FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Miss Rodeo USA Association
The Miss Rodeo USA Association Announces
New Chairman and 2021-2022 Board Members
Oklahoma City, OK (April 20, 2021) The Miss Rodeo USA Association announced today the appointment of a new Chairman and three new board members as well as seven returning members.
“As newly elected Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Miss Rodeo USA Association, I cannot begin to express how blessed I am to be surrounded with such a talented group of professional women that comprise the 2021 board. I look for great things to happen in the upcoming year. Growth and continued year-over-year improvement are key initiatives,” said Beth Weldon, Chairman.
ABOUT Beth Weldon, Chairman of the Board
Beth Weldon resides in Martin, Tennessee. She is a physical therapist by trade and serves as Senior Regional Therapy Director for Louisiana based LHC Group. Beth has been involved in rodeo and the rodeo queen industry for many years in multiple capacities, ranging from a competitor to pageant mom, queen coordinator, coach and judge. She has served in the role of Sponsorship Director for MRUSA for the past 2 years and is excited to assume the responsibility of Chairman of the Board.
ABOUT Joan Musgraves, Secretary
Joan resides in Queen Creek, Arizona. She is the Director of Training & Development for NextCare Urgent Care. She, along with her husband has been affiliated with the sport of rodeo for over 30 years and has chaired and sponsored Rodeo Royalty for many years.
ABOUT Angela Harrison, Treasurer
Angela brings 18 years of pageant experience. She has been blessed with a host of opportunities to volunteer and support the organization. Angela resides in Oklahoma City with her husband, Jamey. Together, they run a small cattle operation. Jamey also volunteers as pageant “trail boss” by transporting contestants to events throughout the pageant.
“It is a pleasure to serve with others that have the same enthusiasm to support the IPRA and MRUSA by striving to provide all an unforgettable journey with lasting friendships.”
ABOUT Tish Ross, Pageant Director
Tish Ross spent 16 years on the Madison County Rodeo Board in Huntsville, Arkansas and 3 years on the North Franklin County Fair Rodeo Board in Ozark, Arkansas. She also spent 7 years organizing the Booger County Cattle Drive, which consisted of a 2 day cattle drive, ranch rodeo, live auction, dinner and entertainment. During this time, she attended the Miss Rodeo USA Clinic multiple times to stay updated on information, as well as putting on local rodeo queen clinics. Having judged local, state and national rodeo queen pageants, the top 3 on her list remain to be the Black Hills Stock Show and Rodeo, the National Little Britches, and of course the 2018 Miss Rodeo USA Pageant. Tish previously served as the Alumni Director on the Miss Rodeo USA Board and now holds the Pageant Director position. Her passion for promoting the sport of Rodeo and helping others makes being a part of the Miss Rodeo USA organization a perfect fit. Tish also serves as the Secretary for the Arkansas Equine Foundation and is on the board of the Cowboy for Tyler Foundation. Tish and her husband Jody live on a small farm in Ozark, Arkansas and own and operate their own businesses.
ABOUT Heather Morrison, Clinic Director
Heather Morrison was named Miss Rodeo USA in 2019, making her the first woman from the state of Iowa to hold a national title! She graduated college with two degrees in Agricultural, where her deep roots of farming and love for animals lead her to the sport of rodeo. Heather is very thankful to be able to continue her love for the sport of rodeo and the western industry by being on the Miss Rodeo USA board of directors where she gets to help young women grow in confidence and learn about sport of rodeo and the western industry!
ABOUT Kirbi Allen, Social Media Director
Kirbi (Allen) Carter was Miss Rodeo USA in 2015. Originally from Springdale Arkansas, but now lives in Danville, Arkansas with her husband and infant daughter Kippy. Her and her husband have a small cow/calf operation and raise and train Quarter horses. She loves being apart of the Miss Rodeo USA association and looks forward to the future holds for this great association.
ABOUT Marsha Terry, Contestant Director
Marsha and her husband Keith call Moulton, Alabama home. They have two daughters and gained two sons when the girls said I Do. Lauren and her husband Zac Wilson, Kaitlin and her husband Will Bradley. They have a sweet little grandson West Bradly. Marsha became involved when Lauren was crowned MRUSA 2013. She believes in the association and what it does to help young ladies grow and become.
ABOUT Courtney Phillips, Sponsorship Director
Courtney, a Retired US Army Apache Helicopter Pilot, graduated from Texas Tech University with a Bachelor’s degree in Public Relations. She currently competes in breakaway roping in many associations. Her first year in the WPRA (1999) she worked both ends of the arena and won the Women’s National Finals Rodeo in the bull riding. In 2000, she put away her rough stock gear and returned to rodeo pageants where she has remained active with the Miss Rodeo USA association for 20 years as a competitor, judge, volunteer, coach and board member. She also mentors students at the North Texas High School Rodeo Association for pageants. Courtney currently resides in Paradise, Texas with her husband Greg and daughter Josie raising World Champion Paint horses.
ABOUT Georgianne Gilliam, Alumni Director
Georgianne (Abdo) Gilliam of Tulsa, Oklahoma is no stranger to the Miss Rodeo USA Association and the western way of life. As a former rodeo queen herself and wearing the crown of Miss Rodeo USA 2002, she has worked to support the program for many years. She has served as a volunteer, assisting with the Board of Directors and working as a pageant event director. Georgianne graduated from Oral Roberts University in 2001 with a degree in Graphic Design and has worked for a 3D printing company as a Sales Manager for the past 13 years. She and her husband, Mike currently reside on a small horse ranch in Glenpool, OK with their two kids, Lily (14) and Michael (11). She enjoys watching Lily compete in queen pageants and hunter jumper shows, as well as cheering on Michael at baseball, basketball and football.
ABOUT Candice Carper Jones, IPRA Liaison
Candice Carper Jones was Miss Rodeo USA in 2007. After her reign she worked for the IPRA as the IFR Events Coordinator before opening Broken Horn Ranch, an event center in Luther, Oklahoma. She lives in Chandler, Oklahoma with her husband Josh and 2 adorable girls Charlie & Allie. Candice is still very active in the rodeo Queen community by hosting the Royal Review Rodeo Queen Jackpot each year and is excited to be a new board member for the Miss Rodeo USA organization.
ABOUT JoAnne Whisenhunt, Marketing and Public Relations
JoAnne Whisenhunt is from Huntsville, Arkansas and is the proud Mom of three boys, Cooper, Tyler, and Aden. She owns and manages Insight, an expense management company focused on reducing Telecommunications expenses for businesses nationwide. JoAnne serves as the Executive Director of ‘Cowboy for Tyler’, a non-profit focused on supporting youth in the sport of rodeo by matching young rodeo athletes with mentors and sponsors in a faith-based environment. Her love for rodeo pageants began when the foundation hosted a pageant at their first annual memorial rodeo. “It was amazing watching the growth in these young ladies in just one weekend. I have been blessed to be able to continue my involvement and I am more than excited to serve on the Miss Rodeo USA Board of Directors.”
ABOUT The Miss Rodeo USA Association
The Miss Rodeo USA Association is proud to have represented the International Professional Rodeo Association for over five decades. Young ladies from around the nation have competed and won the coveted title that is awarded each January at the International Finals Rodeo in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Through the love of rodeo, generous sponsorships, and embracing our heritage while focusing on our future, the Miss Rodeo USA Association hopes to continue to grow and offer the opportunity of a lifetime to cowgirls across the United States.
Media Contact:
JoAnne Whisenhunt
Marketing and Public Relations
[email protected]
479.957.7800
www.MissRodeoUSA.com