|
Wow! It has only been one month since the Miss Rodeo USA Pageant??? I know, I can hardly believe it myself. So much has happened in such a short amount of time, but if you’ve been keeping up with my journey on our social media platforms then you are well aware of that.
Earlier in the month of February, I had an amazing opportunity to fulfill another dream that I discovered about 3 years ago… Scuba Diving! Yes, you read that right, scuba diving. Over the years the owners of Vortex Spring Adventures and I have created a lasting friendship that has led us on many journeys together. This one just so happened to land me in an Open Water Scuba Diving Certification Course. On February 4th I traveled down to Ponce DeLeon, FL to begin what was going to be the most exciting weekend of diving. Early that Saturday morning, I packed some of my belongings to head on down for the first portion of our course, the pool dives in Panama City Beach. Mr. Billy, my instructor, called and said “ok it’s your choice but the temperature is currently at 39 degrees and we have about 30 mph winds down here this morning. Do you still want to dive?” Of course, being the “no pain, no gain” cowgirl that I am, I said, “yes, I’m already in route!” I can happily say that we never left the toasty 84-degree water the entire time we were in class. Later that afternoon, we moseyed on back to Vortex to complete the second portion of dives for that day in the spring. Note, this spring stays at 68 degrees year-round and produces nearly 28 million gallons of water per day. Needless to say, the wet suites came out for these dives. Two dives and a whole bunch of skills later, we had completed the first day of my diving course. Only two more dives to go before I received my NAUI Open Water Diving Certification. Around mid-day on Sunday we suited up, took some photos, went over our dive charts and prepared to make our final two dives, only this time we were headed down to the cavern, at an approximate depth of 50 feet, for some underwater photos, film and safety skills. Bam! Worked like a charm. My final two dives were complete and I was ready to get that certification card. We cinched everything up and now I’m ready to dive across the globe. Yes, I will most definitely be taking a trip to the “Keys” at some point. Major bucket list item there. The amazing thing about this experience is that it challenged me to trust myself and know that I could do it. You can too! Nothing is impossible because even the word impossible spells, “I’m Possible.” A big thanks to Daryl and Angela Dockery for sponsoring this journey and for always taking care of “Vortex Springs Singing Cowgirl.” Now, I’ve never seen a rodeo take place under water, but I have seen the “Fishing Rodeo” that happens every year in Destin, FL. If you’ve never been, that is something you need to check out. Speaking of rodeos, you know what’s coming up? That’s right, my first rodeo of the season! February 25-26th I’ll be in Columbiana, AL where you need to come join us for an amazing weekend. Also, be sure to join us this Saturday, February 19th in Athens, AL. for my Coronation Banquet. Tons of food, live entertainment, auctions and more! Well, the time has come where I must head off to another meeting here in Nashville, but be on the lookout for some stellar news concerning the “Be a Dreamcatcher Podcast,” upcoming events and appearances. Trust me, you’re going to want to be a part of this journey. Until we meet on the trail again, Jessie Lynn Nichols Miss Rodeo USA 2022
0 Comments
A lot can be said about a crowning moment… Many would refer to it as climactic, surreal, or in some cases simply unbelievable, but for me, my crowning moment was much more than that. To put it quite simply, and to quote a good friend of mine, “it truly was a dreamcatcher experience!”
As the 2022 Miss Rodeo USA Pageant approached, my heart, mind, and dreams ran faster and faster with each passing day, until finally, it was here! The week kicked off in true “rodeo queen” fashion with room check-in’s, orientation, on-stage introductions, food (of course), amazing sponsorship packages and goodies, photography sessions, and a tea party fit for a queen. That was just day one… Can you believe that? Fifteen contestants total, 7 days of interviews, 2 rounds of horsemanship, modeling, sponsored fashion shows, 2 speeches, impromptu questions, a surprise late night group interview, tons of great food, 4 rounds of the IFR, all packaged and wrapped up with some of the best fellowship and friends a girl could ever ask for made for an amazing experience. Needless to say, our week was “jam packed and jelly tight,” filled with extra blessings and little miracles along the way. As Sunday rolled around you could tell that the weight of the week was laying pretty heavily on everyone during coronation day. Nerves, excitement, anticipation and exhaustion all filled the air as we prepared to step foot on the arena floor at the Lazy E. Introductions were quickly made followed by the announcement of fourth through first runner-up and then… (long dramatic pause for effect) they announced the name of the new 2022 Miss Rodeo USA! My heart literally jumped out of my chest as “the formers” surrounded me to place the crown on my hat, place my new sash across my shoulder, buckle a set of new chaps around my waist and legs, take some photos quickly, and then jump on the back of a buckskin 5 Star Quarter Horse to make my first lap as Miss Rodeo USA. Whew, talk about a whirlwind of emotions! At that moment in time, so many feelings, memories and emotions flooded my heart, mind and spirit. “A crowning moment” that quickly became defined by so many moments and stepping stones in life had just given me the opportunity to “be a dreamcatcher” and catch a dream that I had since I was a little girl. Wow, what an honor! I have been asked, “what was it like in the arena that day…” and quite honestly, all I can say is that it was the most humbling and reflective experience of my life. The more we get to know one another, the more you will discover that I am an avid woman of faith and truly believe that the Lord works all things together for our good. Most importantly, the Lord and Holy Spirit will discern what is the best path and trail for us to travel. It may not always be a bucket of apples and carrots, but it will be the best path for us to learn, grow, and help inspire others to be a better version of themselves than they were yesterday. I can confidently say that I am truly honored and proud that the Lord challenged me to step out my comfort zone and embark on what I believe is going to be the most amazing journey to date. Most importantly, I am thrilled that He is working on me and is allowing me the opportunity to become the cowgirl and ambassador He would like for me to be. As we close in on our first rodeo of the season, I would like to remind every cowgirl and rodeo queen out there that you can do it! Whatever your goals and dreams are, go for them because you never know what could have been if you didn’t try. Not to mention, we would love to have you all at next year’s Miss Rodeo USA pageant! Just as a quick reminder, The Miss Rodeo USA is selected based on the following judging criteria: Horsemanship 30%, Public Speaking 25%, Personality 20%, Appearance 20% & Written Test 5%. Although it isn’t necessary to win each judged category, it is very important to be consistent and perform well in each category during the competition. Horsemanship is the highest percentage category for good reason. Horsemanship is crucial for a rodeo queen. The rodeo queen never knows what type of horse she will be given to ride at each rodeo. Let’s ride! I encourage all of my Cowgirl friends between the ages of (18-27) to review the Miss Rodeo USA qualifications (missrodeousa.com), get out there, get involved, and start preparing for the 2023 Miss Rodeo USA pageant. You will not regret it! Remember… Be Genuine, Be Real and most importantly Be You! Until we meet on the trail again, Jessie Lynn® Miss Rodeo USA 2022 |
AuthorJessie Lynn Nichols reigns as the 57th Miss Rodeo USA. Be sure to stay up to date with all her latest travels and endeavors right here. Archives
December 2022
Categories |
RSS Feed
Proudly powered by Weebly