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After spending some time in the Oklahoma area it was time for me to head out of Oklahoma, but just for a short time! I left Oklahoma and made my second stop in Arkansas this year! It’s crazy because it was like I had been there before. Well, I sure had been, I spent a weekend in Huntsville back in May when I went out there for the memorial rodeo! Of course getting to Arkansas was not going to be as easy as I had planned! I spent a day or two in Lawton on the military base with my sister who I had not seen in a long time! While leaving the base I was involved in a car accident! No worries though everyone involved was ok and no one was hurt, just black betty the mobile home! Betty was still drivable, just a little rough around the edges and did not drive as straight as she once did! The police officer was very nice as well, while writing up the accident report he informed me that I needed to put down a job, well of course I stated that my “job” was Miss Rodeo USA because it is! He smirked, he then came down to the part where he was to write me a citation for the accident, he asked if I had proof of who I was, meaning Miss Rodeo USA. I pulled out my crown and my buckle to prove myself, he also asked what my schedule was going to be like for the next several weeks. After going through the long list of rodeos and states that I would be in and out of he laughed and said, “Just as I thought, there’s no way you'll make it to court on that day, looks like I’ll just have to let you off with a verbal warning!” I had always been told that sometimes the crown can get you out of a sticky situation, never did I think I was going to have to use it! I made the trip to Huntsville, after my long and very stressful day I had finally made it safe and sound! I pulled into the rodeo grounds and immediately recognized the area! I loved going to the Sky High Arena, it was basically on top of a mountain. Really, it was though, I remember thinking about how lucky I was to not have to haul a trailer all the way up those windy, curvy, and very steep hills! The committee welcomed me with open arms and had me settled into my host home in no time! The following day we had sponsor visits and radio interviews, a little bit of everywhere we went it seemed like! I loved that we started off every morning with coffee and good food! I traveled all across the county with a couple of really awesome gals that I had a ton of fun with and were so cool! I met a man by the name of AT Smith, he would sit there and tell me stories of the days when he grew up. AT talked about his wife who he had loved for years and how they never had children but they were so involved with the community and how he had given back time and time again! I really enjoyed that ma and everything he had to say! We kicked off both nights of the rodeo where I was blessed to ride one of Hampton Rodeo Company’s horses and was able to carry the American flag! I would get to lead the grand entry and help out in the arena through out the night chasing back cattle and helping in anyway that I could! That was really my first time getting to work for the Hampton’s, it was an absolute blast! The entire family was so kind to me and very helpful! Anytime that I had a question they never hesitated to answer and help out! I was able to stay in Huntsville with my host home, who I had a blast with as well! The next stop on my journey was to Sallisaw, Oklahoma and it was just right down the road so they allowed me to stay and hang out! They took me water skiing and showed me around the farm! They were a blast and I really enjoyed getting to know them! Once I left Sallisaw bound I was! Thankfully I made it in one piece and it was one of the shortest drives I had been on all year! I pulled into the arena that night and met the committee chairman Mr. Marley! He was so nice, he gave me the to do list and informed me of all of the duties for the week! After showing me around the arena I checked into my hotel! The hotel I stayed at, well lets just say that it has trumped every hotel I have ever stayed in!! When they found out I was staying they made me homemade biscuits and gravy and not to mention they always checked on me! Really, spent a lot of me free time at the hotel in their lobby hanging out with them! Some of the most kind hearted people I have ever met! They will forever be apart of my rodeo family! Well poor Black Betty the mobile home had herself another run in, literally. As I was leaving Charlie’s Chicken, which was one of the sponsor visits I went to that day she got hit. Someone had backed into me and Black Betty now has another big eye sore to add to her list. Woops! I then had to leave her at the hotel and the dealership in town who sponsored the rodeo was so kind and let me use a Jeep to get around town for the rest of the weekend! I was more than thankful for them! As it came time for the rodeo Matt McGee the announcer and I planned out the nightly events and had everything lined up! Sean, the pick up man brought me one of his trusty horses, Bob! He rode really well and was awesome to all weekend! As the weekend came to an end I tried to remember all of the positives, which really means I tried not to stress about my two car accidents in one week. Again, Woops! Everything works out and everything happens for a reason! I had a blast both in Arkansas and in Oklahoma! I was not only around some amazing people but I got to do what I love! As I leave you with this update on my journey don’t forget to remember to look at the big picture, to enjoy every moment in life and to remember to be thankful and count your blessings!
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Things sure have been crazy since I last dropped in and told you all about my adventures. The past several weeks have been so busy and there have been so many miles put on old black betty the mobile home! You already heard how I left Shawnee bright and early Thursday morning and drove all day just to make it in time for the rodeo in Columbia, Tennessee. Well good news, I made it even in plenty of time for the rodeo to start. I pulled in to see some of my favorite rodeo family, I always enjoy working with the Oubre Rodeo Company! We kicked off that Friday morning with a radio interview. That radio broadcasting room was by far the fullest I had ever seen one in my life. Bubba Oubre the stock contractor, Alan Morehead the rodeo announcer, the sheriff and a few of his fellow officers, and myself filled the walls of the radio station, not to mention the radio guys themselves, now that was a full house! We all had a last talking about the rodeo and of course giving each other a hard time. After the radio show we headed down to a local diner and had breakfast. I promise you as Miss Rodeo USA, you will literally never starve! Everywhere you go they manage to feed you well, and a lot of it if you choose to eat that much! We kicked off the rodeo that Friday night and for some reason I always get roped into helping out with the entertainment during the rodeo. This time ropes were no joke as I was asked to help Rider Kisner with his acts. The first act of the night was a little life fearing as he cracked whips around my head and body. I would hold a rose out of my mouth and he would crack it in half from a distance with a whip.He then proceeded to blind fold himself and would crack whips around me. To say that I was slightly nervous was an understatement! The second act that I helped with was much less dangerous on my end and I was thankful for that! I would lead the trusty pick up horse into the arena and park him where Rider could easily get to! I would stand holding the horse and ride would make a large community loop that would swing around the horse and myself, all while Rider would stand on the back of the horse! It was by far one of the coolest things I have ever seen! Even though Columbia, Tennessee had come to and end I was sad but I knew I was headed somewhere where I would be seeing some familiar faces, and for that I was thrilled! Off to Ada, Oklahoma I went! It was a pretty long drive and I felt as though black betty the mobile home was really starting to get mad with all of her hard earned miles but we made it! I reached Ada and was welcomed with open arms! Some of my favorite rodeo family was there where they were hosting the Ken Lance Memorial Rodeo queen pageant! I was honored to get to be apart of it as I would get to mcee some of the pageant. While there I ran into DJ and Trisha Shields as they were two of the judges for the pageant, oh and of course not to mention Georgianne Abo Gillman was there as a judge too! Talk about having a blast! That Thursday night before the rodeo started we were able to work the arena and get some riding time in.! By far one of the best times I had as I got to ride one of the girls new head horses! Man oh man do I miss getting on a nice rope horse, flying out of the box and chasing down a calf! The only thing I was missing, was my rope! The rodeo itself was awesome, and the host family that I stayed with was even more awesome! Her name never really stuck with me, she reminded me so much of my late grandmother that I just called her Granny all weekend and the name stuck! My sister even came to the rodeo to visit me! Having my sister come to my rodeo meant the world to me since I almost never get to see her and since we started rodeoing together it was really bittersweet! During the rodeo, I spent a lot of time riding in the arena and working the stock! During my time in the arena I was able to share it with a gal named Kade, she came all the way from South Dakota to the rodeo! Kade is one of the Indian queens from the north and we had a blast together! I could not get enough of her northern accent! Now I understand why people always tell me I have an accent and laugh when I talk to them! Another rodeo had come and gone, and now here we are thinking about how my year as Miss Rodeo USA is over half way complete! This hit me the other day and I didn’t realize how disappointing it would be to think that it will be over soon. But I will say, I am living my year to the fullest and I am going everywhere that I can and to me that’s the only way to do it! In the end I will have no regrets! Well I am off to the next one folks! I sure hope you enjoyed this blog and stay tuned to hear about my current adventures! |
Miss Rodeo USA 2019
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