No bubble November- we were in the thick of travel.
​     If you thought November would be slow for this cowgirl, think again! Yes, we are nearing the end of rodeo season but it’s not over yet. This cowgirl is determined to book as many weeks in her calendar as she can. We started the month with a world premiere screening of US Charros, an amazing documentary film, focusing on the history and importance of charro rodeo in the United States and as a fourth generation Mexican-American, I got to learn a little bit about my culture and reconnect with my roots.  The documentary even highlighted escaramuzas which are the cowgirls of the Mexican rodeo world, they even have their own queens!  It’s amazing to watch these ladies ride in full skirts, riding side-saddle, and being just as handy as the boys. When the event was done, I made my way to my friend Heather Drewry’s house.  Not only do we get to talk all things horses and Rodeo Queen, she’s also an amazing sponsor of Miss Rodeo USA! She’s one of my favorite home away from home when I am visiting the Fort Worth area. I was sad I had to say goodbye less than 24 hours later, but I knew I would be seeing her again and we would be able to recount all of her and her daughter’s horsey and queen adventures.
      A few days later I was out to Kerrville TX to send off the beautiful Ashlyn Williams, Miss Rodeo Texas and wish her good luck at Miss Rodeo America.  It was a wonderful send off dinner and fundraiser where I got to see some of my best Texas girlies!  Texas may be one of the largest states, but I'm convinced the people here have the biggest hearts and tightest communities.
     My next stop was to Fort Worth for the Cowgirl Museum Hall Of Fame induction ceremony.  Over 1000 attendees and so many trailblazing women; cowgirls from all backgrounds and walks of life attended, and it was such an honor to be on stage alongside Miss Rodeo America, awarding the 2024 inductees their Hall of Fame metals.  Fort Worth is a magical place, every time I visit some amazing event goes on and I feel invigorated and inspired to continue telling my truth and preserving the western way of life.  I got to reconnect with so many of my friends I’ve met throughout the years as well as create new friends and connections within the cowgirl community.  It was also my first time visiting the National Cowgirl Museum, and if you haven’t already, I would highly recommend checking it out, they have so many rotating and permanent displays showcasing the art and spirit of the cowgirl.
     My next stop took me back up to Oklahoma where I would be representing at my last IPRA rodeo of the year before heading to the finals in January.  I was once again in Shawnee, Oklahoma at the Heart of Shawnee Expo Center for the Southern Region Tour Finals.  You could feel the electricity in the air as cowboys and cowgirls in the top 20 competed one last time before giving it their all at the Lazy E.  The bubble race is strong and stressful in November!  It was also  my first rodeo of the year that actually felt like fall, it was so cold I had to bring out my beautiful leather jacket I received from the Lazy E last year.  After two days of rodeo, meeting new Queens, and just about freezing every time I walked outside the arena, it was time to head back down to warm and sunny Texas. I made a special appearance at the historic Cowtown Colosseum for the second annual Mexico in our Blood production.  This event is in his second year and showcases, rodeo and specialty acts, talent, and Mexican tradition.  This year had a special Dia de los Muerto theme, and I took that time on the arena floor with a microphone and a sold out show, to quietly thank and remember my grandfather’s, who always supported my dream of becoming a cowgirl.  They definitely carried me through that one minute speech on the arena floor, and I know it was because of them that I spoke clear and true.
     We may only be halfway through November, but we still have a lot of rodeo left to do! 
     Hopping on a plane, I made my way to Arizona for the first time for the Gilbert Days Rodeo.  Not only were there over 30 visiting queens in attendance, including Miss Rodeo Arizona and Miss Teen Rodeo Arizona, it is also my board member’s rodeo, Joan Musgraves!  Hopefully this rodeo will become an IPRA rodeo again, and truly be the last rodeo of the IPRA season before finals, because the committee was so welcoming and the show was so explosive that they didn’t have any problem filling up all their seats.  I have to say I think it was one of the most fun rodeos I’ve been to this year, between the visiting royalty, the VIP section (thank you Texas Roadhouse for feeding me every night), the energy of the vendors, mutton busters, getting to see my board member, and making many new friends.
    And last, but not least the inaugural, historical event of the Kime’s Ranch Million Dollar Breakaway Roping rounded out my November in Scottsdale, Arizona.  An aggregate winner and high money earner took home saddles and a championship ring, but all the cowgirls competing deserve to be recognized as making their mark on history.  This is a new era we are entering for women’s breakaway and sports, and it was an honor and pleasure to be able to be alongside the greats and the future generations that will keep the sport thriving.  Saturday night was a sold out show and Fox Sports covered the event, so if you didn’t get your tickets this year, make sure to mark your calendars for 2025! Listening to a podcast where Amanda Kimes was interviewed, it was awe inspiring to learn that this event was only just an idea in January 2024.  Kimes really did that in less than a year!
  With these amazing  people, brands, and businesses in our corner, there is nothing us cowgirls can’t do!

​It’s officially spooky season! I love this time of year, it's getting cooler, the leaves are changing, and my favorite holiday, Halloween, is right around the corner. I was able to see the first beginnings of fall as I spent my first weekend of October in Tennessee. I had an amazing time in Lebanon, visiting the National Guard, schools and even having a break to go kayaking with my amazing host family. It was my last rodeo with Hedrick Pro Rodeo Company which made me sad but I was so happy to see the crew one last time. It was made even more special as my Dad was able to make it out to my rodeo. He even got to crash a special all girl's luncheon tradition at the chocolate covered strawberry. I don't think the ladies minded though!
 
Next, it was time for a quick bulls, broncs and barrels in Mississippi. It was actually my first rodeo in Mississippi of the year and I'm sad it was, because southern hospitality is really a real thing. I had so much fun getting to meet the crew and even met a barrel racing Princess. I had to stop and take a quick picture with her because not only was she decked out in rhinestones, her pony, whose name was Princess, was as well. I thought Mississippi was all swamps and gators, but it was beautiful weather and the arena was bice and sandy! It kind of reminded me of all of the arenas we had on the Central Coast of California. Basically, I grew up on one giant sand dune.
 
I was really excited for the next rodeo as it was my second hometown rodeo, the Brazos Valley Fair and Rodeo. Now I know this is not my hometown per se, that would be Santa Maria, but this is the rodeo that I have been to faithfully every year since moving to Texas, it's where I went to grad school and where I live. So I'm counting it as a second hometown rodeo. You can't rodeo in the Brazos Valley without being some kind of A&M fan. They even passed out the white towels we wave at football games, so everyone in the stands had a white fan towel to wave and whoop and holler when they saw something they liked in the rodeo arena. And let me tell you, the stadium exploded when the fans learned that I was a Texas A&M alumni! I hope the people watching on the Cowboy Channel had access to their remotes because the volume was incredibly loud! It was so nice to rodeo at home after a year being on the road; I saw so many familiar faces in the stands and on horseback. I even made some new friends, The Lone Star Cowgirls! They welcomed me with open arms and plugged me right into their sponsor flag carrying team.
 
Being at home did not last long though, as I quickly drove myself to the airport to hop on a plane for the Indian Finals Rodeo. It was a great honor to be chosen as a horsemanship judge for the Miss Indian Rodeo pageant. They had nine girls competing this year from all over the United States, many from Montana and Wyoming, but also some all the way from New Mexico and Arizona. Their pageant has many similarities you would see at Miss Rodeo America or Miss Rodeo USA, but a portion of their pageant is scored on their native traditions.  Every girl competing has to be a card holding member of some tribe in the United States or Canada and the traditional dress portion of their competition is aimed to highlight each girl's Native tradition, dress, language and customs.  While I was sad I missed the traditional dress portion of the pageant, I was so excited to be with the girls their first two days of the pageant.  The first day I actually got to know the girls, because I wasn't technically a judge that day. And then the second day I had to put on my scary judge face. I'm so excited to watch their new queen, Autumn's, year!
 
My last rodeo in October took me to Berryville, AR for the Cowboy for Tyler Memorial Rodeo and Pageant. It was their first rodeo in Berryville but they still had a good turnout. This time the arena was covered because in past years they have always received buckets of rain! Six girls competed in the four categories.  As I was not a judge, I was really able to get to know each and every one of the girls. We crowned in the arena and everyone got to do a queen run. After doing sponsorship visits the day before, it was great to see some of those same sponsors and fans as members of the audience. I even got to see some old friend from that area of Arkansas because of previous rodeos. It's amazing the connections you make via rodeo! I thought spending my last weekend in October at my board member’s rodeo and pageant was a great way to end October. Make sure you contact JoAnne to become a pageant contestant for next year!
 

It’s beginning to feel like fall!  The cooler breezes are a warm welcome after a hot summer run and I spent the first part of September in the northern part of the US.  Salem, MO with it’s beautiful scenery and flowing waterways truly was a great backdrop for the beginning of fall.  And would it be fall without a rainstorm?  Well, it technically only stormed the first night of the performance, but we rodeoed anyway through the slick mud and fierce rain.  The community was so welcoming and I met some new friends, and past and present Queens! A day later I would find myself in the hills of East Tennessee, at Rarity Bay.  The rodeo there was held in an equestrian center (hello amazing footing), and we could not have asked for better weather.  Rarity Bay Rodeo is a newer rodeo and it was probably one of my favorite ones of the year!  They had a great set up, amazing vendors, two nights of live music, and the most amazing VIP tent that was open to all contestants.  They truly put on a good show!  I didn’t want my week there to end, but then it was on to west Tennessee for a break. Not really… 

Though I had no rodeo’s scheduled for 5 days, there was no break in my stride.  Lots of product reviews, pageant content, and emails were to be done!  Beth’s home was so comfy and the perfect place to work from home.  When we were not working, we took walks in the evening around the neighborhood, I played with the barn kittens, and we ate lots of Mexican food.  By the time the weekend came, I was caught up on sleep, which was good because I knew I wouldn’t be getting much of it in the days following.  A quick drive over to central Tennessee dropped me at the Lincoln Co. Fair and Rodeo.  Both nights had beautiful tributes to our first responders and had the pledge of allegiance said by the grandsons of the stock contractor.  The very handy 6 year old cowboys said the pledge perfectly every time.
 
Only five hours later I was driving at zero dark thirty to Atlanta airport to catch a flight to Arkansas for a photoshoot.  Exhausted as I was, I was so ready to see all my friends for this special shoot.  Kultured Rider came on as an amazing sponsor and Yuki designs all her own clothes and concepts.  Carlee, Faith (Sherry Smith’s daughter), and myself were going to model the design line that is dropping soon.  We shot for almost two straight days!  On the third day I spent some time visiting sponsors for an upcoming rodeo in Berryville (the Cowboy for Tyler Rodeo).  Taken around by the President of Cowboy for Tyler, we went to businesses looking for sponsorships, stopped by a good friend of his house to meet up with his wife and kids that were going riding, and then off to dinner with the Cowboy for Tyler crew.  It was a whirlwind of 4 days and when I got back to Atlanta, I was glad I did not have to be at a rodeo that day until 10 hours later. 
 
It was a quick hour drive from the Atlanta airport to Gainesville GA and I’m glad it was because I passed out quickly when my head hit the hotel pillow at 2am.  Luckily, after some good sleep, I was ready to rodeo that evening at 5pm.  Gainesville had some amazing energy, it was a qualifier for the American rodeo and we had the best of the best come out to compete.  It was nice to see some familiar athlete faces and say a quick ‘hello’ to them.  I try not to talk too much to the athletes right before or after a run, I don’t want to mess up their mojo or game.  Is that just me?  If I see them earlier on before the perf starts I will 100% go up and say hi, but something about talking with them in the alley, I know they are concentrating, praying, and focusing and I would hate to be the disruption to that train of thought.  Both nights went off without a hitch and I think I passed out more autograph sheets in those two days than I ever have.  The energy was so high, I almost got swept up in it and took home a puppy.  Almost…
 
Back to my last rodeo in Alabama and another 72 hours or so of rest before the Cattleman’s Rodeo in Moulton AL.  Staying with Marsha and family again was a welcomed familiarity, and I was excited to see Lauren, who recently launched her boutique The Warrior Pony.  The Warrior Pony is now a sponsor of Miss Rodeo USA too and I cannot wait to show off some of their fall collection!  School visits and Rotary luncheons led up to the days before the rodeo and it was great to spend time with the familiar faces I spent so much time with at the beginning of the year.   The Cattlemen fed me great, I think I had steak four nights in a row (anyone that knows me knows I was in heaven)! The weather was not totally on our side however and we had to move our Friday performance to Sunday.  Saturday night was amazing and the ground was perfect from the light rain we had been getting all week.  We all thought we avoided the rain on Sunday, but the matinee performance experienced quite a downpour for about 20 minutes!  We rodeoed on anyways and had a fantastic performance at the Iron Rail Arena.  As I said a sad goodby to the Terry's, it was time to travel back to the Volunteer state.

It was a great ending to September!  Stay tuned for more fall adventures.

​Starting off the month with a Queen pageant? Yes please!  I was so excited to be asked to judge an inaugural rodeo queen pageant in Missouri.  It was a little nerve wracking and I thought about when I was in their shoes at the Miss Rodeo USA pageant!  Not only was this the first queen pageant for the Marshfield Saddle Club and rodeo, the queens were also crowned in the arena.  It was an amazing experience and I actually got to meet up with one of them a week later at the IFYR and Teen pageant!  Definitely looking forward to seeing them compete for titles in the future.
 
Speaking of pageants and the IFYR, that was the location for week two of July.  I did not know what to expect from the youth finals and Teen pageant, but expectations were definitely exceeded.  There were thousands of young cowboys and cowgirls giving it their all in the finals.  Even some of our teen contestants were competing in the finals.  It was a true show of talent and grit.  The two events went off without a hitch, even with the storm that rolled in to Shawnee the first night.  We saw some lightning off in the distance but we kept on rodeoing (it was a safe distance away).  I am so excited to work with the new Teen this year, Josie.  I actually enlisted the help of her mom the first year I competed for Miss Rodeo USA and I felt like we were long lost friends when we met for the first time.  Josie is also a Texas girl!
 
From there I visited the famous Bustamante boots.  Handmade, true craftsmanship.  It was amazing to meet the team that makes these creative visions a reality.  It was a dream to design my own pair of boots and I cannot wait to share them with all of you.  They are of course, an homage to my platform and just a *little* boujee, just like me!
 
We are only half way though the month!  Hang on tight….
 
Cavalcade was another huge queen contest, with 13 girls, and hundreds of contestants for their rodeo.  This queen contest has seen up to 30 contestants at one point in time and the rodeo boasts 24 separate events.  It was a spectacle to behold, and if you were still awake after the rodeo and queen events in town, you could dance the night away with the nightly concerts.  I am excited to hopefully see their new queen at other Oklahoma and surrounding rodeos.  It was also a nice trip as I got to see some old friends and catch up.  The rodeo world is so small, you are bound to run into people you know on your travels!


One more event for the month of July, the famed Huntsville rodeo at the Sky High Arena!  The Huntsville committee and host family were so welcoming and involved in their community.  We were out 9 am to 10 pm visiting sponsors, doing live remotes, and participating in the rodeo.  The mutton busting had to be one of my favorite events, there were over 30 participants each night competing for the top spot and a hefty belt buckle.  I only almost got run over by a sheep twice, which I think is a pretty good ratio!  I also got to ride one of my favorite horses again, Percy, whom I met  for the first time at the IFYR.  He is a big, black, 16hh Percheron Mustang cross with a beautiful gait.  My host family rounded out the week with a trip to the lake.  A perfect ending to a busy month. 
 
Stay tuned for what August has in store! 

​Welcome to the summer run! 
 
Summer is our cowboys’ Christmas.  A time of wonder, excitement, new beginnings, and a lot of firsts.  Cowboys and cowgirls may win that check that allows them to qualify for their first finals or they may be busy checking Google maps constantly to make sure they are heading the right direction to a new state (like myself).
 
We started off June on a plane.  To take it one step further we ended May on a plane as well.  It was a blessing and a full circle moment to ride in my hometown arena for the Santa Maria Elks rodeo.  That arena was the place I won my first rodeo queen title, and it is in that arena that I made my queen lap with my last rodeo queen title.  I won’t go as far as saying I shed a tear, but the moment was very sentimental and I could feel the weight of significance as I smiled and waved to my friends and family, locking eyes with them as I loped past an audience of 5 thousand. From my hometown rodeo in Santa Maria, CA I flew right to the other side of the country to Ponce de Leon, FL to attend and teach at the annual Miss Rodeo USA clinic.  We had such an amazing turnout of girls and experienced clinicians that not even the rain could stop us from learning and strutting our stuff  down the runway.  From Florida it was a quick drive over to Shady Dale GA for their rodeo where I got to ride with my friend Natalie, Miss Sunbelt Rodeo!  If a rodeo has more than one queen in attendance, you know it is going to be a fun night.  We laughed, made TikToks, and signed autograph sheets until our Sharpies were dry.
 
The middle of June marked the end of my 4 months of being continuously on the road; Shady Dale was actually my last rodeo in month four.  A quick trip back to Texas had me rushing to unpack and then repack for the next rodeo run.
 
Lost Trails Ranch Rodeo was next and they are not only a great sponsor of MRUSA, they also held their very first rodeo.  It was a very special inaugural event as the Carlson family is doing an amazing job renovating and bringing new life into the ranch.  The rodeo had so much slack it went into the early hours of the morning.  1 am may have been late for us but it was so great to see such a huge turnout of contestants; with this new rodeo on the map they are sure to come back next year!
 
June came to a close in a new state for me, Missouri.  The Marshfield Saddle Club held their first queen pageant in over a decade and I was chosen to be one of the judges.  Firsts are always exciting for me, there is an air of mystery and the excitement of the unknown.  It was my very first time judging a pageant as a national titleholder and it was the first time all the girls had competed in a rodeo queen pageant.  My new friend Nicole made sure the pageant was fun and a positive atmosphere the girls could learn and grow in. 
 
The beginning of the summer run commences the halfway point of my year as Miss Rodeo USA.  I am still having firsts, still traveling the country promoting the IPRA and rodeo, still meeting new and old friends along the way.  Half a year down, half a year to go.  We are using this collective summer run momentum the whole of the rodeo world is feeling right now and using it as jet fuel for the next 6 months of my 2024 reign!

​April showered me with rodeos and new friends as I traveled 4 states in 30 days. 
 
I started the month off by visiting the bougee-est horse facility I have ever been- the World Equestrian Center in Ocala FL!  What a dream come true, it was like Disneyland for equestrians and I was walking around wide eyed and star struck.  It was a spur of the moment trip taken with my chap sponsors, the Wynns, that turned into one of the coolest experiences I have ever had.  Sunnie Dee Wynn had a booth at the Premier Horse Sale so we manned the booth and I was even allowed to open the sale by carrying in Old Glory on one of the sale horses.  Did I also mention I got to drive the prettiest Gypsy horse around WEC?  Oh yah, first time driving a cart too.  Check out the pics below to see how that went!
 
From there I met up with my dad in Tennille GA.  We got there a few days before the rodeo where I worked and he spent his days fishin’.  Don’t worry, I also got to fish some of the beautiful lakes in GA but we were both unsuccessful in catching anything for dinner, darn! After fishing, sponsor visits, and speaking at youth groups, it was time to rodeo.  My dad got to be a rodeo dad for the first time and even got to man the gate for a couple events.  Quinonez’s will jump into any task that’s needed to be done!  This was the first time I got to fly the LARGE flag too; I could physically feel the weight of the responsibility this flag carried.  It flew proudly in that arena and it’s still my favorite task at the rodeo.
 
While most of the time I spend driving from rodeo to rodeo, sometimes I travel in the sky.  This was true when flying out to Wapakoneta OH to meet the one and only Sarah Kelsey of Rhinestone Lipgloss.  She’s a fabulous sponsor of the MRUSA organization and a true believer of Rodeo Queen’s missions.  While visiting her, I got to experience the Equine Affair in Columbus where she had a booth.  I also ran into my old friend Pat Parelli!  After a day of dazzling ponies and earrings, it was time to create some of my own.  Hours later in the studio, several pairs of earrings, necklaces, bolos, and hair ties were designed and I cannot wait to see the master’s work their magic.
 
After catching the latest flight, it was back in the HumbleBee (yes I named my truck) to drive to back to back rodeos in South Carolina and Georgia.  Both rodeos were two day events and I couldn’t have asked for a better time.  So many people at both rodeos said it was their first time attending one, and honestly I love that!  They all seemed to be having a great time and if they had a question or concern about something we talked about it and solved the problem!  I even got the sweetest message after a rodeo.  I met a guy visiting from California, my birth state, and we had a great discussion about rodeo and it’s larger effect on the population it touches.  After the performance he DM’d me and expressed how he’s Jewish American and was so proud to see the colors fly, accompanied by our national anthem, and followed by a prayer.  He said he was so proud to see the rodeo community still believe in and love our nation.
 
THIS is why I do what I do. 

​“On the road frequently traveled.”  This statement would be the summation of my March. 


We kicked things off with Rodeo Houston where myself and several other girls were chosen to participate in the Armed Forces Appreciation Day.  As the decedent from a long line of military members, it was a great honor to be able to celebrate and acknowledge our great men and women of our services.  The Marine Band from Louisiana kept things jammin’ and we all boot scooted and boogied with some Texas Line Dancing.


Next it was time to keep it close to home, in more ways than one.  Industry Texas and the Girl Scouts of Central Texas welcomed me as I spoke with Scouts about the importance of taking care of yourself inside and out to become the best you possible.  I love giving back to an organization that I’ve belonged to for more than 20 years!  Each girl explored their unique dream or ‘rhinestone’ and we chatted about ways we could set ourselves up for success to achieve that dream!


That gave me less than a week to pack for 3 months of being on the road!  I needed more time!  Ok just kidding, two days later I was all packed.  Thanks to Scouting and belonging to a military family, I can *almost* pack with my eyes closed.


The pines of Alabama gave me a warm welcome and so did Lauren.  We cranked out sponsor packet Thank You’s (over 100 of them) in two days!  We ate some delicious seafood, said hi to old rodeo friends, and practiced our gun handling and safety to round out the visit.  


I was so excited for what was next, because it was time to attend my first IPRA rodeo of the year- Brunswick GA’s Rodeo at the Beach!  Two days of action packed rain and mud excitement.  My boy Blue (a double bred Hancock) was steady through it all.  The Exchange Club of Brunswick and Stambaugh Aviation have been hosting this rodeo for 12 years and it just gets bigger and better each year!  It may even be about time they start running their own queen contest (it is an IPRA sanctioned rodeo after all).  If you’ve been following Miss Rodeo USA for any amount of years you will know the end of her time in Brunswick concludes with a beach ride.  The Stables at Frederica provided amazing trail guides as myself and several lucky raffle winners rode horseback through the sandy beaches.  A fun fact about me is I love exploring new disciplines and horse breeds so of course I had to ride the 17HH Belgian/Quarter Horse Cross.  I like big drafts and I cannot lie!


With a few days of down time and some much needed sleep it was time to relocate to another part of GA to visit with our beloved Wynns.  As perpetual chap sponsors and leather workers they have an amazing leather shop.  I even got to model a pair of vintage MRUSA chaps!  After a few days we headed out to Ocala, Florida for the Ride the Wave Premier horse sale.  There were so many beautiful horses with varied talents.  It was my first time driving a cart and my first time carrying the American flag at the World Equestrian Center.  If I could build my dream barn, it would be a WEC replica!


The Southeast has been nothing but Peaches to me.  See you down the rodeo road in April and keep keeping your nose to the grindstone so you can keep your eyes to the rhinestones!