Traveling in a plane is always an experience. When you add a hat can, a crown, and a briefcase full of autograph sheets, you never know what might happen. I entered the Denver International Airport to start my trip to Oklahoma City, OK for the Dodge National Circuit Finals Rodeo solo. As I approached my gate, I saw a familiar sight, three actually. Sitting at the same gate I was were Miss Rodeo Utah, Miss Rodeo Idaho, and Miss Rodeo Nebraska. All three of us ended up on the same flight! I was so happy to finally be able to share a flight with my fellow queens! It is also interesting to note that people are more apt to approach a group of rodeo queens rather than just one.
We landed in Oklahoma City (OKC) and were met by Miss Rodeo Oklahoma, Jamie Verden, and members of her board. We were taken to our hotel to check into our rooms. The Embassy Suites is where I called home for the next few days. I shared a room with Miss Rodeo Nebraska, Florida, and Tennessee. Kallie Baker with “It’s a Sue Thing Photography” joined us throughout the week and captured our adventures with her camera. She then offered each queen a disk of the photos. It cut down drastically on the time spent posing for 22 different cameras.
With 22 rodeo queens you can imagine how hard it would be to get us from point A to point B, so, when it came time to take all of us to Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar and Grill for dinner, we were surprised with two white stretch hummer limos to be used our first night in town. I can say, this started the week off with a BANG! After dinner, we took a canal ride through OKC’s “Bricktown”. This area of town was once a deserted warehouse district. About 15 years ago they started to renovate the area and it is now a very energetic and historic portion of town. After our ride, we piled back into the limos and made our way to one of OKC’s important sights, the OKC National Memorial Museum. This museum stands where the 1995 OKC bombing took place. To visit it at night was touching; seeing the numerous lit chairs covering the lawn, representing the people and their location within the building, who were lost that day. I was just a child when this horrific event took place, but can remember like it was yesterday. The building has been completely removed and a memorial now stands touching the sky. The only thing left on that site is a tree that withstood the blow. There is an actual museum next to the memorial; however, we were not able to visit it. I am already looking forward to my next trip to OKC to visit this museum. After seeing this heart-touching site, we again piled back into the limos and headed to the OKC Capitol building.
The girls in front of one of the limos
Some of the girls in the limo
The entrance to the Oklahoma City National Memorial
The week in OKC was filed with flag practices, autograph signings, and rodeo performances. It was wonderful to get the opportunity to ride Bronc and Kate Rumford’s horses during the rodeo. The Rumfords have been working with rodeo queens for many years, and Bronc was a past Miss Rodeo America Inc. president and currently serves on the horsemanship committee. Their crew made sure we had safe horses, the correct flags, and in the right order during all 5 rodeo performances. I was also honored to carry the event sponsor flags during the Friday night, Saturday afternoon, Saturday night, and Sunday afternoon performances. This rodeo was my first PRCA championship rodeo I have ever been a part of and an experience I will never forget.
Cydney Tate and I
On Friday we were given quite a treat. The Oklahoma City Gun Club gave 22 rodeo queens the opportunity to shoot shotguns all morning! For many of us, it was our first time shooting shotguns, and for a few of the girls, it was their first time shooting a gun ever. I had gone with MRW ’09 Allie Bass to learn before I left, so I thought I would be prepared. We invited some of the cowboys and personnel from the rodeo to participate in a shooting competition with us. We were placed on teams of four, two queens and two cowboys. I was teamed up with Miss Rodeo Arkansas, Shana Carter; barrelman, Dennis Halstead; and bullfigthter Kaden Burns (from Laramie). Our team tied for fifth, but I’m proud of the 6 out of 10 targets I hit. That might not seem very good, but for only the second time shooting a shotgun, I’m proud. I can only get better from here! We then went to “Pop’s”, a diner which has over 500 different bottled sodas. I quenched my thirst with a root beer from Jackson Hole, WY.
The entire shotgun crew
Our shotgun team
"Pull!"
Some of the girls waiting to shot
A little piece of home!
That night after the rodeo performance, I learned the phrase “It’s a small world” lives strong and proud in OKC. I was told that my fourth grade teacher wanted to say hi to me. I was thinking for sure that there was a mistake! But when I turned the corner and looked at the woman smiling at me, sure enough, it was my fourth grade (and third grade) teacher! She had moved to Missouri and was in town to see the rodeo. It was fun being able to talk to her and special to know how proud she is of me!
My 4th grade teacher
The warm up pen
Sunday’s rodeo performance is where the 2011 National Circuit Final Champions were determined. Afterward, Miss Rodeo Florida, California, Idaho, Nebraska and myself boarded two Southwest flight and headed to Salt Lake City, UT to meet up with Miss Rodeo Idaho’s mom and a board member. They stayed up all night to and drove us to Pocatello, ID for the Western Frontier Pro Rodeo.
Autographs at one of the western stores
Carrying a sponsor flag
Dennis Halstead and I after the rodeo
We were staying at Miss Rodeo Idaho’s grandparents’ house and didn’t have to check into the hotel until later that afternoon, so, we were able to sleep in and watch a movie! We also were fed very well! The five of us checked into our hotel and got settled in for the busy week ahead of us. Day one of our trip to Pocatello we attended the rodeo meeting and were introduced to all of the volunteers who worked hard at making the Western Frontier Pro Rodeo a success. We were also introduced to our drivers for the week. The state queen’s driver was Fred. He made sure we were on time and taken care of! He gave us curbside pick-up and drop-off at every place we went. He drove us around in a van donated by Litho Dodge of Pocatello. Miss Rodeo Canada and a few local area queens were also on hand during the week. The Wilderness Circuit queen’s mom was nice enough to follow us around and take pictures of the week. I will post more pictures when I receive them.
It seems to be a queen tradition to sign autographs at Wal-Mart, and that is exactly how we kicked off our queen duties in Idaho. It also allowed us an opportunity to shop for the things that we had to leave behind in Oklahoma City. After signing autographs and raising money for the Children’s Make A Wish Foundation in Wal-Mart, we got dressed up to attend the Kick-Off party. We were introduced from the balcony, which was quite an honor. Some of us tried our hand at pool golf. For never playing golf before, I was surprised that I did well. I didn’t miss the ball not did I let go of the club! This party gave us the chance to talk with the people who we would be working with, stock contractors, barrelman, bull fighters, chute hands, committee members, and even a few of the cowboys. I also had the chance to met Glee Nett, with the Children’s Western Wish Foundation. She would later become an important part in my stay in Pocatello.
Introductions from the balcony with the barrelman and bullfighters
The pool golfing girls
Wednesday started with a flag rehearsal at the Idaho State University Holt Arena. This arena is home to football games, basketball games, concerts, and rodeos! It was an amazing facility! Miss Rodeo Idaho, Trisha Crump, allowed me to use her personal horse, Missy, for the rodeo that week. After rehearsal we made our way to Portneuf Medical Center. We visited the pediatric ward and the care center. We then visited the Quail Ridge assistant living facility. That night was the PRCA Xtreme Bulls performance. Pocatello used to be home to the Dodge National Circuit Finals rodeo, but since it was moved to Oklahoma City this year, the Pocatello committee decided to continue the rodeo. This changed allowed them to expand the fun! They had over 500 contestants this year, including the best of the best such as Trevor Brailze, Tuff Cooper, Bobby Mote, Jason Havens, Seth Glause, Bobby Welsh, Allan Bach, and many more! They were also able to add the Xtreme Bulls to the rodeo, which gave the community another night to catch some rodeo action. The state queens were given the night off from carrying flags and were able to watch the bull riding. Powder River Rodeo Company and D&H Cattle Company brought some of the finest stock around! Out of 40 rides, only 8 of them were given a score from the PRCA judges. There was only one qualified ride in the short-go!
School visit
Shane presented us all with a custom flag boot!!
With Bob in the care center
The group that visited the hospital
Representing Power River Rodeo with bullfighter Trever Hamsher
Miss Rodeo Florida attended Pocatello with us, and on our way from the airport on Sunday she made the comment that she had never seen snow and really wanted to see it. She was hoping for a little snow, “about three feet”. Little did she know that three feet is not a “little snow”. On Thursday she got a small portion of her wish. It started to snow! After our morning school and assistant living facilities visits, Miss Rodeo Nebraska, Fred (our driver) and I took Miss Rodeo Florida up to the ski area to see snow. The ski area had closed a few days earlier, but the ski patrol was there cleaning up things for the season. Watching her play in the snow was like watching a kitten with a ball of string. We had to laugh when she went to use her finger to write “Miss Rodeo Florida” in the snow, just like we did in the sand while in Florida. After two letters she had to stop because she finger was so cold. Apparently she didn’t think it would be cold. It was refreshing to see someone excited about something that I seem to cringe at. It made me remember I should be thankful for the little things I may forget about. After our trip to the snow, we joined the rest of the queens at the VA hospital. We brought with us a small friend, Murphy the mini horse. The residents of the hospital came out to the lobby to see him. I met a man from Jackson Hole, Wyoming. He and I talked the entire time about the beauty and comfort of the mountains in Wyoming. To share the love of Wyoming with someone who served our country, and in his case, fought the Russians in Alaska, made my heart grow a even more for the state I call home. That night was the first rodeo performance we carried flags in. Again, the stock contractors brought the best of the best!
At the VA Hospital
At the close of the rodeo
We started Friday morning helping serve breakfast at the Chamber breakfast at the Holt arena. It was great giving back to the community who welcomed us with open arms. Afterward, some of the girls stayed at the arena and watched slack, while the local queens, Miss Rodeo Idaho, and I went and visited nursing homes. At the Highland Nursing Home, the residents came into the dining hall and I had such a good time going from table to table talking with them. The smiles we shared, the laughs we exchanged, and the stories told made my day so special. It was sad when our time there was up and we had to leave. I could have spent all day talking and laughing with them. That trip put a smile on my face for the rest of the day during out autograph signing at the local credit union and the rodeo performance.
Saturday was a day that changed my life. We started with spiritual words during Cowboy Church, an autograph signing at the Cowboy Expo (where we did some shopping), and another autograph signing at Vickers Western Wear (again, more shopping). We then went back to the Holt Arena and started the Exceptional Rodeo. Glee paired me up with the Children’s Western Wish Foundation Pocatello recipient, Jenna. She and I walked hand in hand from each station. We roped, rode a horse, rode a bucking bull and bucking horse dummy, and she rode a Shetland pony. The smiles on the faces of the children that day took all of my stress, exhaustion, and worries away. It was a perfect beginning to the last rodeo of the week!
My new friend Jenna!
Tuff Cooper just couldn't resist getting a picture!
Tired but still smiling!
Miss Rodeo Nebraska and I parted from the group Sunday morning and caught a bus from Pocatello to Salt Lake City airport. Our short flight brought us back to Denver. My mom and dad picked me up and we headed home.
I was proud to represent my state over the past two weeks! It was a extensive trip and a marathon of smiles, but worth every hug and high-five! I’m loading up in the morning and heading to Torrington, WY to the National Circuit Finals Steer Roping. Steer roping is defiantly a Wyoming tradition!
Time to Ride Again!
