the amazing pools of the Biltmore Hotel. Thank you to Jonnie at the Biltmore for setting up a room for my stay, you always treat me so well! Over the next few days I attended the fashion show and speeches as well as the coronation on Saturday. Congratulations to all the girls!

 

I’m back at home with the Duvall’s but I won’t be home for long! Amy surprised me with an offer that I just can’t refuse! Thursday morning we are setting out on a road trip to Cheyenne, Wyoming (her hometown)! Having never been to that part of the country, I’m eager to have the opportunity. While it is still up in the air, I believe we’ll be having a girls weekend with myself, Amy, Rosetta (Amy’s mom), and Hayden! How fun! I’ll keep you posted on this crazy trip!! Until next time, God bless!

"Mom, Can you do me one more favor?" "Mom, Help me remember..." "MOM, Quit being a backseat driver!" :)

As mentioned in my last blog, my week with filled with great company, my mom! She arrived late last week and we spent a few days together, including a wonderful weekend at the Wynnewood, Oklahoma rodeo. My mom, being the great queen mom she is, insisted on helping me out with my everyday duties and chores as Miss Rodeo USA, therefore we spend the first few days ironing, washing, re-dying and organizing my much used clothing! She was a tremendous help, as always! I know what you all are thinking and NO I didn’t make her work during her WHOLE vacation…just some of it! We made time for fun once the weekend hit and set out south for Wynnewood, Oklahomafor their rodeo festivities. By making a quick pit stop in Oklahoma City for some shopping, we managed to arrive in Pauls Valley by late afternoon with just enough time to get ready for the Friday night performance of the Wynnewood rodeo. We checked into the Holiday Inn Express and Suites in Pauls Valley, my generous sponsor for the weekend, and admired the comfort and luxury of this amazing new hotel!

All settled in and ready for the rodeo, we drove the 15 minutes to Wynnewood and had no problem finding the rodeo grounds, just follow the trail of vehicles through town! Thank you AGAIN to Calvin Ivey for allowing me to steal his horses for the weekend! As always, I truly appreciate your generosity! I was excited to carry the American flag and lead grand entry for Wild Horse Rodeo Productions but Wendi Ratchford and her trick riding along with the drill team, Rodeo Sweethearts was a hard act to follow! Wrapping up the opening ceremonies meant time to break out the autograph sheets and hit the crowd. I spend the remainder of the evening mingling with rodeo goers and meeting new friends within the community of Wynnewood. As fans filed through the gates at the closing of another night, my mom and I fired up Big Red, my Seth Wadley Ford pick-up, and headed back to the hotel for a good nights rest.

Saturday morning included sponsor visits with the queen contestants, Brooklyn and Kilee along with the current queen, Kaitlin. We made our rounds through downtown Wynnewood and were back in the AC by the time the temperature hit 85 degrees, thankfully because the day was shaping out to be a scorcher! After leaving the royalty, I stopped in for a short visit at Seth Wadley Ford in Pauls Valley and got more than I bargained for! Not only did they wash my truck for the upcoming parade, I hitched a free ride with Seth to the Okie Noodling Festival in downtown Pauls Valley. Saddled up, on what looked like a glorified 4-wheeler, we hit the streets with Seth driving and me hangin’ on to my hat for dear life! We caused quite a stir down at the festival which celebrates the Oklahoma way of catching catfish (sticking your arm in the water and waiting for catfish to bite it before pulling it out!). While the weigh-in hadn’t begun yet, there were a few example fish in the massive tank brought in for the event. Thank you to Seth for the ride and causing all that commotion! What a good time!

I had just enough time to run back to the hotel and change for the parade and then traveled back to Wynnewood to locate my position in the parade line-up shortly before it began. Saddled up on Calvin’s horse, we hit the pavement smiling and greeting the spectators and inviting them all out to the final performance of the rodeo. It was showtime not long after the parade ended and my mom and I were ready…minus melting in the 102 degree heat! Sweating it out, we made it through grand entry and the national anthem beautifully with a trusty horse underneath me. Autographs in tow, I set out again to greet the rodeo fans who welcomed me thoroughly. The hot day turned into a wonderful evening and I doubt anyone was disappointed with the show that they witnessed that night. A big thank you to the Wynnewood Rodeo committee for their hospitality and support, you were all wonderful! Thank you to Big Rick for your kindness and generosity, I’ll be stopping in your restaurant on my next trip through for a good meal! Again, thank you to the Holiday Inn Express in Pauls Valley for setting my mom and I up with a truly beautiful room! We were treated like royalty all weekend and I appreciate all who made our visit so incredible!

As it seems to do, time flew by and soon it was time for my mom to pack up and fly back to Washington. This past Tuesday, I drove her up to Tulsa to catch her morning flight back home but as the Duvall’s agreed, we all enjoyed her tremendously. It meant so much to share some of my adventures with her and to have to see first-hand the work and fun I’m having. Thanks Mom, love you!

My blog is just a few days behind but I post my most recent story from my hotel room in Ozark, Missouri. I have been here a few days and I’m truly enjoying myself at the Ozark Booster Club Rodeo. I will be sure to share my adventures with you all next week! Until then, God bless!

900 Miles, 3 States, 2 Rodeos and Only 1 King of Rock 'n' Roll

In celebration of our nation’s birthday, I hit the highway for my eight hour drive to the small town of Caraway, Arkansas to spend the Fourth of July with some fantastic rodeo fans. With Big Red, my beautiful Seth Wadley Ford truck, loaded down to max capacity, a new audio book to keep me company, and a cooler full of iced Starbucks coffees, I was off and running down I-40 toward the state line. It was a gorgeous trip accompanied by pleasant weather that brought me into the town of Caraway and in the driveway of my host family, the Emery’s. Greeted by Merett, Michelle and their son Grayson, was a nice surprise and they made sure I was comfortable in their pool house. Catch the “pool” in pool house? I sure enjoyed lounging and playing with Grayson over the weekend! After getting acquainted with the family, my pillow was calling my name after my day-long travels.

Friday morning brought an early trip to Paragould, a nearby town to visit with their local radio station. I appreciated the host allowing me to chat over the airways and enjoyed a great breakfast before heading back to Caraway…but not before going through the small community of Goobertown! I found the name horribly funny and had to mention my brief visit! Our afternoon was fairly relaxed until performance time that evening. With a gorgeous night before us, the stands began to fill and the announcer signaled the opening ceremonies to begin. A big thanks to Michael Emery for allowing me to use his horse Cash over the weekend! He was a great honorary queen horse and treated me well! The evening seemed to fly by with grand entry, sponsor flag runs, setting out the barrels for barrel racing and having just enough time to sign autographs for all the wonderful rodeo fans. With the night’s excitement behind us, we all unwound to begin preparation for Saturday’s events.

 

We kicked off the Fourth of July with a fantastic parade down the streets of Caraway. I was pleased with the attendance as well as Dwight, my truck driver’s ability to gently accelerate and brake while I stand in the bed of the truck! It was quite an honor to put the Seth Wadley Ford truck in the parade and made for quite a lot less prep time than a horse would have! The parade wrapped up and it seemed the next job would be the toughest I have yet to face…making sure Merett didn’t burn my steak! We had a fun BBQ with all of his family and friends where we enjoyed some delicious food and entertaining conversation! Rodeo time was upon us once again and we headed to the rodeo grounds, eyeing the darkening rain clouds above us all the way. As we saddled up, it began to drizzle and by warm up, the rain came down freely but as it seems to do in this area, the rain doesn’t last long. It cleared up just in time for the first bronc to buck! I was very impressed with the top notch show at the Caraway Rodeo as well as the friendly people who you’ll find behind the scenes. We all celebrated the 4th in a traditional fashion, from good ol’ time rodeo competition to the fireworks that lit up the Arkansas sky, it was a night to remember.

 

On my final day in Caraway, I said goodbye to my new friends, the Emery’s and headed the 40 miles to the Tennessee state line. Thinking I may not see Tennessee in my lifetime, I couldn’t resist going after knowing I was this close. PLUS, who can pass up Graceland? Not this girl! With my Sirius satellite radio tuned to the all Elvis channel, I lit out for Memphis singing “Blue Suede Shoes” with a smile on my face! After parking, speed-walking to the admissions counter and jumping a shuttle to the mansion, I arrived on Elvis’ front steps! I was so pleased with the way they run the tours, from the headphones that step by step bring you audio to narrate what you see, to the friendly workers. I learned so much about this musical icon and was overwhelmed to have witnessed something I had assumed I wouldn’t see in my lifetime. With only a short while to visit, I rushed through the sites and took the gift shops by storm! Any girl can shop, but you have a gift if you can SPEED shop! With seven hours ahead of me, I pointed Big Red toward Oklahoma and set the cruise control, arriving home just in time for some homemade ice cream with the Duvall family! Thank you again to the Emery’s and all the wonderful people I met in Caraway! You all were very hospitable and enjoyable to be around!

 

This week is very exciting for me because I’m sharing my busy schedule with my MOM! She flew into Tulsa from Washington on Tuesday evening and will be here through the week and weekend. I’m thrilled to have her see my new life here in Oklahoma as well as see me in action at the big rodeo in Wynnewood, Oklahoma this weekend. Stay tuned to see what kind of trouble we can get ourselves into!

One for the $, Two for the Show, Three to Get Ready, Four – Let’s RODEO!

First and foremost, I feel the need to apologize for not getting this blog posted sooner, but unfortunately that’s what happens during these hectic rodeo months! Bare with me as I combine two action packed rodeo weekends into one blog!

 

From one end of my “home turf” to the other with Checotah’s rodeo two weekends back and Okmulgee’s rodeo the following, I enjoyed the familiar faces and places of my recent travels. With the Duvall’s home located in the small town of Hitchita, Oklahoma, we are approximately 15 minutes west of Checotah and 15 east of Okmulgee but in the center of some great rodeo action! The annual Muscogee Creek Nation Festival Rodeo is a recent addition to the International Professional Rodeo Association and I was thrilled to help in the promotion as well as the two performances. Wendell Ratchford of Wild Horse Rodeo Productions put on a fantastic show for the spectators enjoying our traditional sport.

 

Friday nights performance got underway just as the heat of the day began to slowly decrease and the crowds built up. Proudly carrying the IPRA flag in grand entry around the beautiful girls of the Rodeo Sweetheart’s drill team was a great way to kick off the show. I was thrilled to be asked to drive out steers and calves during the performance, therefore I remained horseback most of the evening and loving the extra involvement in the rodeo! A BIG thanks for Calvin Ivey of Wild Horse Rodeo Productions for the use of his amazing horses throughout the past two weekends. It makes for a laid-back smooth-going rodeo when you have a capable and easy-tempered horse under you! The rodeo came to a close with the sounds of R&B singer, Brandi singing at the local fair and carnival. Saturday evening was slightly warmer but the attendance was fantastic as Monty Stueve, our rodeo announcer’s voice filled the air to signal the start of the show. As always, I was truly impressed by the incredible talent that lies within the stock provided by Wendell as well as the IPRA competitors. It was a tough pen of athletes that made for a world class performance! The show wrapped up and we all enjoyed the sounds of Joe Diffie on one of the most beautiful Oklahoma nights I’ve seen yet. Thank you to the Okmulgee Rodeo committee for allowing me the privilege to participate in your event and making wonderful memories to boot!

 

Less the 24 hours later, I was on the road to Pauls Valley, Oklahoma for the annual Pauls Valley Round-Up Club IPRA Rodeo. With my beautiful red Ford from Seth Wadley Ford loaded to the max we made our way south to begin a week long stay in Garvin County. Immediately, I was greeted by Jerry and Lily Norton who handle much of the rodeo responsibilities as well as the queen contest. We hit the ground running full speed on Monday morning with radio interviews and sponsor visits that lasted much of the first three days. I enjoyed driving around with Jerry and the queen contestants as we made our way through an incredible list of rodeo contributors. We may have burned through quite a bit of diesel but we were laughing with every mile traveled! Thursday brought the first of three days I would be spending with the crew from KIX 106, the local radio station, for remotes and various appearances. Sherry, Lisa, Teddy, Martha, Ken and I had a blast ‘cutting up’ with one another, teaching me Oklahoma slang, doing our best not to laugh while on the air, and meeting the crowds of people who followed us to our locations.

 

As always, rodeo time arrives before I know it and Thursday night brought the first performance as well as the crowning of the Pauls Valley Rodeo Queen! All dolled up and ready to go, we kicked off the show with a beautiful opening ceremony. Shortly after setting down my flag, I was dismounting Calvin’s horse and saddling up in my Seth Wadley Ford pickup to drive in the awards for the queen candidates. Congratulations to Challen Bailey on becoming the 2009 Queen! I’m so proud of you and I know you will represent them well! The rest of the evening was filled with autographs, concession stand runs, and frequent trips to the Kayak stand for their promotional fans they pass out during the hot rodeos! Those girls are a lifesaver when I’m melting in the heat! Soon the line of cars inching down the drive signaled the rodeo had ended and it was time to turn in for an early start tomorrow.

 

Friday brought many more radio remotes around Pauls Valley and beyond with the KIXO gang that led up to the second performance of the rodeo. With just enough time to run home and throw on my most breathable arena outfit, considering the 104 degree weather, I went flying down the road to the rodeo grounds. With grand entry and the national anthem behind us, it was time to walk the stands and meet new fans! It was an incredible experience to visit with nearly 250 people from across the US who were in town for a conference with the Academy for the Deaf. From Connecticut to California, New Jersey to Pennsylvania, the students taught me new signs while I shared my rodeo knowledge to these first time spectators. With a couple hundred autographs signed and dozens of photos taken in one evening, our night came to a close and I enjoyed as much of the 5 hour night sleep I was provided before Saturday arrived!

 

The final day in Pauls Valley brought the final remotes scheduled by KIXO, the downtown parade, and our final rodeo performance. Thank you again to the crew of KIX 106 for the entertainment and support you provided throughout our time together. After lunch with the radio gang, it was a quick change and off we go through the streets of Pauls Valley to invite the smiling faces of the parade-goers out to the rodeo! No time was wasted from dismounting Calvin’s horse, Blue to another record breaking clothing change and back in the arena for our final and best yet, performance. Thank you to Lisa Lance for not only her hospitality as my host family but for taking amazing pictures that are posted in the June Cont. album. It was a gorgeous night filled with excited fans and great rodeo action. As it all came to a close, I said my goodbyes to new friends that I hope I will see again down the road. I met some amazing people from the community of Pauls Valley that I won’t soon forget. Thank you to everyone involved with the Pauls Valley Rodeo, especially Jerry and Lily Norton for your kindness and welcoming attitudes. My memories of my visit will last me a lifetime!

 

I may be back at the Duvall’s for a short while but Thursday puts be back on the wide open road as I head east to Caraway, Arkansas for the 4^th of July! I can’t wait to see what awaits me on my next adventure! Stay tuned and God bless!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM! LOVE YOU AND MISS YOU TONS! :)

A New Settler Joins the Old Settler's Day Festivities!

Lately it seems like I’m jet-setting or long-haulin’ great distances to reach my destinations but this past weekend was a change of pace. Old Settler’s Day Rodeo of Checotah, Oklahoma is a mere 15 minutes from my front step to the arena entrance and I welcomed the quick trip!

 

This weekend has had quite the build-up because Tom and Amy Duvall’s daughter, Hayden was competing in the Checotah Round-Up Club Sweetheart pageant. While we’ve been preparing for our weekend for two weeks, our events didn’t begin until Thursday afternoon with horsemanship practice for the girls and a relaxing pizza party at Pizza Hut. The girls had the chance to meet with other competitors and enjoy some judge-free fun before Friday hit and the pageant truly began.

 

Friday morning brought rain, thunder, lightening and wind to our area of McIntosh County as we hurried to get ready for the Queen’s Luncheon held that afternoon. It was quite a change to share the bathroom while hot rolling my hair with Hayden busily getting dolled-up herself! (Maybe that’s where all our fight pictures began – see June photo album!) Amy, Hayden, Nathan, myself, and Amy’s mom, Rosetta all piled into the car and headed to town before the storm hit too hard. We may have outrun the rain but there is no beating the humidity! I’m learning quickly what that can do to queen hair! We all enjoyed a delicious meal and the presentation of the outgoing queen, Lacey Glover as well as a quick hello from myself and awards and door prizes throughout the function.

 

It wasn’t long before it was time to rush home and change for the first performance of the Old Settler’s Day Rodeo. Doing my best to salvage my wilting hair and redoing my melted make-up was quite the task but we were loaded up and headed out looking as fresh as daisies! Pulling into the Checotah Round-Up Club Arena was a welcoming sight of trailers and spectators awaiting the big show. Saddled up on Peanut Butter, Tom’s hazing horse (and no, he didn’t name him!), the queen contestants and I warmed up and geared up for the grand entry. A big thanks to Tom for the use of his horses as well as Kevin and Gina Hampton for allowing me to use Dunny to carry the American flag during the opening ceremonies. The contestants and I didn’t slow down after dismounting our horses. From throwing out t-shirts and signing autographs to helping the clown act and enjoying a sno-cone or two, I kept myself moving (mainly to get a little breeze going to cool down!). As the rodeo came to a close for the night, the Duvall’s and I headed home to wind down from the day and begin a new hectic schedule for Saturday.

 

Old Settler’s Day festivities includes fun activities for the family that are set up during a downtown street fair that began Saturday morning. Kids can enjoy turtle races, street dancing, face painting, tractor pulls and they even have some games for the adults, like tobacco spitting and cow patty toss! Upon arriving, I was quickly thrown in the make-shift jail and was forced to wait it out until someone would pay my dollar bail. After bustin’ out, around the fair I went! From the tractor display and the antique car show to shopping at various venders and dancing with the visiting clog group, I had a great time! The event was a first of its kind for me this year and I truly enjoyed the people as well as the exciting activities. With parade time just around the corner, Tom saddled up Hayden’s horse, Ranger and we were off and going. The route was a short but featured very enthusiastic spectators that made sweating in the heat all worth while!

 

Once again, we ran home (a HUGE benefit of a near-by rodeo!) and changed for the final performance of the Old Settler’s Day Rodeo. This time saddled up on Tom’s bulldogging horse, Doc we were warmed up and ready as announcers Danny Newland and Garrett Yerigan began the show. Everything went smoothly through the various run-ins and flag laps – who knew a bulldogging horse could make such a great queen horse! Watch out Tom, I’m going to convert him over before you know it! With the announcement of the royalty for the Checotah Round-Up Club, I was thrilled to hear Hayden won 1^st Runner-up and a very special volunteerism award for her terrific attitude throughout the pageant! Way to go cowgirl, I’m so proud of you!

 

The rodeo came to a close on the final night with great attendance and a pleased crowd. I was excited to be apart of this years Old Settler’s Day Rodeo and to meet all the fantastic people who bring it all together. Thank you to Frankie, Trish and Sweetie for their commitment to the queen pageant and their tremendous kindness toward this newcomer! It was great to meet you all and thank you for allowing me to make fun memories of my time in Checotah! Congratulations to all the royalty and contestants, awesome job girls!

 

As another quick side note – Before my weekend in Checotah, I headed south to Pauls Valley, Oklahoma to pick up a beautiful new Ford F250 Super Duty from Seth Wadley Ford. A mere thank-you is not enough to balance their incredible generosity for sponsoring me through the remainder of my year as Miss Rodeo USA. I will have pictures of my beautiful red truck on the internet shortly as well as additional information on their much appreciated sponsorship.

The following day, I was on the road in my new ride headed to Duncan, Oklahoma for the Miss Oklahoma High School Rodeo pageant. Morgan Roberts, a good friend I met in Owasso a few weeks back was competing for the title. I’m thrilled to say that she won the crown and will be headed to nationals in July! Yay Morgan! Go get ‘em girl! Congrats!

 

NOTE: My photos of my weekend in Checotah are posted but I’m having some difficulties getting them to stay in order of events! Hang tight and I’ll keep trying! Thanks!