Miss Rodeo California

Reno Rodeo, World’s Greatest Roper, and Bob Feist Invitational

June 20-22, 2009 

Imagine the consummate rodeo, complete with just about every large roping event worth the bragging rights, and one name will come to mind: RENO! Yes, the World’s Greatest Roper Event, the distinguished Bob Feist Invitational, and the Wildest, Richest Rodeo in the West all took place within a two-day span, and all conveniently located on one site. Thanks to Patsy and Selena Ulch, an enthusiastic group of visiting royalty including myself was treated, well, like visiting royalty (!!) at the rodeo performances; we had private golf cart rides to our trucks, fancy dinners in the sponsor tent, carriage and chuck wagon rides into the arena, and terrific seats. It was also great to reconnect with other state queens at the rodeo—Miss Rodeo Virginia Charla Wacker, Miss Rodeo Washington Nicole Ray, Miss Rodeo Arizona Taryn Brady, Miss Rodeo Idaho Freya Ford, and of course Miss Rodeo Nevada Andi Lynch. I also had the opportunity to formally meet one of the very gracious sponsors of Miss Rodeo California, Sergio, from Sergio’s Collection. He made my gorgeous hide briefcase that has traveled many miles with me this year. 

It was a great weekend, as the rodeo was well attended by the legends of the sport; for instance, I had the privilege of meeting five-time World Champion Saddle Bronc Rider Billy Etbauer. There were also unexpected surprises: I witnessed the first successful attempt to jump the 6-horse Priefert Percheron hitch on a motorcycle by PRCA Comedy Act of the Year and Coors Man in the Can, Troy “Wild Child” Lerwill. 

Reno is definitely a rodeo to add to your calendar for next year, and if you have as great of traveling buddies as I do—with Ellen Kleinbeck and Lindsay Dreyer there—you are sure to have a good time!

Resolution Day

June 15, 2009 

The huge honor of being presented with a Resolution on the Senate and Assembly Floor at the State Capitol is all owed to former PRCA Lobbyist and President of the California Horse Council, Bob Fox. Both Norma and Bob Fox kindly hosted me during my visit to the State Capitol, and I had three of the best homemade meals I have ever had—yes, Norma makes great homemade cookies and ice cream :). I also had the opportunity to learn more about the legislation that Bob has promoted in support of our livestock industry. I relish every opportunity to gain more knowledge on the current livestock issues, and Bob is truly a leader in that field. 

After barely making it through the State Capitol Security—go figure I forgot to remove my rather large pocketknife from my briefcase—Bob took me to Senator Dave Cogdill’s office where I was able to sit down and talk with the Senator before the presentation. Senator Cogdill, serving California’s 14th district, is one of the most kind, generous politicians I have met. Next, Bob and I went to Assemblyman Mike Villines’ office where we were additionally invited to the Assembly Floor for a second presentation. During the Assembly presentation, assembly member Anna Caballero introduced me and Assemblyman Villines presented me with the Resolution.  It really was an unforgettable experience, and a privilege to hang out with Bob Fox for an entire weekend! Thank you Bob for everything and, just so you know, one day Lindsey from the Olive Garden will regret her decision, haha.

Sacramento Horse Expo

June 13-14, 2009

Thanks to Rayanne Engel (Miss Rodeo California 2004 and Western Horseman magazine representative) and Bob Fox, I had two days of shopping, signing autographs, and meeting many individuals at the California Horse Expo in Sacramento, CA. The event included entertainment in all areas of equestrian disciplines, including Mounted Shooting, the Mustang Challenge, the Driving Darby, and Horse Sale. 

At the Expo were many of the Miss Rodeo California Pageant sponsors: Boot Barn, Platinum Performance, and Ariat (available within booths). At the Platinum Performance booth I had a ton of fun with Lindsey and Sarah. Sorry Lindsey for leaving you at the booth alone while my shopping partner-in-crime, Sarah, and I shopped around for the revolutionary, age-defying lotion we found. At least we let you try it, right? At Boot Barn I was able to work with Jon Grudmeye and Ray Mayfield on getting a table up to sign autographs, as well as display my gorgeous Kelly Kaminski saddle labeled "The Shining Star." At Western Horseman I signed more autographs with Rayanne, Ernie, and Bobby close by. And finally, it was off to the California Horse Council with Bob Fox to draw the winning ticket for their raffled Vaquero saddle.  Miss Grand National, Shannon Walker, and Miss California Rodeo Salinas, Blair Smittcamp, did a great job selling raffle tickets, and the winning ticket belonged to a man who had only bought one ticket in the entire pot!  

Reno Rodeo Queen Pageant

June 9-12, 2009 

Valerie Hart coordinated an incredible rodeo queen contest at the Golden Nugget in Nevada (and yes, the host hotel is in Sparks, NV, not to be mistaken for the small burger joint in downtown Reno where I ended up at 2am wondering where the hotel elevators were located :)).  The morning after my arrival, I had the privilege of getting to know all of the contestants before their interviews; fortunately, they didn’t pace back and forth gripping my hand prior to their interviews—something I tend to be good at. Following the interviews we had a wonderful luncheon and listened to the contestants’ speeches, and then prepared for the night’s coronation. 

The contestants were all well-prepared candidates vying to represent the Wildest, Richest Rodeo in the West. Ann Clemmitt, Melinda Cowan, Lauren Neil, and Carrie Sattler all did an excellent job voicing their platforms for promoting the professional sport. After a very close contest between all four candidates, Lauren Neil was crowned the 2009 Reno Rodeo Queen by the reigning Miss Reno Rodeo and Miss Rodeo Nevada Andi Lynch. Congratulations to all of the contestants, and I look forward to seeing you all in a week! And thank you, Valerie, for your hospitality during my stay in Reno. 

Ramona Rodeo

May 28-31, 2009

Jeanne Pyeatt may very well be one of the most enthusiastic, organized pageant directors I have met. Thanks to Jeanne, Miss Rodeo America Maegan Ridley and I had a full schedule during the rodeo, complete with a fashion show, television and radio interviews, championship BBQ judging, Kids Rodeo Fun Zone, Challenge Children’s Rodeo, Bernado winery tour, and so much more! We had a blast, and all of our exciting ventures would not have been possible without Jeanne. 

Some of the highlights of the week were:

1. Maegan Ridley and I were in charge of judging the San Diego County BBQ Contest. While our only qualifications to judge 9 great contenders with years of experience may have been our love of BBQ, Maegan and I gladly ate plates full of ribs, brisket, and pork before submitting our final scores.
2. Thanks to Maegan, I rode on the back of Jeff (Slim) Garner’s airplane during his specialty act. Slim, always the gentleman, took it slow in the arena thinking that I might not ride an airplane as well as I ride a horse. But through Lynn Payne he has already promised me a more fast-paced ride at the Norco Rodeo!
3. With the Ramona Rodeo Royalty, Maegan and I headed to Bernardo Winery for a tour and lunch with Selena Roberts, one of the nicest cowgirls I have ever met. Selena also brought her horse over for the Challenge Children’s Rodeo.
4. Karaoke!!! So…. Maegan Ridley and Mackenzie Cayford will surely argue that I have the poorest judgment when it comes to choosing a karaoke song, but I would claim that the results speak for themselves. After a close contest with the Norco Rodeo Royalty, the crowd agreed that my team (Maegan, Mackenzie, and I) had won the singing contest hands down. Yes, we beat Jessica Saenz, Danelle Saenz, Amanda Hop, and Danielle Philippe when we belted, “She’s a Hottie.” Sorry girls, your choreographed rendition of "I Will Survive" was not good enough. :)
5. The Rodeo—Ramona puts on a great rodeo, and the abundant sponsorships can be attributed to the hard work of Kayla Duba and her mom, Nancy Spurlock. During the rodeo, I rode Markie and Chad’s two horses, so thank you very much for stepping in there!
6. I had the pleasure of taking part in the first annual Challenge Children’s Rodeo at the Ramona Rodeo. All of the competitors were fabulous, and it was a fun afternoon.

I would like to thank the Ramona Court this year for spending four days with me. You all are superb representatives, and it was a privilege and pleasure to meet each one of you.  The Miss Ramona Rodeo Queen Rachel Owens, the Jr. Miss Ramona Queen Kayla Douglas, the Young Miss Ramona Queen Alexis Awrey, and the Little Miss Ramona Queen Emily Payne, are all very poised and polite cowgirls.  Have the time of your lives this year girls!  

And, as always, thank you Ellen Kleinbeck for being my traveling buddy. 

Finally, thank you Kayla and Karen Douglas for the pictures. I just added the ones you sent me to the album, and they are perfect. You two are awesome!

Fundraiser-- Royal Rodeo Gala

May 16, 2009

Without the help of my family and friends, this weekend would not have been successful for both the non-profit Western Wishes and Miss Rodeo California, Inc.  Held at the Bramers Ranch in Corral de Tierra, I hosted a large fundraiser to benefit these initiatives. Notwithstanding the sweltering heat and competing activities of many other weekend events within the Salinas Valley, the closest and dearest of my friends were there to support me in a day of fun-filled activities.

At high noon was the “Skeet Shooting Tournament,” and after a closely contested battle between Bruce and Tom, Tom Gargan from Denver, Colorado, won the coveted buckle.  During the marksman contest, the “National Horseshoe Tournament Championship” also took place, with top finishers Vanessa Bartsch, Katherine Bechtel, Will Despard, and Chris Harrold. The “All-Around Cowhand” contest tested competitor’s abilities in roping, golfing, darts, and horseshoes. In a close finish, Jason Winship, who against odds pitched an amazing Hole-In-One into the outhouse, proved victorious by just one point over Chris Harrold. Finally, there was the “Stick Horse Race,” in which Isabelle Roberts took home top honors in a photo finish.

At 4pm the Mr. Rodeo California contest began. Eight highly qualified competitors vied for one of the most coveted king titles in the state. The competitors were: Dominic Barsotti, Steve Troy, Dr. Chris Harrold, Tim Baldwin, Esq., Peter Bundy, Judge Timothy Roberts, Dr. Tom Gargan, and Karl Schmidt. The contestants were evaluated in four categories: horsemanship, most photogenic, personality, and appearance. After a long day of competition, the results were as follows:

• 2^nd Runner-Up: Steve Troy (Complete with business cards and autograph sheets with his qualifications—also the Appearance winner)
  
• 1^st Runner-Up: Chris Harrold (Photogenic winner)
  
• Mr. Rodeo California 2009: Tim Baldwin (Also first place in Horsemanship and Personality)
  

This event would not have been possible without so many individuals, and I would like to recognize a few:

Karen Shade—Mother of District 4 High School Rodeo Barrel Racing Champion Kellen Shade and in charge of the High School Rodeo Café. She did an extraordinary job with all of the food, decorations, and logistics. I would have never been able to host the event without her continual support. Karen and Corey Shade contributed all of the desserts, bread, and so much more. It was truly amazing.

Tom and Lucy Church—Tom missed the event due to a illness; however, he served a leading role in getting the party going. The Churches donated all of the salads for the event, trimmed the trees, cleaned up the ranch, provided table cloths, and provided their expertise from having hosted many successful parties in this venue.

Roy Gianolini—Roy was one of the best auctioneers I have seen, and he definitely outdid himself in the live auction to garner great contributions for the causes. While Roy was up front and center making the Live Auction successful, his wife was in the audience doing all of the bidding. Thank you Ginger and Roy for all of your support. You both will always remain great friends of mine!

Dennis McDougal—He really is one of the best chefs in the state! The beef cooked on his large BBQ received rave reviews from guests, and the food was a great asset to the event. His charisma and generosity truly stood out. Dennis, I could have never done the event without your help, so thank you!

Jeff Pluta from Hunters Supply—Thank you for so graciously providing all of the ammunition for the Skeet Shooting. This event was the first to sell out, and spurred a lot of new-found interest in the sport. I believe I will be seeing some new customers!  I cannot thank you enough for jumping in to help with the marksmen drill. http://www.hunterssupply.net/

Tom and Carol Russell—So sad you missed the event (due to an important family graduation, no less!), but everyone complimented your wine and was hoping to be the successful bidder on the Winemakers Dinner for 8, catered by Stokes, at your vineyard. You are overly generous and contribute so much to the community.

Ellen Kleinback—You were out there from dusk until dawn all of the days before helping plan and organize the event. This year would be incredibly difficult if it were not for the best travel buddy ever and greatest friend in the world. Thank you!

Lisa Rincon—Also known as the future Miss Rodeo Hawaii. You are the bestest! Since college you have always been there for me, and you continue to come help at any event. You know I have your back next time you need me!

Donna Riva—Thank you for all of your help and putting me in touch with two great friends, Dennis and Roy. I also really appreciate your donation of a custom leather jacket to the auction, which proved to be a top seller!

Mark Silacci of Swenson and Silacci—The centerpieces were above and beyond. Those were the brightest, most gorgeous  flowers I have ever seen. Thank you for adding so much color to the event!

Steve McShane from McShane’s Nursery—the canopies, umbrellas, and potted plants really dressed up the event, and provided great shading over the tables, a good call given the unseasonable heat. I appreciate your constant enthusiasm to help the local community. 

Driscoll’s—Thank you to Kevin Murphey and Greg Andersen for the great berries to go with dessert. They were delicious, and it was overly generous of you to provide so many great flats of berries!

Ariat—The gear bags, cooler, hats, shirt, boot certificate and everything were outstanding for the silent auction. Thank you Tabatha Nelson for graciously donating so many fabulous items to the event. I wear my Ariat “Bring It” baseball cap everywhere!

Anne and Bill Bramers—Thank you for the great tasting beans and helpful advice throughout the event. Anne's posters from the Salinas Rodeo really dressed up the old barn and were popular items at the silent auction. What a great way to promote our local rodeo! Thanks, Anne and Bill, for always being there for me.

Lisa and Chuck from the Hide House—Thank you for the gorgeous brindle hide. What a great addition to the live auction!

Bridget and John Cunha—I am not sure if that barn would have still been standing if it were not for your twine. Smartest couple ever!

Dennis Stephens from Growers Ice—You really saved the day with your truckloads of ice. I appreciate your generosity in that department, as it saved us on such a hot day.

Meredith Carpenter—Thank you for warming up all of the horses for the Mr. Rodeo California Contest. They all were perfect, with no adverse behavior.

The Stanford Equestrian Team—Without all of you helping, there would have been no appetizers, foods, drinks, gate openers, etc. I am incredibly grateful for all of your help. You are all such hard workers.

Janet Roberts, Jeanne Hollingsworth, and Kelly LeBrock—Thank you for all coming to the event, letting me steal all the umbrellas in your yard, and for providing/bidding on the most gorgeous artwork ever. I love you three!

And thank you to all of the other very, very generous sponsors:  Steinbeck Equine, Greg Hensley from Dan Post Boots, Laurel Mackenzie from Across the Prairie, Mike Antle from Tanimur and Antle, Emily Gay from Professional Choice, Mackenzie Cayford, Markie Battaglia, Terrie Valdero, Leah McCormick from Rodgers Supply, Chamisal, Michael Gaughn from South Point Hotel and Casino, Kayla Spurlock, Candice Carper, Jeanne Pyeatt, Odette Pura from Ventana Vineyards, Bart Walker, Louie Ray, and Sheryl Smith all from Star Sanitation, Greg Baskin from Gold Mountain Mining, Lana Casey from Western Wishes, and Peter Bing.

Thank you to my friends who drove/flew long distances: Kadee Coffman, Mackenzie Cayford, Emily Gay, Markie Battaglia, Jim and Carol Linenbach, Colby Martin, Terrie Valdero, and everyone else!

And to my family—Meredith, Dana, Mom, Dad, Grandma, Ann, and Abbey—thank you for helping me put on the entire event. I could not ask for a more supportive family!

 

Above: President of the California Rodeo Salinas, John Cunha, his wife Bridget, and Debbie Pedrazzi.

Mother Lode Round-Up Rodeo

May 7 -10, 2009

You know that a rodeo must be great when you hang out with a Cal Berkeley graduate and you can still attest to having a ton of fun! The Mother Lode Round-Up Rodeo was one of my favorites, and I have the Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Posse to thank for such a great weekend.  Ty Wivell, despite being a graduate from Cal (haha, you know I am kidding), is the nicest, most sincere cowboy there is. Although he may have to stand on chairs to be seen :), he made a loud impression during our radio interview when both he and Bert Davis’ cell phones went off during a live broadcast. I loved it—made me look good, right? (Or perhaps just less popular that no one calls me.)

On Thursday night I attended the Calcutta, during which attendees had the opportunity to big on teams in the Saturday and Sunday calf scramble. Twenty-five percent of the proceeds from the Calcutta benefit the Tuolumne County High School Scholarship Fund . The community contributed generously to the cause, and it was great to see so many locals competing in the contest.

On Friday, I visited the home of Bob and Joane Job for dinner—despite being lost for over 2 hours and risking Ellen’s life with an angry man carrying a golf club man. It was great to once again catch up with a family that I have been camping with for years! The three daughters are delightful to be around, and their new puppies were adorable.

On Saturday was the world famous annual Sonora Parade, which is the second only to the Rose Bowl Parade in size in California! I can now officially claim fame to having ridden in the two largest parades in my state.  Following the parade was an eventful rodeo, complete with TEAM bronc riding, and the most rambunctious mutton bustin you have ever seen (yes, one mutton buster kicked me with his spur :)). Following the first performance, Ellen and I headed to a great dinner and had the pleasure of finally meeting Rayanne Engel, a former Miss Rodeo California. The next day, Rayanne competed in the slack for barrels.

Sunday marked Mother’s Day, in which the rodeo put on a big Mother’s Day breakfast. Even though I did not get to spend Mother's Day with my mom, I did give her a pretty nice gift-- does that count Mom? :) I then proceeded to the exciting Kids Rodeo and final performance of the weekend.

I would like to thank everyone on the Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Posse for their hospitality and utmost kindness. To the newly crowned queen (Ariel Diggan), queen contestants (Taylor DeCarlo and Jodi Hembree), former queen (Jessica Lynn Haynie), Ty Wivell, Audie Archer, Vern Gerdau, Captain Dan Durnall, Mike Bailey, Kim Silva, Katie May Broderick, and everyone else—you all made last weekend one of the best. You can bet I will be back to Sonora Rodeo next year… that’s a promise!

http://www.mymotherlode.com/news/local/news_detail.php?ID=250326

 

Bakersfield Stampede Days Rodeo

April 29- May 3, 2009

My week in Bakersfield consisted of a burglary, high-speed chase, and guns! That’s right, thanks to the Kern County Sheriff’s Department, I had a thrilling week, complete with a private helicopter ride, dinner at the legendary Buck Owen’s Crystal Palace, and two nights of rodeo—and yes, one was in the pouring rain!   

Wednesday through Saturday consisted on the annual queen contest, a very well run pageant, directed by Wendy Purdie. It was great to meet all of the Princess, Jr Queen, and Queen Contestants for the Bakersfield Stampede Days’ Rodeo. I judged portions of the very close contest and any of the contestants would have been magnificent representatives of the Stampede Days’ Rodeo and its sponsors. All of you girls did a tremendous job, and it was great to get to know all of you! Congratulations to the newest group of representatives for the rodeo: Queen- Amanda Jacobsen, Jr Queen- Natalie Martens, and Princess- Shelby Newman. To the outgoing court—Shannon Walker, Tyana Hawker, and Jaycie Branch: You all did a fabulous job, and I had fun traveling with you this year. I will always remember you three as the three amigas, who looked out for one another and went above and beyond to promote the sport of rodeo. 

On Thursday, the queen contestants and I had toured the Kern County Sherriff’s Department. Thank you Bruce for taking us around, and relating to us what a great job the county of Kern does to keep it a safe place for families. The tour even consisted of a simulation of driving a police car through crime situations and a marksman drill—yes, I shot two men in the simulation and feared for my life. Following the tour, we headed to Chalet Basque for lunch with the local Lions Club before heading to the BBQ at the rodeo grounds. 

Thank you to Sheriff Donny Youngblood, Miss Rodeo America Maegan Ridley, Miss Stampede Days’ Rodeo Queen Shannon Walker, and I all received private helicopter tours of Bakersfield. Right when my helicopter went to depart from the County Fair Grounds, the pilots received a radio call that there was an unconcealed weapon in a car. We responded immediately and hovered over the scene until police arrived. Just in the nick-of-time, a second call was received that there was suspicious activity at a house in Bakersfield. We then lingered over the house until we ascertained that both the front and back doors of the house were secure. Right as the pilots were about to bring me back down to the fairgrounds, we received an urgent 999 call that there was a high-speed chase involving a stolen car that had already wiped out local police enforcement cars. We sped away, and caught up with the car, chasing him down for miles. We watched him run over sidewalks, speed through busy intersections with close encounters, and eventually saw him blow a tire and continue driving. But, the chase did not end after the driver crashed the car into the yard of a Bakersfield house—sure didn’t! The driver fled from the car and scene, and we yet again followed the man on foot until police cars caught up and were able to take out the man on foot with their vehicle. QUITE SCARY! I cannot express what a wonderful job Kern County Policemen do to ensure the safety of its citizens! We also left impressed with the value of the helicopter as an aid to law enforcement. 

On Friday following the judging of interviews, the contestants and I toured the MARE therapeutic riding center. This fabulous facility provides therapeutic equine experiences for children and adults with physical, cognitive, or emotional challenges. To read more about the center and its initiatives, please visit their website: http://www.mareridingcenter.com/  

Again, a big thank you to Wendy Purdie, Bruce Ketcherside, Sheriff Donny Youngblood, and Stan Henry for looking out for me during my fun-filled week in Bakersfield!

Clovis Rodeo

April 23-26, 2009

The last weekend of April marks my favorite time of the year—Clovis Rodeo!  That’s right, I made it back to my hometown rodeo, the rodeo that both supported and sponsored me throughout the entire Miss Rodeo California pageant. Thank you to Tom Hunter and Terrie Valdero from the Clovis Rodeo Queen committee for arranging my travels and schedule.  

Thursday morning I attended the Clovis Kiwanis Club morning meeting with Jim Linenbach (the Kiwanis Club was my sponsor for Miss Rodeo Clovis). Following the meeting, I then headed to the Clovis Rodeo Blood Drive. Last year, the blood drive marked the largest single-day blood drive in the nation. And, GUESS WHAT—this year it surpassed last year’s number of blood contributions and remains the largest single-day blood drive in the nation! It is great to know that my home rodeo gives back so much to its community, and sets record highs in the realm of charitable giving. That is what the sport of rodeo and western heritage are truly about. Thank you Mark Thompson, President of the Clovis Rodeo, for sanctioning this great event at the rodeo grounds once again. 

On Friday, Tom Hunter arranged an extra special treat for all of the Clovis Rodeo Queen contestants and myself—a limo ride around the town of Clovis! The seven contestants and I went to the Veteran’s Memorial Hospital, Weldon Elementary School, and Valley Children’s Hospital. It was a fun day, and a great opportunity to connect with the Clovis community. Luckily we had the newest Clovis Rodeo Queen committee member, Greg Gillard, to hold our briefcases and purses along the way. I think Greg has found his calling on the Board of Directors, now that he has been assigned to the queen committee J.  I missed Saturday’s coronation, but congratulations to the newly crowned 2009 Miss Clovis Rodeo, Brittany Slaton. All of the contestants did a fabulous job, and it was great to hang out with you all on Thursday and Friday! 

Sunday I made it back to Clovis for the short-go, and I had the chance to catch up with all of my dear friends from the rodeo. In addition to the Special Kids Rodeo, I had the opportunity to run the Tough Enough to Wear Pink flag between events. Congratulations to former Miss Rodeo Utah, Jenna Whitaker, for placing fourth in the barrels. It was great to catch up with both her and her dad, Dave. My horse was sure excited to see you and receive some treats! 

While it was really great to be back in Clovis, at the same time it was honestly a little bittersweet. One of my favorite parts of Clovis Rodeo was missing: Eva Pollard, who passed away last October. Although I didn’t have Eva there in the back of the arena with her cooler of water, I did have Brenda Armstrong bringing me homemade ice cream and water. I missed having Eva to escort me around, but fortunately Lynn Armstrong was always there with the cart. And although Eva wasn’t there to talk to me throughout the rodeo, I had Terrie and Ellen by my side through all of the events. Colby Martin put a smile on my face, as did the 2008 Clovis Rodeo Queen, Markie Battaglia, who also remembers all of the good times with Eva. She is there for me not only as a dear friend, but as a genuine representative of rodeo and its many benefits. All of these people combined serve as a constant reminder of one of the greatest ladies I have ever known, and although they were there to fill her boots throughout the rodeo, I still miss her dearly. Thank you to all of you for looking out for me throughout the four days. 

Springville Rodeo

April 24-26, 2009

I may not have won the annual Springville Hide Race, but I walked away from the rodeo with more mud on my hat than I am sure any other rodeo queen has! Friday night I attended the Springville Rodeo Queen Coronation and met all of the hardworking, poised contestants: Missi Elliot, Sonnie Shew, and Jakie Moton. Congratulations to Sonnie Shew for being crowned the 2009 Springville Rodeo Queen. I know she will do an incredible job advancing the sport of rodeo in her community! I also met the 2008 Springville Rodeo Queen, Leah Herron… and that’s when it all began. Leah cajoled me into entering the Hide Race the following day.   

After my favorite parade (meaning it started at 2pm instead of the all-to-often 8am parades :)), Leah (with the help of Maegan Ridley), had finally coaxed me into being her partner in the hide race. Unbeknown to me, I was signed up to be the partner in the dirt, who was dragged across the arena while both Maegan and Leah were on horseback pulling the hides. Upon realizing my role in this race, I carefully placed my crown and sash in safe hands and put Georgia Ridley’s long overcoat on to stay somewhat clean before the grand entry. Needless to say, Leah and I almost won (had my hand not slipped off the hide), but we surely walked away with the most cheers from the crowd. 

Springville indeed was a blast, and I would like to thank Diane Shew for inviting me to take part in the rodeo and coronation. I am glad I was able to take part in such a fun rodeo, and I will be definitely be back in the years to come! It was also great to meet Monty Montana Jr., a man who has been helpful in arranging Miss Rodeo California’s appearance in Springville.