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Spur’n S Rodeo put on another successful, action packed weekend of rodeo in the Mountains of East Tennessee. The Mountain City Rodeo was a weekend filled with laughter, even outside of the arena. I rolled in to Mountain City Friday but got a little off track; the address I put in my GPS took me to somebody’s house where I was greeted by a giant white rooster! Chickens and I do nothave a good history, so I was quick to turn around. After driving around and getting verbal directions, I found the arena, which was hard to miss if you are on the right road. The arena was decorated with American flags, military flags and a designated trailer that had 13 American flags for each military member lost 3 weeks before the rodeo overseas. With the weekend being the 20th anniversary of 9/11, the opening ceremony was dedicated to remembering the tragic loss of American citizens and first responders, while still celebrating that we live in the Land of the Free. During the roping events, I helped push calves out, and when I wasn’t in the arena I was joined by Dallas Stalins. While I passed out autograph sheets, she sold trick ropes. Together we taught kids how to use the ropes, danced and sang along with the crowd and clown. Friday night came to a close and Dallas and I finished the night playing by the camper with her little cousin Colt. Saturday morning the owners of the Bed and Breakfast I stayed at made breakfast before I went on my way to Double C Western Wear. Eggs, fresh tomatoes and bacon never tasted so good! A huge thank you to Silver Keys B&B for welcoming me like family and making sure I was taken care of. I was greeted at Double C Western Wear by smiling faces of rodeo enthusiasts of all ages. The owners of Double C are no strangers to rodeo, Dianais a past high school rodeo queen and currently is a competitor in the cowgirls’ barrel racing. Diana and her crew would not let me leave empty handed and stocked me up with Double C merchandise. With only a few hours left until the final performance of the weekend, I made my way to the rodeo grounds. The stands were packed and everybody was ready for the rodeo. Throughout the rodeo, contestants, pickup men and even the judges all joined in the sing- alongs with Eugene Fowler, the rodeo clown. Spur’N S had yet another sold out rodeo weekend and I was thankful to be a part of it. The next weekend I joined another amazing family who rodeo together. The Brooks, the personnel of Southern Rodeo Company, and I spent a fantastic weekend in Gainesville, Georgia. The relief and joy I had when I pulled into the grounds and saw a fully covered rodeo arena was unbelievable. The whole weekend forecastcalled for rain, but it would not bother us a bit. Before thegates opened, the personnel, timers, and I spent some time catching up with one another. Dusty Myers and David Sharp were our clown and announcer for the rodeo, and the banter started early. Once rodeo time approached, I hopped on my mount for the weekend, Ole Yella. After the grand opening of the Seventh Assembly of Praise Rodeo, I visited with the crowd and signed autograph sheets. Dusty kept the crowd laughing with his acts, and the contestants brought the heat. During the rodeo, I met the North Carolina Rodeo Queen, Amber Welch and the new Sunbelt Ag Expo Rodeo Queen, Moira Taber. After chit- chatting and exchanging numbers, it was back to work for me, meeting the people of Gainesville and talking rodeo. Moira joined me again Saturday night in title. Shout out to Stacy Benton for always pulling through and providing great mount for rodeo queens. Saturday night was standing room only. It is always great to rodeo with a full house! My next two weekends will be busy, busy, busy! I will be joining The Lawrence County Cattlemen’s Association in Moulton, Alabama this next weekend. This will be my first rodeo back in my home state since May, and I cannotwait to see familiar faces in the crowd. My Lane Boots and I will be heading to Tennessee October 1st and 2nd to the 4th Annual FCA Rodeo in Lebanon. As always, keep your eyes peeled for my American Hat and Ariat Jeans. I may be in your hometown soon!
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The 15th annual Sandy Oaks Rodeo in Edgefield, South Carolina was one for the books. Ed and Traci David were not only my host family for the weekend, but also work with Helios Equine Therapy and Rehabilitation Center, who sponsor theSandy Oaks rodeo. On Thursday we had a sponsorship supper at the rodeo arena where rodeo committee members, sponsors, the rodeo clown and specialty act gathered to fellowship together. We all exchanged stories about rodeo and I even got to share some of my favorite corny jokes! Once we got back “home” for the night, we made a game plan to visit sponsors in Appling, Georgia and Edgefield, South Carolina before the rodeo Friday evening. While visiting sponsors, Ed asked me if I knew who Paul Revere is. Of course I said yes, and when I asked why, he told me I would be meeting him. Thinking he was joking, I laughed it off, but later that day I got to meet Paul Revere who is the county sheriff, a pastor, and was a third grade teacher for 34 years. I made him show me his driver’s license just to be sure they were not pulling my leg. Along with sponsor visits, we spent some time visiting with the horses and workers at Helios Equine Rehab. If you are in the southeast and are looking for topnotch equine therapy for your horse, make your way to Helios. After sponsor visits, meeting Paul Revere, and checking out the equipment at Helios it was getting close to rodeo time. Ed let me take his new truck for a spin to the rodeo grounds, which was like Christmas for me. Once I got to the rodeo grounds, I met up with Pam Treadway of Treadway Rodeo Company, the stock contractors for the rodeo, who I have not seen since my first rodeo in February. After a quick catchup, we made our game plan and I went to hop on “Semi” her retired western pleasure AQHA paint. My job for the night was to run sponsor flags with Haven Jarman, the Miss American Bull Riders Tour Queen. I have ran sponsor flags all year; however, this rodeo I rode on four wheels instead of four legs. Haven was the best driver I could have asked for on the Kubota that carried the Helios Equine Rehab flag, even if we almost ran into the arena gates a few times. Saturday morning was an early one for Ed, Traci and me. We switched things up and started our morning with a trail ride at Foxboro Farms, English style! It had been roughly a year since I rode English, and I had a blast riding the farm with a group of great people. Although I was in Ariat jeans and my Lane cowboy boots, I was having the time of my life riding English. After a morning trail ride and a quick bite at a local Mexican restaurant, we had enough time to change clothes, grill, and have steak before rodeo time in Edgefield. Saturday before the opening ceremony, a friend I met during last year’s Miss Rodeo USA Clinic, Brittany Baker, and her mom surprised me. All through the night, they would stop by my “horse” for the night, say hi, and share stories. Rodeo family is a unique and one of the best types of family to have. After passing out autograph sheets and talking with the people of Edgefield, I helped Haven load up and take care of horses and said my goodbyes to the Treadway Rodeo Company crew. Be on the lookout for me in Northeast Tennessee with the Spur’n S Rodeo Company! We will be throwing down rodeo style in Mountain City September 10-11, so bring the whole family and enjoy our western lifestyle with us. |
Miss Rodeo
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