April showers bring rodeos!

​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.