Miss Rodeo America 2008 Pageant

Inside the Pageant - Monday November 27

Contestants at the Miss Rodeo America Pageant have limited contact with their parents and other supporters who attend the pageant.  However, they are allowed to receive gifts and cards through the chaperones who screen and distribute the items on a nightly basis.  Blogger Shelia Croft sat down with four contestants and asked about some of the gifts they had received so far.

Sorrel McKay, Miss Rodeo South Dakota, had received one gift this early in the week from her parents.  Her parents sent her a package of tootsie rolls and a nail  file.  Leslie Brumleve, Miss Rodeo Kentucky, quickly replied, "Good, because I need to borrow that."

Leslie replied that she had received a very practical gift on the first day.  She failed to bring a pair of tennis shoes for the late night dance rehearsals so she was sporting a new pair of shoes.

Miss Rodeo Kansas Shaunna Chartier was having many visitors to her room.  She had received several singing cards and other musical gifts from her supporters.  One of her favorites is a singing turtle that plays line dance music while giving instructions for the steps. 

Tara Spencer, Miss Rodeo Colorado, had received a care package from her family of chips with salsa and Mountain Dew.  "Mountain Dew is also known as 'queen juice' in my family!" She laughingly added.

At the end of a long day, gifts, cards, flowers and emails serve as reminders of how much support they have from their parents, family and friends.  Good luck emails can be sent to contestants at missrodeopageant@yahoo.com.

Monday - A busy day!

Monday dawned bright and early for the contestants, judges, chaperones and many pageant personnel.  After a buffet breakfast at the French Market Buffet sponsored by the American Quarter Horse Association, it was off to the new South Point Casino on the FAR southern end of the Las Vegas Strip.  This beautiful new facility is home to the 2006 PRCA Convention and the 2007 Miss Rodeo America Horsemanship and PRCA Luncheon events.

The new Equestrian Center at the South Point is gorgeous!  Spectators had their choice of stadium style seating with bathrooms and concessions close by.  The horsemanship committee was excited to have some extra elbow room in the staging area too!

Reigning Miss Rodeo America Amanda Jenkins began the event by riding into the arena and leading a riderless horse draped with an American Flag.  Pageant Emcee and PRCA Announcer Tim Fuller paid tribute to our Nation's troops and introduced Amanda, who was met in the center of the arena by Nellis Air Force Base Honor Guard members Jason Huddleston and Jarred Perrin.  National Advisory Council Member and former MRA Executive Board President Sharon Halligan sang the National Anthem as Amanda presented Old Glory to those in attendance.

Amanda set the first pattern of the horsemanship competition.  The pattern consists of trotting into the arena, beginning a figure eight to the left, changing leads for a right circle, then changing leads again to begin a second left circle that is not closed as the rider guides her horse around the arena to a stop in front of the judges.  They then back their horses and are excused from the arena.  It was apparent why Amanda was awarded the 2006 Miss Rodeo America Horsemanship award as she performed a nearly flawless pattern.

The new setting provided a few challenges for the contestants.  The arena at the South Point is much larger than the previous setting and a few horses were a little more difficult to handle.  But being the expert horsewomen they are, all of the contestants cowgirled up and handled each situation with poise and confidence.  Each was dressed in brightly colored outfits ranging from pinks and corals to bright reds, light lavenders to deep purples and every color in between.  Embroidered blouses, painted blouses, appliqued blouses...you name it and it may have been there!

During the break between round 1 and round 2 former Miss Rodeo Utah Angie Burton, who is now employed by the South Point, was presented a plaque of appreciation by horsemanship committee chair Bronc Rumford and Amanda.  It was at this time that Amanda was presented her Miss Rodeo America 2006 saddle.

The second round of horsemanship is a free-style pattern in which the contestants have one and one-half minutes to demonstrate their skills.  Fourteen horses were in the draw, so each horse made four rides with four different riders.  No rider may ride the same horse twice and the draw is kept secret until right before the round of competition begins.

We would like to thank the staff at the South Point for their hospitality and are looking forward to returning tomorrow for the PRCA Luncheon where Commissioner Ellerman will preside over the events and the contestants will model their official arena chaps and answer their rodeo impromptu questions.

Look for more blog entries about other activities that happened today and more interviews to appear later this week.  Right now we're all getting ready to enjoy the Alumni Association's Get Acquainted Party which has a Fiesta theme this year.  Monies raised at this event provide the $500 Scholarship for the Written Test Award.

Inside the Pageant - Sunday, November 26

It's the second day of the pageant and the contestants have put many hours into perfecting their dance moves for the highly anticipated Fashion Show on Tuesday night.  Blogger Shelia Croft sat down with four contestants to get their take on all of the dancing they'll be doing.

"It's proceeding extremely well" said Kathy Ternes, Miss Rodeo Minnesota, "Especially how difficult it is with the flags.  We get plenty of exercise in one day!  I'm kind of struggling because I'm a newbie."

Cami Cushing of Utah enthusiastically commented on how much high-energy dancing there will be this year.  "Using the different props makes it really fun.  I used to be a cheerleader so it comes really easy for me."

However, Miss Rodeo Alabama Amanda Buckelew had a different view point.  "I like it because it's challenging, especially with the guitars.  We all are different and we have to learn so fast that we get confused sometimes.  I've had 13 years of dance and it's still hard.  It is fun to run around and be yourself, but it's not always that easy."

Elizabeth Scott, Miss Rodeo Arizona, was getting quite a workout from all of the practices.  "For those of you who know me you know I'm not an athletic person and this is the most I've worked out.  I'm working off all of the food we get to eat, I love food, but not all of us are professional dancers.  But it's so much fun bringing everyone together.  We have a great time and everyone in the audience is in for a big, great show."

Cami added "It's fun to see all of the personalities during practice."

All of their hard work will pay off on Tuesday night when the Fashion Show takes place.  The NASCAR theme and tailgate party are sure to excite many of the attendees, and if the fashion show committee stays true to their past productions, we're all in for a few surprises.

Foundation Dinner

After a day filled with personality interviews and rehearsals, the contestants joined the Miss Rodeo America Scholarship Foundation Board of Directors, Judges and their guests for the annual Foundation Dinner sponsored by Dale and Trish Fulcher of Arizona.  Mrs. Fulcher is the President of the Foundation Board of Directors and was unable to attend the event this year.  The dinner celebrates the educational achievements of the Miss Rodeo America contestants and recognizes those who have worked to increase the number and the amount of scholarships provided to contestants.

Foundation Vice President Kelly Baxley emceed the dinner, which began with a flag presentation by the Nellis Air Force Base Color Guard. Board members in attendance were Arlene Kensinger, Ina Ginsberg, Deb Dilley, Raeana Wadhams, and Dave Tayler.  Staff Sergeant Jared Perrin of the Nellis Air Force Base Color Guard presented reigning Miss Rodeo America Amanda Jenkins a special gift on behalf of Arizona Senator John McCain.  Amanda received an American Flag that was flown above the Nation's Capital along with a personal certificate of achievement from the Senator.  Following the presentation guests watched a power point presentation put together by Tracy Damrell of Amanda competing for the title at last year's pageant and of her reign.

Contestants each received a monogrammed briefcase by Buck's Bags from the Foundation.

This year over $30,000 in scholarship monies will be distributed to the top-five contestants, the winners of each category, and to top placing contestant from each region who is not a top-five contestant.  Miss Rodeo America will receive a $10,000 educational scholarship upon the completion of her reign through the generosity of Wrangler and Las Vegas Events.  The mission of the Foundation is to provide higher educational opportunities, through scholarship, to selected Miss Rodeo America contestants; broaden the scope f the scholarship program through selected fund raising efforts and to assure the perpetuation of the scholarship program.  The Foundation is a 501c3 corporation with all contributions being tax deductible.  For more information on the Foundation and how you or your company can support their efforts, visit the Miss Rodeo America website at http://www.missrodeoamerica.com.

Inside the Pageant - Saturday November 25

We sat down with four Miss Rodeo America contestants at the end of their busy day and asked how their trip to the pageant went.  There are always enlightening stories to share and we enjoyed hearing their tales.

Scharlee Roberts, Miss Rodeo Idaho, had a 12 hour drive from her home. She said they had exceptional weather which made the trip go much faster.  She carried her wardrobe in rubbermaid tubs in the back of her truck and the trunk of a car.  "When we got here the bellman said that in his years of working with the Miss Rodeo America Pageant he had never unpacked so many rubbermaid containers".

Ashley Andrews, Miss Rodeo North Dakota, took a page out of Amanda Jenkins playbook and arrived at the airport five hours early.  She thought she was leaving at 7 a.m. but her flight didn't leave until noon, so she turned around and went back to sleep while her sister went shopping.  Ashley flew here while her parents and her aunt and uncle drove two vans with her wardrobe to Las Vegas.

Flying out of Florida, Rachel O'Connor, Miss Rodeo Florida, made all of her family wear a hat and only check one bag so she would be able to check all of her luggage.  Nervous about not having her clothing arrive on time, she wasn't taking any chances!  She had a non-stop 4 1/2 hour flight.

Katie Brock, Miss Rodeo Arkansas, enjoyed Thanksgiving dinner with her family at Cracker Barrel as they made the 21 hour drive.  Along the way she had a few errands to take care of and enjoyed a stay in Amarillo, Texas.  Once they arrived at The Orleans, she did not want her clothing out of her sight.  She tried and tried to get the bellman to let her stay with her clothing in the holding area but they refused.  Later they teased her about selling some on ebay and getting some good prices for it.

All in all their trips to the city that never sleeps were uneventful.   These four young ladies are good examples of how much support family and friends provide in reaching their goal of competing in the Miss Rodeo America Pageant.

The Pageant Offcially Begins

It was a bright and beautiful morning in Las Vegas as the 28 contestants competing for the 2007 Miss Rodeo America title checked in to the pageant.  Wearing brightly colored Wrangler jeans and blouses, the contestants rivaled the night lights of the Vegas strip as they received their official pageant banners from reigning Miss Rodeo America Amanda Jenkins.  They turned in their scrapbooks and had time to meet with their chaperones and other pageant personnel before going through orienation in The Orleans Showroom.

MRA Executive Director Raeanna Wadhams welcomed guests and introduced President Kiki Shumway, who in turn introduced the Executive Board members.  The orientation includes information for contestants and visitors alike, along with official pageant business such as selecting parent representatives to the pageant and verifying that each contestant received official pageant business.

The remainder of the afternoon was spent moving rack upon rack of clothing and accessories into the contestant rooms.  Miss Rodeo America dads rival the most decorated bellmen in efficiency when it comes to packing and moving queen wardrobes!  Contestants are paired alphabetically as roommates for the week, which is filled with early mornings, late nights and lots of fun in between.  Clothing fittings, dinner and fashion show rehearsal filled the rest of the evening.  It's off to bed early as Sunday morning begins at 7 am with breakfast sponsored by Buck's Bags in the Courtyard Cafe followed by personality interviews and more rehearsals.

For photos of the pageant, please visit http://www.shooterenterprises.com.

Scholarships Abound at 2007 Pageant

The twenty-eight contestants of the Miss Rodeo America 2007 Pageant are not only beautiful and talented cowgirls but they're smart too! Up for grabs this week is $31,500 in scholarships, including a $10,000 award to Miss Rodeo America 2007, which will be raised to $12,500 if she chooses to attend the University of Nevada Las Vegas. Miss Rodeo America's scholarship is provided by Wrangler and Las Vegas Events, Inc..

Scholarship monies are administered by the Miss Rodeo America Scholarship Foundation, a 501c3 corporation. All contributions are tax deductible and funds received by the Scholarship Foundation are used for their intended purpose. An Investment Committee monitors all funds, and presents recommendations to the board of directors for their continuing investment.

During the pageant the Scholarship Foundation hosts three fundraising events, which are held in addition to working with individual benefactors and contributors. A silent auction filled with goods including western themed decorating items, artwork, jewelry and much more will run in the Hospitality Room through Friday at 10 am. Flowers may also be purchased in the Hospitality Room at the Foundation table and sent to your favorite Miss Rodeo America contestant, or to reigning Miss Rodeo America Amanda Jenkins. The always popular live auction will take place at 1:30 on Friday, December 2 at the Cowboy Christmas Gift Show at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Each contestant has brought an item to the pageant for the auction and will describe and show the item during the event. This year the location will be in "Flint's Hall", an area in the corner of the Convention Center where Flint Rasmussen does his daily show. The area features theatre style bleacher seating and a stage area. While at Cowboy Christmas stop by the Foundation booth and pick-up a pageant program or make a donation to the foundation. You may even have the pleasure of meeting former Miss Rodeo Americas and the current titleholders.

Throughout the years contestants at the Miss Rodeo America Pageant have used their scholarship monies to continue pursuing their educational goals. From teachers to veterinarians, research scientists to advertising and marketing specialists, these cowgirls are talented both in and out of the arena.

2007 Pageant Judges

Jim Helzer is CEO and President of JEH Stallion Station, JMH Investments, the Helzer Company, JEH Company, JEH Leasing Companiy, Inc., JEH Pipeline Company Inc., and Helzer and Helzer Company Inc. JEH Stallion Station. With his wife Marilyn, he established JEH Stallion Station in 1994 and it has become one of the leading equine facilities in the southwest. Born in Loveland, Colorado, he now resides in Arlington, Texas. Jim began racing American Quarter Horses in Colorado, his home state, in 1962. Since then, the Helzers have successfully raced Quarter Horses and Thoroughbreds throughout the US. The most noteworthy Quarter Horse campaigned by the Helzers was Refrigerator, the sport's world champion in 1992 and 1993. The winner of the 1990 All American Futurity (G1) after the Helzers supplemented him to the race for $50,000, Refrigerator is currently Quarer Horse racing's leading all-time money earner at $2,126,309. He is the only three-time winner of the Grade 1 Champion of Champions, the sports richest and most prestigious race for older horses. Helzer has been an AQHA Director and Chairman of the AQHA Racing Council. He also is a member and past president of the Texas Quarter Horse Association and a member and past director of the Texas Thoroughbred Association. Currently, Helzer serves on the board of the Texas Horsemen's Benevolent and Protection Association as its president and as a member of the Texas Horsemen's Partnership management committee.

Jim Sutton from Onida, South Dakota, is a rancher, raising registered Hereford and Limousin cattle, American Quarter horses, rodeo stock and buffalo. Jim had Quarter Horse sales and registered Hereford sales at his ranch for over 40 years and was instrumental in importing one of the first three Limousin bulls into the United STates from France. He has been a Quarter Horse and Cutting Horse judge, as well as, a National Director of the American Quarter Horse Association for over 30 years. In 1959, Jim became a stock contractor furnishing stock for high school, college, and PRCA rodeos. He has furnished stock for the National High School Finals Rodeo for 20 years and has had stock at every Nataional Finals Rodeo since it started in 1959. In 1978, Jim started the Black Hills Stock Show and Rodeo. The rodeo has been a Winston Tour Rodeo and a Wrangler Pro Tour Rodeo, being selected 10 times as one of the top five larger indoor rodeos of the year, and was the winner of the award in 2002 and 2003. Jim has been very innovative with different aspects of the rodeo world, which contributed to the success of the Blask Hills Stock Show and Rodeo. This includes events such as starting the Wrangler Bull Fights, Bailey Bail-off, Bull Teeter Totter, Poker Game, World Champion Wild Horse Race, Supreme Row, Sheep Dog Contest, Contract Act Contest, Buffalo Show and Sale, Mutton Bustin', Women's Bull Riding, Old Timer's Breakfast, Stockman's Ball, Extreme Bull Riding, all Indian Rodeo, 20X Extreme High School Schowcase, College Rodeo and Bull Futurity. The Black Hills Stock Show and Rodeo has been nationally televised ten different years. Sutton Rodeos did the openings for the National Finals rodeo in 1995 and 1996. Jim currently serves on the Executive Committee Council and on the Commpetition Committee for the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. He has been on the board and president of many organizations, one being president of Miss Rodeo America, Inc. for two years and the board of directors for 20 years. Following graduation from South Dakota State University in 1957, Jim was drafted by the Minneapolis Lakers. He still holds several records at SDSU after 50 years, but his basketball claim to fame was leading the nation in free throw percentage with 92% his senior year. Jim, his wife Julie, son Steve and wife Kim, daughter Tanya and husband Todd, and six grandchildren, are all involved in the operation.

Marlo Ward along with her husband, Billy, are the owner/operators of the A+ Horses and Cattle Ranch in LaGrange, Wyoming. She trains horses for ranch use and team roping, as well as, raises beef cattle and hay. She is the producer and stock contractor for the Qualifier at the Fort rodeo in Fort Collins, Colorado, is a PRCA timer, selected for the National Finals Steer Roping Finals in 2003, 2004 and 2005, and was also selected the official timer at the Turquoise Finals in 2004 and 2005. Marlo is the parade stock contractor for Cheyenne Frontier Days, providing horses for visiting queens and dignitaries for parades and grand entries. She is a former Cheyenne Frontier Days Dandy, performing equestrian drills and dancing for various rodeos. Marlo received an Associate degree in Radiological Technology at Laramie County Community College in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Previously she was an X-Ray Technologist at Torrington Community Hospital as well as, an office nurse/X-Ray Technologist at the Orthopaedic Center of the Rockiers and Torrington Medical Group. She and Billy have two boys, Dalton and Denton.

Karen Frank Yost has always been deeply involved in the agriculture industry. Raised on the Rocking J Ranch near Park City, Montana, she grew up competing on registered Quarter Horses in 4-H, AQHA Horse Shows, and High School, College and PRCA rodeos. She was the first runner-up to Miss Rodeo Montana in 1966 and was the Montana representative to the Miss America Pageant the following year. After receiving her B.S. degree in Education from Eastern Montana College, she taught school for several years then established and ran, with her family, "The Family Farm," an operating farm hosting birthday parties, field trips, hayrides and day camps for nearly ten years. Karen is the president of Montana Agri-Women, currently holds the position of StART chair with American Agri-Women and is a Gold Plus member of the USTRC as an event secretary. She and her husband, George, have four grown children and own and operate Nutra-Lix, Inc., a liquid feed manufacturing company in Billings. They continue to participate in and help produce team roping events.

Your Blog Team

During the eight days of pageant activities, we'll be bringing you the excitement and glamour of the 2007 Miss Rodeo America Pageant.  Along the way we'll be providing special interest stories, competition results and more.  We are also the ones who will be receiving and distributing the good luck emails you send to our contestants.  We hope you enjoy our coverage and invite you to send your good luck wishes to contestants and general comments to us at missrodeopageant@yahoo.com.

Bobbie Hinds - The National Director for Iowa, Bobbie had her first experience at the Miss Rodeo America Pageant as a lady-in-waiting in 1990.  Representing her home state of Kansas, she was a top-ten finalist in the 1992 pageant.  Bobbie has a degree from Kansas State University and taught Family and Consumer Sciences to junior and senior high school students before becoming a full-time mom.  She has coordinated and judged pageants for the past ten years and is the owner of RodeoRoyalty.com.

Jody Rempel - In 1987 Jody represented Washington as a contestant at the Miss Rodeo America Pageant and currently serves as the National Director from Montana.  She is involved with television advertising sales with KRTV in Great Falls, Montana and rides every spare minute she can.

Shelia Croft - As the National Director from Kansas, Shelia has been involved with the Miss Rodeo America Pageant's National Advisory Council and has served on numerous committees.  She is a licensed massage therapist and is co-owner of Midland Consulting with her husband JT.  She is also mother to three great children, two sons who are active in sports and a young daughter who keeps her on her toes.

Send Your Good Luck Wishes

Wishes of good luck and support can be sent to contestants and to Amanda via the Miss Rodeo America Pageant email address:  missrodeopageant@yahoo.com.

Please follow these guidelines when sending messages:

• Place the contestant's name and title in the subject line:  Amanda Jenkins, Miss Rodeo America.
• All messages will be screened by pageant personnel for appropriateness.   Pageant personnel reserve the right to edit or reject messages.
• Keep your messages short and to the point.
• Contestants DO NOT have access to email during the pageant and cannot reply to your messages.
• Messages will be accepted beginning November 24 thru noon on December 2.  Messages received after noon on Friday may not be delivered to contestants nor may they be forwarded on.

Good luck wishes are a great way to help relieve the stress of competition for your contestant.  Messages are delivered nightly and distributed before bedtime.