Well, my bags are packed and I’m ready to head to Las Vegas. I can’t believe that I will be heading south in 24 hours. So many people made this adventure possible that I can’t begin thank everyone enough. The past few months have gone by so fast, which is why I haven’t been able to update the blog. It’s a little late, but here goes.
James Goodrich from the Wyoming State Fair called me and asked me to ride in University of Wyoming Homecoming Parade. The Wyoming State Fair will be celebrating its 100th Anniversary this coming summer and had a wagon advertising the centennial in the parade. It was fun riding along side James in the parade. It was my last as Miss Rodeo Wyoming, and while it was a little sad to close that chapter of my year, James made it fun with his smile and laugh. Thank you, James!
Miss Rodeo Colorado, Kellsie, and I made our way to Rock Springs, Wyoming for the Mountain States Circuit Finals Rodeo. The Finals rodeo made the move from Denver to Rock Springs this year. It was very well attended and the stock contractors brought some of the best stock I have seen all year! Kellsie and I carried our state flags and the American Flag for the openings, led the victory laps, and cleared cattle during the event. Congratulations to all of the contestants and to the Champions who will represent the Mountain State Circuit in Oklahoma City at the Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo.
Thank you Cody Brinton for the photos from the finals!
Martendale’s Western Wear of Laramie asked me to be a model for their store during the ZONTA Fashion Show. I was able to pick out my outfit and had fun accessorizing to match the blingy boots I chose to wear that night. I was joined by 75 other models to walk the runway. It was a fun evening that raised a lot of money for local groups.
Before the show with the Jubilee Days royalty
The next morning I packed up and headed to Sheridan, Wyoming with my parents for the Miss Rodeo Wyoming 2012 Coronation and Fundraiser. That evening I placed the jade and gold crown on Kimberly Kuhn’s white hat. It was a great evening and Kim had so much support from the Sheridan/Buffalo area and even folks from Cheyenne were able to make it up. Kim was given so much love that night that I know her year as Miss Rodeo Wyoming, starting January 1st, will be amazing!
The next weekend I went to visit my grandparents in Sundance and made a trip across the border to Rapid City, South Dakota to see my hat sponsor, Brad, at Star of the West Hats. Brad shaped every hat I own and got me all set up for Las Vegas! Thank you Brad! You are an amazing sponsor!
Before heading home I went to Casper for A Tribute to the Great American Cowboy. Dona Vold with Triple V Rodeo invited me and the Cheyenne Frontier Days Queen and Lady-In-Waiting to be a part of the art show and rodeo. We had a great time getting to know Kolton, the Children’s Western Wish Foundation recipient. Kim Kuhn arranged for me to use her horse and I greatly appreciate it! This was my last time in a Wyoming arena as Miss Rodeo Wyoming, but I had a blast, made some great memories, and closed yet another chapter in my rodeo queen year in fine style.
Right after the rodeo I headed back home to prepare for my Send-Off Party. I got a few hours of sleep, thank goodness for Daylight Savings Time, and then started moving my mass of a wardrobe to the University of Wyoming Hansen Arena meeting room. My best friend, Stacie (Kline) Thompson, Miss Rodeo Wyoming 2006, served as emcee. Some of my closest friends and supporters joined us for an afternoon of viewing my clothes for the Miss Rodeo America pageant, listening to what the pageant will be like, raising some money, and eating homemade chili. It was so much fun and it really helped me get prepared for the fast approaching trip to the bright lights of Vegas! Thank you to my mom, dad, Dusty, Aaron and Stacie (Kline) Thompson, Justin Tarr, and Jerry and Nola Hoff for helping me with this event!!
Stacie (Kline) Thompson and her husband, AaronMy last event in the state of Wyoming before my 13 hour drive to Las Vegas was the Carbon County Royalty Fundraiser in Baggs, Wyoming. It was great supporting a local queen program and getting to know the girls who will work very hard next year for the sport of rodeo! We had a great dinner, live and silent auctions, and danced to the music of Trainwreck. The queen and I were auctioned off for the first dance. My friend Justin was the big bidder for my dance, while the queen’s dad was pretty happy to get the first dance with his daughter. It was a wintery event, with the interstate closing and everything. I had to drive 7 miles east to Dixon, Wyoming to find a hotel to stay at until the roads opened the next day. It was a slow drive home, but I made it!
That brings us to the countdown! It went from months, to weeks, to days, and now to hours! I can’t believe how fast this year has gone! It has been amazing, beyond words, more than life changing! I would love to talk more about my year, but I have shirts that need ironing, vests needing even more rhinestones, and a trailer that needs packed!
For those of you who want to follow the Miss Rodeo America pageant, Kim Kuhn (Miss Rodeo Wyoming 2012) will be posting updates on this blog through the pageant which starts December 3 and ends with the crowning of the new Miss Rodeo America 2012 on December 10. There may also be updates on the Miss Rodeo Wyoming Facebook page if you have Facebook.
If you would like to send me an email during the pageant, the Miss Rodeo America association has set up a process to do that. From the Miss Rodeo America media chairperson:
Pageant contestants can be sent messages of encouragement while at the Miss Rodeo America Pageant. During the pageant they will not have access to their personal e-mail addresses or phones.
The e-mail rules are as follows:
>e-mail address: missrodeopageant@yahoo.com
1. We will start accepting messages on Saturday, December 3, 2011
2. Please include the State in the subject line.
3. All messages are read prior to printing to ensure appropriateness of the message. The committee reserves the right to not deliver a message they feel is inappropriate.
4. Messages may not be printed after Friday, Dec. 9th
5. Messages received after the pageant cannot be sent to contestants, we have no means of doing so.
6. Contestants DO NOT have access to e-mail during the pageant, please do not expect a response.
7. Due to circumstances beyond our control, messages may not always get to us. We try very hard but technology is not 100% accurate.
I would love to receive emails from you all throughout the week! You can also order flowers for me to help brighten my day by calling A French Bouquet in Las Vegas at (702)739-8484 or by visiting http://www.vegasflowers.com/.
I am excited to wrap up my year as Miss Rodeo Wyoming 2011 by competing for the title of Miss Rodeo America 2012. It’s been a long road here, competing three years for the title of Miss Rodeo Wyoming, winning 1st runner up all three tries, overcoming obstacles in my life, discovering so many new life-long friends, and most importantly, finding out who I am and what I stand for. This year has made me strong and confident and I am proud to be known as Miss Rodeo Wyoming 2011.Thank you Wyoming, Let’s Ride!
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