Amanda Eason - Miss Rodeo Iowa 2007

Hello, 2008 and the NEW Miss Rodeo Iowa, Aleigh Beahm

2008-01-13T15:34:00.000-06:00

L to R: Me, Aleigh Beahm (MRI'O8), Rachel Burton (MTRI 'O8), Suzette Walker (MTRI 'O7) Posing at Aleigh's Coronation Celebration.

As I rung in the new year, I sadly said goodbye to my title as Miss Rodeo Iowa 2007. Though I didn’t think I would be, I was sad as I watched the clock turn to 12:01 a.m. on January 1, 2008 because it was true . . . I am officially a “has-been.” However, because of the wonderful experiences and priceless opportunities I was granted, I would like to think of myself as a “once was” or “always will be” in my mind!

On January 6, Dad and I drove to Dunlap for Aleigh’s Coronation Celebration. It was a great night with many other queens in attendance (which was good so I was able to spread the word that ALL of my clothes are for sale)! We had a great meal of COWBOY BEANS (kindly donated by Rowley, Deb, and Rachel Burton because they know how much I love them) and other delicious food. After eating, the ceremony began. Bobbie kindly recognized me in front of the group for my achievements at Miss Rodeo America and presented me with an extra $500 toward my standing $1500 Miss Rodeo Iowa Scholarship because I had money left over after the year (yeah!), and the board thought I did a good job of spending my money wisely. I was very honored and excited because that means I will have a total of $4,000 in scholarships to apply toward this next semester’s tuition.

Queens galore! L to R: Rachel Burton (MTRI '08), Holly Soucie (Miss Sidney '07), Amy Huddlemeyer (Miss URA '08), leigh Beahm (MRI '08), me, Katie Stark (Miss Lenox'07), Suzy Fife (Miss Teen Lenox '07), Lindsay Ahrenholtz (Miss AKSARBEN '07), Suzette Walker (MTRI '07), Charity Houk (Iowa H.S. queen '07), Kaitlin Wilkinson (Woodbin Saddle Club Queen '07), Carly Hagey (MRIL '08)

After the recognition was over, it was time for me to hand over the crown. Clutching Aleigh’s hand, I wished her the best of luck and all of the fun I had in the past year. Pitching in a little advice, I told her to live her year to the fullest because it flies by, and we will not be cute forever. On a serious note, I reminded her that through all of the fame and recognition she will receive in the next year to be sure to remain grounded and not let anyone change the wonderful person she is because that is the reason she achieved the title and all of her guests showed up to support her that night.

With shaky hands, I took the crown slowly off of my head and placed it on hers. A big bear hug sealed the deal that she is now Miss Rodeo Iowa 2008.The rest of the night was very fun and enjoyable as the other queens and I helped carry around items for Aleigh’s live fundraiser auction, and we laughed at the Mr. Rodeo Iowa contestants. Mom and Blaine provided the sound and music—Mom does a great job with song selection and background music! I had a great time dancing and talking with many people I hadn’t seen in a while, and it was wonderful to have Dad all to myself! He tricked me into thinking I didn’t get two mugs I was bidding on in the silent auction, but surprised me with them later in the night. It feels weird not being Miss Rodeo Iowa anymore, but I am excited about my “new” life as a future veterinarian!

My favorite picture of the year-- Carrying Old Glory aboard the beautiful grey, Pepper Ann at the Exira, IA rodeo.

My year as Miss Rodeo Iowa will always be one I look back on and remember while smiling. Though my first semester veterinary school grades were not what I am used to or like to see, I would not have traded my experience as Miss Rodeo Iowa or my time at the Miss Rodeo America Pageant for a 4.0. However, I still get to be a part of the Miss Rodeo Iowa Program by co-hosting this year’s clinic with MRI’04 Megan Wiemold on February 16-17 in Ames. She is a great gal, and our minds work well together. It should be a fun time warping young queens’ minds!

This next summer will feel somewhat uneventful because of the decreased number of rodeos and events I will be attending, but I am excited because the time will be filled with working cattle, riding, being outside and getting a tan, spending time with family and friends, and doing all I can to make myself an experienced, tough, and personable veterinarian! I feel truly blessed--thank you, once again, to everyone involved with making this the best year of my life!

Contact Trey Eason of Adel, Iowa at "Eason Portrait Gallery" for all your photography needs--he is very talented and does a WONDERFUL job! Thank you, Trey!

I Blinked . . . and Now it's Over

2007-12-13T21:47:00.000-06:00

Twenty seven state titleholders--what a tough job for the judges!

What an incredible experience!

I cannot believe my week at the Miss Rodeo America Pageant is here and gone . . . I had the time of my life! I knew it was going to be a great week when we moved into our rooms and were greeted by shiny, new acoustic guitars! Santa came early and I was so excited; the only thing that would have made it perfect is if I only knew how to play it. Maybe as an afterthought Santa will bring me a "teach yourself to play the guitar" DVD in my stocking.
Cheese! L to R: Ashlee Stallings (NM), Kadee Coffman (CA), Kelsea Walker (IL), and I heading to the Cowboy Christmas Auction.

After the guitar, things only got better. The group of girls was wonderful; I got to know 26 great friends and reminisced with those who I knew coming into the pageant. The horsemanship portion of the pageant was one of my highlights because I drew a really nice little bay gelding who sat down and slid about 10 feet for me to complete my first pattern! I think I was more impressed than the cheering crowd because I have never sat something that felt so wonderful before; it was like the horse just folded under me. Amazing!

Doing a little tiger wrestling and recapping of how it looked as I "started my year off with a BANG" into an out-gate post . . .

I had a great time learning the dances for the fashion show and was very proud to model my beautiful Ashley Kelber leather dress--she definitely out-did herself! Though the organized dancing wasn't as bad as I thought, I was rewarded by the opportunity to shake a leg and cut a rug at the "Get Acquainted" Party. There was a great one-man-band who provided some great tunes to polka, swing, two-step, and waltz to, so I was in seventh heaven! Not to mention it was on the same day as horsemanship, so it was definitely a great day because any day the begins on a horse and ends on a dance floor is bound to bring a smile to my face!
Ann, Ty, and Butch Murray--I was honored to meet all of them! What a wonderful family!

One of the highlights was getting to meet the "King of Cowboys" Ty Murray! His mom was one of our judges, so it was a great suprise, and I now have a prized autographed picture to frame and hang! I began my auctioneering career on the "Cowboy Christmas" stage as I introduced the items I had brought to raise money for the Miss Rodeo America Scholarship Fund. I was glad the proper colonel took the microphone back because I definitely not great, but I had fun. That same morning I got to see Jerry Dietz and the rest of his family! They came out to support me and broadcast live--it was great to see such shiny, southwest Iowa faces!
Jerry Dietz of KCSI Radio in Red Oak, IA interviewing me moments after coronation in Las Vegas.

As the week went on, it was easy to relax and be myself. Though I was not as well-prepared as some of the other girls, I had a great time and turned out alright. You can breathe easy now, I came home with two scholarships, so that will cheapen your future vet bills by a small percentage! I was very honored to end up placing where I did, but would have liked to place Iowa higher since we live in the best state of the fifty united!
Friends! L to R: Chelsea Stramma (WI), Brittany Sing (AR), me, and Jesse Budd (WA) looking photogenic at check-in!

Thank you for the endless support this year. I have been humbled by everyone's kindness and hospitality. I am sad that I am now an official "has been" and cannot believe that a year has passed. It was fun to see so many wonderful friends, family, and supporters out in Las Vegas. It made me smile and think that if I did nothing else right this year, I at least came out with many new, genuine, and lasting friendships. Some of my best memories were made this year, and I am so thankful and fortunate for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The reality check of having to come back and take finals right away was not as fun as I hoped, but as I finished the last test, I had a wave of satisfaction come over me . . . I did it.

"Oh, you better not pout, you better not cry, you better watch out I'm telling you why . . . Santa Claus is coming to town . . . "

Thank you, I love you all, and I hope you have a wonderful holiday season! I really appreciate all of the thoughts, gifts, and emails I received during the week of the pageant--it was very comforting and reassuring. If you would like to see more pictures of the pageant, visit http://www.shooterenterprises.com/. Make sure you are extra good these last few days before Christmas because Santa is watching!

Congratulations Amanda - Top 10 and More!

2007-12-10T14:37:00.000-06:00

Amanda was named a top-ten finalist at the Miss Rodeo America Pageant on Saturday. She also earned the Central Region Scholarship, being the highest scoring individual in her region who was not in the top-five. In addtion to these awards she was honored with the Raeana Wadhams Spirit Award. This award is given to a special young woman who has particular focus, drive and goals along with a positive attitude throughout the pageant.

Amanda is now home and taking her finals as she ends her first semester as a student at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Iowa State. Once she's finished with her finals, and things settle down a bit, she will be doing a summary of her Miss Rodeo America experiences here on her blog. Thank you to everyone who sent her well-wishes throughout the pageant through the pageant email. Your messages helped keep up her spirits during a grueling week of competition.

Way to go Amanda!

2007-12-06T18:47:00.000-06:00

Today it was announced that Amanda had won second place in the Scrapbook competition! The cover was created by Cary and Laura Veach of Veach's Leather Goods in Ankeny. She received a rosette ribbon and a cash award for her efforts!

Best of luck Amanda!

2007-11-27T21:54:00.000-06:00

Your Board of Directors, committee and friends all wish you the best of luck this coming week at the Miss Rodeo America 2009 Pageant! You have lived a dream year and managed to pack a lot of living into just 365 days. We are all very proud of your accomplishments, not only as Miss Rodeo Iowa but also as a student of veterinary medicine.

If you would like to send well wishes to Amanda while she is at the Miss Rodeo America Pageant, please remember the following:

Place "Iowa" in the subject line (makes it easier for the committee to file)
All messages are read prior to giving to the contestants, so keep it appropriate.
Amanda will not have access to email while competing.
Messages may not be printed after noon Friday, December 7.

The email address to use is missrodeopageant@yahoo.com. The Miss Rodeo America blog can be found at http://missrodeoamerica.blogs.com. Updates on pageant activities and special interest stories will be posted daily.

A Fabulous Fashion Show!

2007-11-21T15:48:00.000-06:00

Queens, queens, and more queens! L to R: Aleigh Beahm, Rachel Burton, me, Suzette Walker, Suzi Fife, Holly Soucie

Thank you to everyone who attended my fashion show send-off and donated to my travel fund. It was wonderful to see so many friends, family, and supporters--I am truly blessed with wonderful people in my life. I was in the presence of beauty on Sunday because Aleigh Beahm (Miss Rodeo Iowa 2008), Rachel Burton (Miss Teen Rodeo Iowa 2008), Holly Soucie (Miss Sidney Rodeo 2007), Suzi Fife (Miss Teen Rodeo Lenox 2007), and Suzette Walker (Miss Teen Rodeo Iowa 2007) were kind enough to add the "glitz and glam" to my fashion show!
Fashion Show Dress by Ashley Kelber of Outlaws and Ladies

I would like to thank Ashley Kelber of Outlaws and Ladies (Rhodes, Iowa) for making all of my beautiful leather outfits. I am very proud to be one of her "walking models" this year because Ashley's creativity and ability is like no other. I LOVE my "Tough Enough to Wear Pink" vest and am very sad I will only get to wear it once in Las Vegas. My fashion show dress is so fun to wear because it has somewhat of a train and makes me feel as if I float across the ground!

Tough Enough To Wear Pink Vest by Ashley Kelber of Outlaws and Ladies

I really appreciate the friendship I have acquired throughout the year with the Kelber family. They are a wonderful group of people who have welcomed Dixie and me into their family, and have even offered to dogsit while I go to Las Vegas! (Dixie loves staying at the Kelber's house because they spoil her rotten!) I feel very lucky to only live 30 miles from the most talented leather seamstress in the world. If you need leather garmets, do not hesitate to contact Ashey at 641-482-3510.
Horsemanship shirt, pants, and boots by Paula Jameson of Reigning Rhinestones

Paula Jameson of Reining Rhinestones (Bridgewater) did not disappoint anyone with my "beautifully 'bling'ed" horsemanship shirt! I am very excited to wear it because the judges won't be able to see my make any errors in my patterns because they will be mesmerized by all of the glittering coming from the arena. (Good plan, Paula!) Paula has also dyed my pants for the competition and painted the boots I will be wearing so I owe it to her that I will be matched and stately in the city of lights. Paula has been such a wonderful help this year and has become such a great friend. I hope she still chooses to associate with me after I am a "has been" in about a month! ;) If you need any arena clothes, boots painted, or pants dyed, be sure to give Paula a call because if there ever has been a color created, Paula can match it! 641-369-4131
We match! Paula Jameson--designer, friend, and fasion diva! Look at those boots!

I would like to thank the Shenandoah Middle School for allowing me to have the sendoff in the commons. It worked out great to change behind the "stage" in the music room and we had ample space for people to sit, and even had enough room for a large "runway" for everyone to model. Mom did a great job with the music by playing fun songs to model to (I hope they do the same out in Vegas), and helped me get food and other things planned for the event. Thank you, Mom, for all of your help!
Wayne Woolridge, a faithful supporter of the Miss Rodeo Iowa program and great friend!

I had such a wonderful time that it flew by too quickly, but not before I spotted Wayne Woolridge in the crowd! Wayne, of Cherokee, Iowa, has been a wonderful supporter of the Miss Rodeo Iowa Program for years. I really appreciate all Wayne has done to help me get through the year; he has been so kind to me and I cannot thank him enough. Wayne has also offered to drive my clothes to Las Vegas so I don't have to worry about paying over-weight charges on the airline and getting my bags lost. It has been people like Wayne that have made my year unforgettable because of the never-ending kindness, friendship, support, and smiles he has given me throughout the year. Thank you, Wayne, for reminding me why I am so fortunate to be an Iowan!
Jason and Marla Long of Centerville--Pepper Ann's family! Thank you for letting me use the beautiful grey all summer!

Thank you, to everyone, for all of your support and friendship throughout the year. YOU have made this experience one of the most positive and unforgettable times in my life, and for this I am thankful. Since the veterinary curriculum has been taxing on my Miss Rodeo America studying and preparation, I do not feel as if I have put the time into getting ready for this national competition as a normal contestant should. However, because of the many wonderful individuals that have touched my life and influenced my way of thinking, I feel prepared to handle anything that is thrown my way. I will do my best to make Iowa proud, but no matter how the results turn out, I feel blessed knowing that I have already been rewarded with the most precious and priceless gift one could be given: the confidence, trust, and love of the wonderful people of Iowa. I wish you all a wonderful holiday season, and will be sure to recap the extraordinary time I will have in the Miss Rodeo America Pageant! Viva Las Vegas, and I am keeping my fingers crossed for a scholarship so your vet bills can be cheaper!

Louisville, Kentucky--Home of the Great Lakes Circuit Finals Rodeo

2007-11-13T11:34:00.001-06:00

Nice jackets! Me, Chelsea Stramma (WI), Kaytie Zuidema (MI), and Kelsea Walker (IL) showing off our warm Circuit Finals jackets.

How do 5 gals share a 4-door car, 3 mirrors, 2 beds, and one bathroom for 5 days?

Very well and with a lot of fun stories to tell if you were with our "bunch" this past week in Louisville, KY for the Great Lakes Circuit Finals Rodeo! Judy Rogers was brave and kind enough to make the trip with me (so I could study for my two tests on the drive home), and her company helped the time and miles pass pleasantly and quickly. We picked up Kelsea Walker (Miss Rodeo Illinois) along the way and met up with Chelsea Stramma (Miss Rodeo Wisconsin) and Kaytie Zuidema (Miss Rodeo Michigan) once we checked into our very nice hotel.

Peggy Gander, former owner of Dodge Rodeo, and instrumental part of the Great Lakes Circuit Finals Rodeo

From there it was a whirlwind of activity, rodeo, dodging one another as we maneuvered our way around one another getting ready, and many memories that are worth telling! The rodeo was great! The top 12 cowboys from our 9-state circuit were in contention for money, points, and the chance to head to the Dodge National Circuit Finals Rodeo this next March in Pocatello, Idaho. I saw many familiar faces and quite a few proud Iowans!

During the rodeo Kelsea, Chelsea, Kaytie, and I got to help carry sponsor flags and clear cattle. It was a wonderful time that ended too quickly. I would like to thank Rod, a pickup man for the Mid-State Rodeo Company, for bringing the sharp looking paints we rode all weekend. Lex Anderson (daughter of John Walter, owner of Mid-States Rodeo Co.) was fun to get to know and spoiled us because when we got to the arena, she already had the horses saddled each night. Thank you, Lex, for your help, and have a nice winter break!

Chelsea, Kelsea, Kavin Kingery, Kaytie, and I posing by the "official' truck of the rodeo. (All of us girls are wishing he would let us take the truck for a spin!)

In our "off" time we got picked up in the official Dodge Truck, driven by Iowa native Kavin Kingery, and taken to visit the local Dodge dealership. It was fun to ride in a brand-new truck and everyone at the dealership welcomed us with Kentucky hospitality. I had the opportunity to attend the "Farm City Luncheon" with announcer Roger Mooney and Iowa ropers Bill Huber (and his wife Jackie) and Ron Dales. Bill and Ron helped two teams of businessmen learn to rope a chair, then they had a face-off roping competition for the coveted horse collar award. I had a great time handing out hats and bandanas to the contestants and chatting with Bill, Jackie, and Ron. Ron's son Cooper (9 years old) and his paint pony "Pretty Girl" has helped Rachel Burton and I chase out cattle at quite a few rodeos, so I made sure Ron would pass Rachel and my "hello" on to Mr. Cooper.

Circuit Finals Contestants and fellow Iowans: Ron Dales and Bill Huber (with his wife Jackie) posed for a picture after a long morning of teaching two teams of businessmen how to rope.

Lucky us! Posing with a Carl Bowman (behind Kelsea and I) at his barn on the backside of Churchill Downs.

Later that day we visited Churchill Downs--home of the Kentucky Derby! It was such an exciting trip becuase they were racing that morning, and we happened to meet Carl Bowman, who trains horses at the track! Carl helped us bet on a race and explained how to read all of the boards and books to "handicapp the race" (i.e. pick out who you think will win). After a few races he took us back on the backside of the track to his barn and he showed us around. It was amazing to see such fine racehorses and learn about how they trained and fed their equine athletes. We felt so lucky to have met Mr. Bowman, and he welcomed us back anytime we were in the area.

Cary and Laura Veach, of Ankeny, Iowa. Check out that scrapbook cover! Thank you, Cary!

Cary Veach of Ankeny, Iowa has been wonderful to me this year--keeping Pepper and I outfitted in the most stylish leather chaps and tack. He has outdone himself, once again, by creating the most PERFECT scrapbook cover for my "year of memories" to take to Las Vegas. Thank you, Cary, for all of your wonderful work! If you ever need any leather work done, Cary is your man! Don't hesitate to contact him and his wife Laura at their shop Tuesday-Saturday at (515) 964-8331. (Just don't ask for stars for a while; I am pretty sure I have exhausted him with stars this year!)

Well-mounted on wonderful paint horses bearing red Mid-States Rodeo Company (from Kirksville, MO) breastcollars.

Saturday night was the last night for the rodeo--and my "career." This was the last rodeo I will get to attend and help out as Miss Rodeo Iowa 2007; it doesn't seem like the year should be over! Kelsea and I had a "moment of reflection" together as we thought back to all of the wonderful places we have been this year, all of the incredible people we have met, and the once-in-a-lifetime opportunities we were granted because of the crowns we have nestled upon our Bailey hats. I feel so fortunate for the year but a little sad it is all over. However, I can happily say that I have no regrets, and I was able to check many things off of my "list of things to do in a lifetime."

Thank you for following me this past year on the blog. I have had a great time keeping up with it and sharing my pictures, stories, and experiences with you. I appreciate all of the support everyone has given me, and I hope to make you proud two weeks from now as I make my flight and "Viva Las Vegas" in the Miss Rodeo America Pageant. No matter how things turn out, I will go in and go home knowing I am the most fortunate person there because of the never-ending support, love, encouragement, and faith from my family, friends, the Miss Rodeo Iowa Board, and all of the people I met throughout my year of traveling. I love you all, and will never forget your kindness (so feel free to call me when you need a calf pulled, dog spayed, horse stitched up, etc.) Best wishes, and may God bless you and your family.

Wild Weekend at the Extreme Cowboy Race!

2007-11-05T19:31:00.000-06:00

Craig Cameron, clinician and inventor of the Extreme Cowboy Race.

Thank you, Judy Rogers, for the invitation for a great weekend!

I had the privelage to attend the Extreme Cowboy Race Finals in Kansas City, MO at the Saddle and Sirloin Club. Craig Cameron ( http://www.craigcameron.com/ ), an accomplished clinician and horseman, is the mastermind behind this absolutely amazing competition. It showcases true, functional horsemanship and adds excitement because the outdoor obstacle course is timed. Each day the course changes and challenges mount, but there were many extremely talented horses and riders in Kansas City this weekend that tackled the thich brush, tree dragging, roping, jumping, water crossings, and other obstacles with precision and class.

Bill Hull, Barn Manager and Groundkeeper at the Saddle and Sirloin Club in Kansas City, MO

While at the race, I had the opportunity to meet and visit with and be interviewed with Craig Cameron which was an experience! He is very easy to talk to and definitely has the "gift of gab" as any good clinician does. If you enjoy trail riding and horseback ranch tasks, you should consider entering one of the competitions. There are quite a few preliminary races around the United States with very nice saddles to be won, as well as the chance to compete in the national competition. It is definitely a true test of the horse's training and ability, as well as the rider's horsemanship--you should look into it!

Hoosier LOVES to have his ears scratched!

Also during the day, I met Sue Cole, the editor of Mules and More magazine ( http://www.mulesandmore.com/ ). Her "grand-mule" Hoosier was one of the competitors in the race. After telling her I was a mule owner, she asked me to come by after the race and take a few pictures with the famous mule. I was delighted! Hoosier is a beautifully built ~15.3 hand sorrel mule that placed in the top five, beating the rest of the horses! He was not very excited about putting his ears up for the pictures, but he sure didn't mind me scratching them! It was fun to meet Hoosier because I haven't been in the presence of a mule for a while!

Jerry and Nicolas giving us the abbreviated version of their show

Charro Jerry Diaz ( http://www.charrojerrydiaz.com/ )was one of the competitors in the race, so it was a great opportunity to watch one of the most talented men I have ever seen sit a horse. He has been riding and training since he was young, and is quite a hand with a lariat. Jerry performs at many rodeos and events performing rope tricks and horse acts (bowing, laying down, difficult dressage moves, etc.). Judy Rogers studies horsemanship and training under Jerry, so I got the opportunity to meet Jerry, his wife Staci, and their son, Nicolas. Nicolas is quite the performer already and definitely steals the show with his own trick rope and ornery grin. They Diazes are a very kind and caring family, and I felt very honored to meet them! (Even though I have spent the entire last year traveling and meeting many famous people, I still get star-struck!)

Nicolas Diaz, a future 5th generation Mexican charro, who will be a heartbreaker in a few years!

The fun is not quite over! This week I will be in Louisville, KY for the Great Lakes Circuit Finals rodeo. I am very excited to help carry flags and chase out cattle during the performances. Once I return home from Louisville and take two tests at school the next week, it will be FASHION SHOW SEND-OFF TIME! Come one, come all to the Shenandoah Middle School commons at 2 p.m. on Sunday, November for a sneak-peek of what I will be wearing during the Miss Rodeo America Pageant in Las Vegas. I will be in the presence of Aleigh Beahm (Miss Rodeo Iowa 2008), Rachel Burton (Miss Teen Rodeo Iowa 2008), Holly Soucie (Miss Sidney Iowa Rodeo 2007), Suzi Fife (Miss Teen Rodeo Lenox), and possibly a few more queens! It should be a fun afternoon, and I would love to see you!

Miss Rodeo America Fashion Show Send-Off! 11/18/07 @ 2:00 p.m.

2007-10-24T13:51:00.000-06:00

Special thanks to my cousin, Trey Eason, of Eason Portrait Gallery in Adel, Iowa for the beautiful pictures! He is a wonderful photographer and very creative! http://www.easonportraitgallery.com/

Hello, hello!

To prepare for the Miss Rodeo America Pageant, I am having a FASHION SHOW SEND-OFF to model all of the beautiful outfits I will be wearing during the pageant. Ashley Kelber and Paula Jameson have been sewing away and working very dilligently, so I owe it to them to show off their beautiful handiwork--not to mention I am SURE I will be the best-dressed queen there!

Mark your calendar for Sunday, November 18 at 2:00 p.m. in the commons of the Shenandoah, Iowa Middle School. We will be celebrating autumn with apple cider and a few snacks to satisfy your mid-afternoon munchies! I have a fun slide show of all the pictures from my various trips during the year for your enjoyment, as well as the opportunity to catch up and visit with people you have not seen for a while! (I would advertise free veterinary consultation, but I am not too far through school, so there would be no guarantee on my diagnoses!) If you will listen, I would LOVE to recite the speech I will be giving during the speech competition. I will also have a free-will offering basket to try to tie up a few loose ends I have left to finance for the year, such as shipping of all my outfits to Las Vegas, plane tickets, etc.

I will be in the presence of beauty and other royalty, as Aleigh Beahm, Miss Rodeo Iowa 2008 will be there, along with other Iowa rodeo queens. The girls will also be modeling one of their favorite outfits and introducing themselves so you can become familiar with all of the beauty and brains within the state! I am very excited for the send-off because I have had such an extraordinary year all because of the support (in so many different ways and forms) of all the wonderful people I call my friends. Do not worry; I will never forget any of you, and when you need a calf pulled at 2 a.m. or a second opinion on your dog's chronic skin condition, or someone to perform cutting-edge surgery on your prized equine friend, please do not hesitate to call once I am an official D.V.M.

Jerry Dietz of KCSI Radio in Red Oak, Iowa and his family will be in Las Vegas during the Miss Rodeo America Pageant BROADCASTING LIVE! I feel so fortunate and excited they are doing this becauase it will give many of you the opportunity to hear what things are like! Jerry does an excellent job interviewing and keeping his listeners informed, so I am sure it will be just like you are standing next to him in Las Vegas during his broadcasts!

Sorry it has been a while since I have written, but Dixie and I have been studying all about cardiac physiology, canine anatomy (for which she is a great model), and biochemistry. The clock is ticking and the calendar is turning . . . which means it will not be long before I "Viva Las Vegas" again! I am getting more excited than I am prepared, but I have high hopes to come out with a scholarship in the pageant!

Since the last time I wrote about the great week in Ft. Madison, I have been to the Iowa State University Cyclone Stampede Rodeo in Ames. Rachel Burton, Miss Teen Rodeo Iowa 2008, who is also an ISU student was there and brought along an extra horse for me to run flags and chase out cattle. Thank you, Rachel, for letting me ride Cosmo! (I think she was mad that I got to ride a horse taller than Tank in Nevada becauase she made sure this time to bring me a horse way smaller than tank--by about 2 hands!)

It was a very windy weekend, but the rodeo was great and my mom did a wonderful job with the music during the performances. Blaine Partridge was the announcer, for the third year, and he did a great job, as usual. There is a very fun and ironic story about Blaine and my mom became a rodeo sound/announcing team--you should ask me sometime! Jim Svboda of Ord, NE was on hand to take pictures at the rodeo and he even sent me a few copies to add to my scrapbook. Thank you, Jim, they fill the page nicely and were just what I needed!

Speaking of my scrapbook, Cary Veach is crafting a beautiful cover out of leather and hair-on calf hide. I am really excited to slip the many pages filled with memories into the cover. Cary and his wife Laura have been so fun to work with and get to know this year. I feel very fortunate I am not too far from them because I enjoy just stopping in every once in a while just to say hello! Dixie benefited last time I stopped because she now has a new, fancy "going out" collar complete with a three-piece buckle, conchos, and letter conchos spelling out her name! (Spoiled, I know, but Cary does such wonderful work!)

The next stop I will make is the Extreme Cowboy Race Championships in Kansas City, MO during the weekend of November 3-4. I am heading down to ride with Judy Rogers for the weekend, and she has arranged for me to get to meet Craig Cameron! If you are unfamiliar with the program, you should watch RFDTV sometime, and you will be amazed! The next weekend I will be in Louisville, KY for the Great Lakes Circuit Finals, then we will have the fashion show send-off, followed by a break the next weekend to eat turkey and spend time with the family, and then I will be in Las Vegas! I cannot believe how quickly things are coming up, but I am very excited and feel so lucky for the opportunity to compete for Miss Rodeo America!

Take care, and I hope to see you at the send-off! If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me! Have a great week, and I will try to write again after my weekend in Kansas City!

Ft. Madison and the New Miss Rodeo Iowa!

2007-09-15T21:22:00.000-06:00

Hello, Ft. Madison! Behind me is the Mississippi River--it is GREAT to be back in southest Iowa!

What a WHIRLWIND of a week! It was bittersweet to be back in Ft. Madison because I was excited for the Tri-State Rodeo and Miss Rodeo Iowa Pageant, but sad because I am becoming closer to being a "has been." However, I felt as if I became a resident of Ft. Madison and my nice, spacious room was beginning to feel like home during my 10-day southeast Iowa vacation. I had a FANTASTIC week, and as usual, I am excited to tell you about it, so sit back, put your feet up, enjoy the pictures, and read away!

My second "bull riding" experience of the year at the Special Kids' Rodeo in the Tri-State Rodeo Arena along with one of my new friends.

I began my fun by helping out with the Special Kid's Rodeo. What a great day! There were so many different thing for the contestants to have fun doing, including barrel bull riding, bale bronc busting, steer roping, goat tying, horse rides, barrel racing, and even the chance to sit on a real, live bull named Gus! I didn't get around to trying everything because Jesse, one of the older contestants and helpers, and I were having a great time roping the steer! Throughout the day I received many high-fives, hugs, and never stopped smiling but my face did not hurt because my heart was in control; all of the contestants were a beautiful blessing of determination, happiness, love, and triumph. I am Katie's number one fan!

One of the most memorable cowgirls I met that day was Katie. This gal has more personality in her little finger than I have ever thought about, or will have ever have the opportunity, to have! She was full of smiles, laughter, and had a positive outlook on everything--I believe we should all learn a lesson from Katie. She made her own special place in my heart that day, and I every time I need a pick-me-up, I think of Miss Katie.

Doc and Rock, who I would LOVE to take home and have for my own! They are for sale if you're interested!

After the contestants had completed all of the events, received their medals, and had chowed down on a delicious lunch complete with Cowboy Beans--and you know how I feel about this essential dish--everyone packed up and went home for the day. One of the other events going on throughout the day for the contestants was horse-drawn wagon rides. The beautiful Percheron team of Doc and Rock, owned by Mr. Dave Beelman, made several laps around the rodeo grounds during the day, but they were kind enough to go one more time and allow me to drive them! It seems that my summer has had somewhat of a draft horse theme to it! I was excited to hear the team is for sale for a very afforable price, but then my practical conscience tapped on my shoulder and informed me that I have student loans to worry about before I acquire a team of horses!

Setting the pattern for the Stick Horse Barrel Race at the Little Spurs Rodeo in the Tri-State Rodeo Arena.

The next event I was able to help out with was the Little Spurs Rodeo for kids up to 14 years old. The date happend to be Labor Day, and boy, did those kids work hard in their events! They competed in the mutton busting, steer riding, stick horse barrel racing, goat tail tying, calf scramble, and greased pig contest! I had a great time hazing sheep and Holstein steers, as well as setting the pattern for the stick horse barrel race. I really wanted to ride one of the steers, but that little conscience tapped me on the shoulder again and reminded me of my somewhat bad luck this year and proneness to accidents! Therefore, I had to think of some other way to embarrass myself, so I shared many of my corny steer jokes with the audience--thank goodness rotten tomatoes were banned at the gate!

We love reading--and our ABC's!

On Tuesday and Wednesday I spent the entire day at Richardson and Lincoln Elementary in Ft. Madison; I figured my absence from Histology, Anatomy, Radiology, and Biochemistry in Ames would be justified if I spent it at a school! I had a great time speaking to the different classrooms about the rodeo, answering questions about the different events and treatment of rodeo stock, and even received picture drawings from one of the classrooms! When I visited the Kindergarteners, I sat back and enjoyed learning about different animals as they read their ABC's from a big book! During my school visit I ran into to one-and-only Katie who I met at the rodeo and was greated with a big wave and hug!

Jim Platt, the General Chairman for the Tri-State Rodeo and Chief Executive Officer of Administration at the Ft. Madison Community Hospital; he did a wonderful job with the rodeo and supports the Miss Rodeo Iowa Program through and through by donating the Miss Rodeo Iowa Trophy Saddle, along with the Ft. Madison Community Hospital. Thank you, Jim, for what you do for our program!

Tuesday night I was kindly invited by the wonderful Tri-State Rodeo Board to the Committee Dinner. I was honored by being seated at the head table with General Chairman Jim Platt, Vice Chairman Chuck Kempker, Announcer Boyd Polhamus, and Stock Contractor Binion Cervi. The Cervi Championship Rodeo Co. also brings stock to the Sidney, Iowa Championship Rodeo, so it was great to see a familiar face. Binion does a wonderful job with the stock company; he amazes me every time I see him because he is the same age as I, yet produces some of the largest rodeos in the PRCA. Great job, Binion!

Mr. Binion Cervi himself!

Wednesday night was Tough Enough to Wear Pink night at the Tri-State Rodeo. Though Pepper Ann told me her favorite color is blue, she did comment on how nice everyone looked in their "pinks" and thought it was great they were showing their support for Breast Cancer Awareness. The Miss Rodeo Iowa Contestants arrived Wednesday night--Aleigh Beahm, Kami Axtel, and Miranda Galvin, along with Kelsea Walker, Miss Rodeo Illinois. It was wonderful to see all of the familiar, shining faces! I not only got to see many famous cowboys and cowgirls, but Kelsea and I got to help run sponsor flags and chase out cattle during the rodeo. Pepper Ann and I had a super time--she is a trooper and did such a wonderful job for me this year, especially considering her first trip off the farm was to a rodeo!
Pepper Ann and my "Tough Enough" Queen's Run--she looks great! Check out the crafty Cary Veach Custom breast collar! Thank you, Cary

Billy Etbauer is my PRCA hero! I was in shock just to see him 5 feet in front of me and even more thrilled thathe would pose for a picture with me!

The rodeo was FANTASTIC the entire week! Every time Boyd would announce some of the contestants who had come to Ft. Madison, I had to make sure I was not sitting in the Thomas and Mack in Las Vegas. Behind the chutes I saw great cowboys and cowgirls such as: Shali Lord, Mary Berger, Billy Etbauer, Cody DeMoss, Chad Ferley, Kyle Whitaker, BJ Schumacher, Royce Ford, Bill Huber, and the list goes on! It was a very "proud Iowan" moment for me to think that these people had traveled from South Dakota, Oklahoma, Texas, etc. to compete at the Tri-State Rodeo. Great job, Tri-State Committee, for making your rodeo so great that current world champions make it a definite date on their calendar!

The beautiful, talented, and accomplished Judy Rogers riding her mare, Honey, taking time to pose next to Pepper Ann and me.

Thursday morning was the Horsemanship portion of the competition. Judy Rogers, who was one of the judges last year at the pageant, was so kind and brought up her 6-year old BEAUTIFULLY TRAINED dun mare, Honey, for me to ride. Honey is the nicest horse I have ever had the privelage to ride; we were able to wow the crowd with 4 awesome spins to the right and left to end the pattern! I didn't ride Honey as well as she can perform, so I have to apologize for that, but if you ever get the chance, you should watch Judy ride her! Judy makes Honey ride so smoothly, performing difficult moves with the ease of the sticky, golden, bee-made substance you drizzle over toast and muffins!

Kelsea Walker looking beautiful, as always, with Honey and me after Horsemanship. Kelsea used Honey during the rodeo performances to carry flags and chase out cattle.

Judy has helped me so much this year; she was gracious enough to take me under her wing and help me figure out how to "put my face on" and select my make-up colors. One of the most special moments I have shared with Judy this year was right after I had a make-over; I looked in the mirror and said: "Judy, I look like Miss Rodeo Iowa!" I owe my peace-of-mind and satisfaction of my appearance to her! Judy has also helped me fine-tune my horsemanship, of which I am very grateful for. Thank you, Judy, I appreciate all you have done for me!
Miss Rodeo Iowa 2008 Contestants: (L to R) Kami Axtel, Aleigh Beahm, and Miranda Galvin

After horsemanship the contestants went out to B Bar T to pick out outfits they wanted to model during Saturday's fashion show. B Bar T is so kind in letting the contestants borrow their clothes, and gives them a WONDERFUL discount after the pageant if they want to purchase them. After we left the store, the girls had to go back for the Personal Interview portion of the competition. Kelsea and I headed to the Holy Trinity School in the neighboring town and got to speak to the students about rodeo, and even got to play kickball with one class during P.E.! Kelsea and I were not as good as we remembered ourselves to be and were definitely warm running around in felt hats and leather vests!

After P.E. the 5th-7th graders filed into the gym and Kelsea and I got the neat opportunity to step away from just talking about bull riders, flank straps, and rodeo clowns. We took the opportunity to speak to the middle schoolers about how rodeo queen pageants have taught us how to set goals, speak in front of people, conduct ourselves in a mature manner (most of the time--everyone needs a good kickball game every now and again!), and how to push ourselves to be more than we ever thought we would be. The most important subject I stressed was treating everyone with kindness because it has many unique and unexpected ways of making its way full-circle. Many wonderful things have happened to me this year all related to simple acts of kindness.

Speaking of Kindness: If it weren't for Bobbie Hinds (L), my National Director and Paula Jameson (R), the Teen Coordinator, I would not have ever had the CHANCE of becoming Miss Rodeo Iowa. Thank you, gals, for all you have done to turn me into who I am today--and for making sure I look like a rodeo queen when I make appearances! Bobbie was so kind and bought me a "Welcome" sign for my future practice to remind me of what a great year I had!

Friday was the Speech portion of the competition, and my opportunity to share some of great experiences this year with the audience. (I say SOME because if they would have let me tell about all them, we would have been there all day!) The best thing that happened to me this year, by far, is when I got to show Chopper in the Governor's Charity Steer Show! Call me crazy, but it was bliss to have calf slobber running down one forearm while I scratched his belly with a showstick in the other hand! The contestants did a wonderful job "thinking outside of the box" with their speeches; I was prepared to hear the same "Iowa" facts three times over, but I was pleasantly surprised to hear about determined women, tough cancer survivors, and patriotic Americans! Great job, gals!

Saturday morning Pepper Ann and I thoroughly enjoyed ourselves in the parade waving, smiling, and talking with parade-watchers. We love parades, and realized this would be our last one together, and probably our last one forever, so we wanted to make the most of it. Once again, my day brightened as Miss Katie ran up and gave Pepper and I a big hug when the parade momentarily stopped where she was sitting. That girl is a ball of sunshine! Though the parade route is well over a mile, it didn't seem to last very long and it was over too soon. It was perfect parade weather and conditions, and Pepper and I were ready to turn around and go through again. However, the Miss Rodeo Iowa Pageant Fashion Show was due to kick-off not too long after the parade got over, so Pepper and I had to skip out on the double parade duty idea and head back to get ready.

I am surrounded by beauty! Judy Rogers, me, and Jessi Kokjohn (Miss Rodeo Iowa Pageant Director) at the Tri-State Rodeo Committee Dinner.

Jessi Kokjohn, a former Miss Rodeo Iowa, is the pageant director. She is truly amazing because she spends most of her time in Colorado, but puts on a classy, professional, and unforgettable event for all contestants involved! Jessi does a wonderful job planning the Miss Rodeo Iowa pageant and one-ups herself with the production of the fashion show. The Miss Rodeo Iowa Contestants and Miss Teen Rodeo Iowa Contestants model several different outfits to very fitting songs and dance very intricately-coreographed numbers. Dana Huling is the mastermind behind the dances, and I want to thank her for all of the hard work she puts into the pageant by conducting practices during the pageant for the girls. Dana is great, and she gave me a new appreciation of organized dance! Last year during the pageant was my first encounter with a "team" routine, and I was not the most coordinated dancer! Bless Dana's heart, she remembered my struggles last year and made the dance I was part of shorter and easier this year!

Between the dance numbers, the contestants needed time to change, so Jessi had planned for Joe Nichols to perform for the audience (because he put on a concert Friday night after the rodeo), but his booking agent said that the logistics of his next show location wouldn't work out with staying at the pageant. Rather than letting everyone sit in silence and wait, Kelsea Walker (Miss Rodeo Illinois 2007 and also a Miss Teen Rodeo Iowa Pageant judge) and I came to the rescue. All week long we had been reminiscing about our wonderful year together and decided it was a lot like Lane Frost and Tuff Hedeman's relationship; we didn't really know one another until we became state titleholders, and our last big event together was in Cheyenne (but ours turned out happier; neither one of us died and we traveled happily and safely home in the car). In celebration of a great year and two friends wishing they could do it all over again, we belted out "When Will I Be Loved?" by Linda Ronstadt and made everyone dance during the instrumental part of the song--just like they did in the movie 8 Seconds at Lane & Kelly's wedding. It was a blast for us, but I am sure the audience was glad for the end of the song because Kelsea and I are not exactly Nashville material, but we gave it our all!

Though it is cliche, a picture is worth 1,000 words . . . I do not think I need to explain.

During the fashion show, the contestants look fantastic. I remember how much fun it was to model the different outfits, do the dances (though I was not good, it was still fun), explain to the audience your "novelty" oufit that describes you, and wow them with your beautiful "coronation" dress. Before they crowned the new Miss Rodeo Iowa and Miss Teen Rodeo Iowa, I was given the opportunity to give my "farewell" speech. As I was standing on stage in front of the audience, it felt like I was in Ft. Madison a only a few months ago waiting nervously behind the curtain. Since you missed the live portion, I would like to share a few "thank yous" with you that need mentioning.

I would not have been able to get through the year if it were not for the financial and emotional support of my wonderful sponsors, especially Jon Stripe and Sunshine S Trailer Sales in Shenandoah, Bill Horton and Nutrena Feeds, John McCarthy of McCarthy One Hour Heating and Air Conditioning, Cary Veach, Ashley Kelber of Outlaws and Ladies, and my wonderful family. I feel very blessed to have been "given" my great parents, Steve and Alisa Eason, because they constantly encouraged me to better myself, taught me how to be strong-willed and determined, and showed me how love, kindness, and small things will grant you with great things in life. Another group of wonderful women in my life include those who make up the Miss Rodeo Iowa Board: Bobbie Hinds, Paula Jameson, Kimber Dall, Jill Neuman, Megan Wiemold, Stephanie Wells, Connie Wiemold, and Irene Blazek-Pauley. These women have been a great resource to me for what to wear, how to look, where to go, what to do, and not to mention have all become very great friends. I feel fortunate to have had such a supportive group of talented, intelligent, and resourceful individuals helping me make the most out of my year! Thank you, to everyone--there is not enough space on the internet to list all of the people who have helped me out and touched my life this year. I feel truly blessed. Rachel Burton, Miss Teen Rodeo Iowa 2008 and Aleigh Beahm, Miss Rodeo Iowa 2008. I am PROUD to say they are Cyclones AND future veterinarians!

Congratulations Aleigh Beahm, Miss Rodeo Iowa 2008, and Rachel Burton, Miss Teen Rodeo Iowa 2008! I am so happy, proud, and excited for these two girls for the fun they will have ahead of them--and I am also proud to say they are both CYCLONES and pre-veterinary students! All of the contestants did a great job; I would not have wanted to be a judge in either of the pageants because there were not many points that separated the winners from the runners-up. This makes me very proud of the caliber and integrity of contestants the Miss Rodeo Iowa Program attracts. There are many talented young women in Iowa, but I am especially proud of and would do anything for any and all of the contestants in both pageants because I had the opportunity to be with them all week and experience their wit, charm, and intelligence first-hand. I hope to see many of them back next year!

The trailer ride on Highway 2 headed west out of Ft. Madison was a sad one for many reasons, the biggest one being I said goodbye to Pepper Ann. This was the last rodeo of my reign as Miss Rodeo Iowa 2007 that I will need "my" trusty grey steed. I returned her to Gary and Marla Long's farm of Centerville, where she will get a well-deserved rest from rodeo! I am so thankful the Longs allowed me to take Pepper on the road because we became good friends, and she was truly amazing at everything she did--or didn't do. There was nothing we encountered at any rodeo that spooked this stone-solid mare; no ear-blasting sounds from any rodeo sound system, or whipping flag in the wind, or flashing lights and screaming sirens of clowns' specialty acts, or large team of draft horses pulling a wagon, or children running up screaming to hug my leg during a parade, or firecracker "booms", or stampeding sheep, or noisy gate latches, or . . . I am sure you are picking up what I am putting down. This 15 hand, 5 year old, piece of horseflesh is nothing less than a giant heart on legs, wanting to please you. I am not a fan of mares, but this one has broken my rule and stolen my heart. Thank you Pepper Ann, for allowing me to do all I wanted to at the rodeos and for a fantastic, memorable summer. I am going to miss you!

For now, my traveling schedule slows down, and I will be hitting the books for a month or so to maintain my spot as a VM 1 at the Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine. My next event will be helping out at the Iowa State University Cyclone Stampede Rodeo at the end of this month, then I will be heading to the Great Lakes Circuit Finals in Louisville, KY the second weekend in November. From there, it is Viva Las Vegas and onto the Miss Rodeo America Pageant in the beautiful Orleans Hotel! I am nervous and excited for the pageant, but it will be great to see all of the other state queens again! My main goal is to have fun because the pageant will be an experience of a lifetime, but I would also LOVE to come home with a scholarship to finance some of my education!

Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed the pictures as much as I did participating in all of the events that were captured on film! I appreciate you keeping up with my exciting year as Miss Rodeo Iowa, and I look forward to the next time I get to write!

Never a Dull Moment in Nevada, Iowa!

2007-08-29T16:57:00.000-06:00

School has begun! Dixie, my dog, and I moved back to Ames for the start of another academic experiences, but it does not mean the fun is over. This last weekend I got to help John Steenhoek and the Heartland Rodeo Company crew at a rodeo in Nevada, Iowa, which is a quick drive from Ames. It was great to see John again, and I had a great time riding his horses chasing out cattle and carrying the American flag.

Rachel Burton (Miss Rodeo Iowa Teen) and Tank also attended the rodeo because Rachel is a new, proud Cyclone, as she begun her Animal Science undergraduate curriculum at the best university. Welcome to the family Rachel! Rachel hopes to enter the Iowa State College of Veterinary Medicine in four years; I am very proud, and wish her the best of luck! I had a great time atteding events with her this year because I have many great memories and can always count on her for a laugh when needed!

The first night I rode Jeep Steenhoek's palomino pick-up horse which was fun because he had a lot of steam! I love Pepper Ann's mellow attitude, but sometimes it is nice to ride a horse with a little spirit and "go" (and to my delight, there was "whoa" to go along with it)! The second night I finally achieved the feat of riding a horse taller than Rachel's horse, Tank. The big buckskin I got to ride stood about 16.2 hands and was great! Thank you, John and Jeep, for allowing me to borrow a horse!

For your viewing pleasure, here is a video clip, courtesy of Rowley Burton. Rowley has been great to get to know this summer at the many rodeos and queen functions. He was taking pictures for Rachel and I Saturday night, and accidently pushed "record" instead of taking a picture and captured me riding the crow-hop out of the judge's flagging horse during my queen's run in the opening! I believe they scored me in the low 70's, so I was happy with the score, but didn't win any money. Life is never boring and I don't mind laughing at myself, so I hope you laugh along with me!

While Rachel and I were in Nevada we met Mr. Dennis Dostal of Toledo, Iowa who honored us with a ride atop a stagecoach! Dennis had a team of beautiful Belgian geldings that were good sports about giving spectators stagecoach rides before the rodeo. It was neat to be up so high, and I had a great time getting to know Dennis. He hosts a United Rodeo Association-sanctioned rodeo at his home arena every year, and just celebrated the 30th Anniversary this summer! Congratulations, and thank you, Dennis! However, the more times I am around draft horse teams, the more I want one of my own. I appreciate all of the work Mr. Dostal and Julie Buddenburg put into their teams, and I know as a veterinarian I will not have a lot of free time, but it would be neat to go out for a leisurely Sunday drive or moonlit snowy sleigh ride!

While the rodeo was moving along in full force, I had to do a double-take during the barrel racing because I saw President Abraham Lincoln himself stroll by the arena! Realing I had been staring for an extended period of time and knowing gawking is rude, I rode over to the President and asked if he would pose for a picture. After the 17th question about what it was like to live in the 1800's and how things were at the White House, Mr. Lincoln told me it happend to be the Lincoln Highway Days in Nevada, a community-wide celebration. Yes, I remembered this, but I was sSURE it was the 16th Commander in Chief. Nonetheless, I have photo proof!

With the quickly-arriving end to the rodeo weekend, I was sad to say goodbye to the Heartland Rodeo Company for the season, because I am just about done with attending rodeos as Miss Rodeo Iowa. The whole week before I was bombarded by histology, anatomy, biochemistry, etc. at school and did not realize that I am coming closer and closer to the end. This has been an incredibel year, and I am sad to see it about over, as I head to Ft. Madison this weekend to watch the competition for Miss Rodeo Iowa 2008. However, it will be great to be back in Ft. Madison, and I am excited for the Tri-State Rodeo! I will be sure to share pictures and stories once I return from Ft. Madison and catch up on classes! Until then, take care!

Congressman Steve King at the Iowa State Fair

2007-08-22T05:42:00.000-06:00

WASHINGTON D.C. - Congressman Steve King celebrated the start of the Iowa State Fair by meeting with many representatives of Iowa's next generation of agriculture leaders, including Miss Rodeo Iowa, Amanda Eason. The two used the opportunity to discuss issues important to the Iowa cattle industry.

Ms. Eason, from Clarinda in Page county, is 22-year old daughter of Steve and Alisa Eason. Amanda received her Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science from Iowa State University in May, and will begin coursework at the College of Veterinary Medicine in the fall.

"Amanda represents the future of Iowa's agriculture economy," said Congressman King. I'm very encouraged that Amanda plans to practice veterinary medicine here in Iowa after she completes her degree. She and her generation will decide the destiny of our Iowa."

"We wish the best to our Miss Rodeo Iowa as she starts her veterinary studies this fall," said Congressman King.

Congressman Steve King (R-IA) represents Western Iowa in the United States Congress and sits on the Agriculture, Judiciary and Small Business Committees.

Sounds Like Fun--Iowa State Fair!

2007-08-13T10:16:00.000-06:00

Four-term former Governor of Iowa, Terry Branstand, Chopper, Kelsey Ford, and I at the Governor's Charity Steer Show at the Iowa State Fair.

I would do it again in a heartbeat!

I am still walking in the clouds because I got the opportunity to show my first steer EVER in the Governor's Charity Steer Show at the Iowa State Fair! I had the time of my life and I relive the show daily so many times that I catch myself holding an imaginary steer's head up with one hand and using the show stick with the other! Thanks to many wonderful college friends, family members, and newly found friends, I was granted the "People's Choice Award" by the amount of applause from the crowd. I was up against Jamie Pollard (ISU Athletic Director) and the athletic director for the University of Iowa, therefore, I believe I was the neutral ground between the Cyclone vs. Hawkeye rivalry because we all got about the same amount of cheers (not to mention the only gal among the group).

My undergraduate college advisor and professor of animal science at Iowa State, Brad Skaar, was the judge who selected the Grand Champion and other top 4 steers of the show based on their structural conformation, condition, and quality. It was great to see Dr. Skaar and to know they had selected a great "Iowa Stater" to be a part of the show. The competition was all in good nature because the steers were sold after the show and all of the money goes to the Ronald McDonald House Foundation of Iowa, which creates a home-away-from-home and supportive community for families of children with life-threatening illnesses receiving specialized treatmentat local hospitals. I give my highest regards to the Iowa Cattlemen's Association and the Iowa Beef Industry Council for supporting such a great organization.

However, the most honorable part of the day is when former Iowa Governor, Terry Branstad, who was the showmanship judge for the show, came up and shook my hand. He told me he had me picked as the showmanship winner, but the show committee told him not to give two awards to the same person, so since I had just won the "People's Choice Award", he gave the Showmanship Award to Jamie Pollard. That comment made my day! I was hoping to receive the Showmanship Award because I felt it was analogous to winning the Horsemanship portion of a competition--so I was very honored to hear it from Mr. Branstad himself (not to mention I have always wanted to meet him)!

Miss Kelsey Ford, Chopper, and I sporting our "People's Choice" Ribbon! Thank you Kelsey!

If it were not for Kelsey Ford of Milo, Iowa, I would not have been able to do as well as I did. She gave me tips and instructions on how to show "Chopper", as well as put all the work into him months in advance of the show. Kelsey (who will be a freshman at ISU--which proves she is a truly great person) and her dad, Mike, have been bathing and blowdrying Chopper for three to four months to encourage the growth of his hair so they would be able to fit him for show condition. Thank you, Mike and Kelsey, for all of your un-sung hard work, and for letting me have the time of my life showing your steer!

I would also like to thank Farm Bureau for sponsoring "Chopper" in the Governor's Charity Steer Show and for letting me be your showperson! Richard Merrill gave me the exciting call to ask me if I would be interested in showing a steer for them in the show which started my two-week countdown for the show! They named the steer "Chopper" after the Farm Bureau sponsored E-85 American Chopper motorcycle that is currently being raffled off at $10 per ticket and will be given away in mint-condition at the Iowa State vs. Iowa game this September. Thank you, Farm Bureau, for all you do for your members (including my family) and creating a memory I will never forget!

Though the steer show was by far the highlight of the Iowa State Fair for me, I also had a great time spending time at many booths and watching the Cowgirl Queen Contest. Congratulations Rachel Burton, Miss Rodeo Iowa Teen, and faithful Tank for placing in the Top 5 at the contest! During a radio interview about the Governor's Steer Show with Mark Pearson of WHO Radio at the Cattlemen's Beef Quarters, I was shown the "veterinarian's handshake" by Mr. Pearson that mimics cattle palpation, and got to meet Iowa Congressman Steve King, who represents Southwest Iowa at the Fifth District!

King, Julie Buddenberg's 4-year old, 18 hand, 2000 pound pride and joy!

Much to my suprise, I ran into Miss Julie Buddenberg of Decorah Iowa and her beautiful Belgian team! It was great to see Julie again, and she let me ride one of her horses bareback! She atttached two leadropes on King's halter, showed me a stool to climb up on, told me to use commands just like I was driving him, and to have fun! It was great! All 18+ hands and 2,000+ pounds and I took off and went for a little pleasure ride. Julie is an amazing person, and I wish her the best of luck in school this fall!

Another great person I spent time with at the fair was Sherry Davis of Adel, Iowa. Sherry asked me to sit in the WW Livestock Systems booth, for which she is a dealer of quality livestock panels and rodeo bucking chutes. Sherry was one of my judges during the Miss Rodeo Iowa pageant and also sponsored a weekend stay at her beautiful Calico Bluffs Cabins in Arkansas! It was great to see Sherry again because I have not seen her since the John Wayne Centennial in Winterset!

One Word: Beautiful--both the horse and the gold dome of the state capitol!

To round out my Iowa State Fair appearances, Pepper Ann and I kicked off the fair by riding in the Iowa State Fair Parade down Grand Avenue in downtown Des Moines. We were lucky enough to be the first horse-related entry in the parade! Even though it did rain during portions of the parade, we still had a great time and got a few seconds of fame on t.v.! The parade route took us right by the state capitol, with its dome shining bright as ever. I had a wonderful time at the fair, and hope you will make the trip to Des Moines to take everything in before it's over--August 9-19th!

Seeing the state capitol got me thinking and reminiscing about this past year and all of the opportunities I have been granted, great places I have been, and wonderful people I have met. I feel very fortunate to be representing the state, and have begun to realize how much it has done for my future career, appreciation of Iowa, and personal development. This title has been a "coming of age" event for me, and I feel very blessed to be surrounded by the many great people in the Miss Rodeo Iowa Organization that have built the program and title to be what it is today--especially Bobbie Hinds and Paula Jameson. Thank you, gals, for all the blood, sweat, and tears you have put into this organization to allow great things to happen that turn young ladies into women.

This week, I am back to school in veterinary school orientation, with classes beginning next week! I do not know where the summer went, but am excited to go back to school and a little nervous! I will be spending time with my friends of the Heartland Rodeo Company again in Nevada, Iowa on August 24-25th, and then heading to Ft. Madison the next weekend to attend the special rodeo, youth rodeo, visit schools and sponsors, and prepare for the Miss Rodeo Iowa 2008 Pageant! Good luck, girls, and study hard because this title is the opportunity of a lifetime!

Always Feels Like Home in Sidney!

2007-08-06T16:25:00.000-06:00

Lending a helping hand to get one of the floats ready for the parade Wednesday. Thank you, Pepper Ann, for holding still while I attached the flags!

What a great week in Southwest Iowa! I just returned home from the 84th Annual Sidney, Iowa Champioship Rodeo, and as always, it was a spectacular rodeo. It felt like a homecoming for me because I saw many familiar faces and places! The Sidney Rodeo Board and Williams-Jobe-Gibson American Legion Post 128 have been so kind to me over the years as a drill team member, rodeo queen contestant, and finally the queen. They are extended members of my family so I had a great time spending time with them. It was nice to fall right into the swing of things and not have to feel out of place because I know how the rodeo operates over there. Great job, gentlemen, on another successful year, and thank you for all you have done to shape me into who I am today!

Congratulations Holly Soucie, the new Miss Sidney, who will have a great time promoting one of Iowa's best rodeos. I was honored to be in the presence of visiting royalty Kelsea Walker, Miss Rodeo Illinois, Rachel Burton, Miss Rodeo Iowa Teen, and Jessica Iodence, the Aksarben Rodeo Queen (I found out she will be a junior at THE BEST university this fall . . . Iowa State). Rachel and I were very graciously hosted by Cindy Bebout who has a house right across from the arena, so it was very handy to not have far to travel for a shower at night. Speaking of showers, the weather was typical August Sidney Rodeo weather: hot, sunny, and very humid--but it felt SO GREAT to be back in Rodeo Town, U.S.A.!
Rachel and I posing by my beautiful "Sunshine 'S' Trailer Sales" Featherlite horse limo!

During the week we visited my favorite radio host, Jerry Dietz, for a radio interview. Jerry is always fun to talk with and does a great job with his radio show. The neat thing about KCSI is that it is a family business and his wife and daughter work just as hard as he does to keep 95.3 FM one of the most informative and enjoyable radio stations to listen to! I also got the chance to see the beautiful Allie West, Jerry's granddaughter, who is one of my young queen hopefuls--Jerry just doesn't know it yet! She will be celebrating a birthday later this month, which is proof that great people are born in the month of August!

On Friday, Rachel, Holly, the bullfighters, and I also took time to visit the Sidney Senior Center as well as the nursing homes in Sidney and Shenandoah. We had a great time visiting with people and signing autographs. We also got to stop in the radio studio of KMA 960 AM and do a live on-air interview. We had a busy but fun day, and got to finish it off with coming back to the rodeo grounds and eating the best cowboy beans in the entire world made by Teresa Biermann of Quick Draw Todd's Smokeshack. This was the same recipe that was served at my coronation, so it had been WAY TOO LONG since I have been able to taste them again!

My beautiful youngest sister Kelli!

Friday also happened to be my birthday, so it was fun to celebrate it in Sidney at the rodeo (where I have celebrated it for the last 15-plus years)! McCarthy's One Hour Heating and Air Conditioning brought me over a large cake that we shared with passer-by's. It was delicious, but what made it even better was that I got to share it with my friends and family, including Megan Wiemold (Miss Rodeo Iowa 2004), Jerry Dietz, the Sidney Rodeo Board, and my sister Kelli who came over to the rodeo for my birthday even though she had just had surgery that morning! What a great sister! (Sara is a great sister too, but she was on a cruise!) That night at the rodeo I FINALLY talked the mutton busting champion for the night out of a kiss on the cheek! Little did he know, but it was a smart move on his part because I had been turned down the two previous nights and told myself that I was going to chase Friday night's champ around the arena until he gave in!

I just turned 23 and this was my first kiss--and what better company than the Friday night mutton busting champion?

It was a wonderful weekend, but after the rodeo Friday night, I was not done. I loaded up Pepper Ann and headed home so I could go to Greenfield Saturday for Bethany Jo Thompson's wedding! It was a beautiful outdoor ceremony, craftily planned and decorated by the one and only Paula Jameson (Bethany's mom)! Paula did a wonderful job, and I felt very honored to be one of the bridesmaids--not to mention we got to dance and sing karaoke at the reception! Best of luck to Bethany, Brandon, and LeDoux (the little red Australian Shepherd that wandered up to the reception hall while we were in the middle of rehearsal) for the wonderful future they will share together!

This week I am off to the Iowa State Fair for the parade, Cowgirl Queen Contest (I will just be observing), and GOVERNOR'S CHARITY STEER SHOW! I am so excited to show "Chopper" that I can hardly contain myself! I will be sure to have someone take pictures so I can share my experience with you on here--which definitely checks off one of the many things on my "list of things to do in a lifetime." Until then, take care!

Wonderful Wyoming and the Daddy of 'em All!

2007-07-31T12:49:00.000-06:00

I just returned home from the Cheyenne Frontier Days--what a great trip! Kelsea Walker, Miss Rodeo Illinois, and Kaytie Zuidema, Miss Rodeo Michigan, and I packed the Impala and headed west to Wyoming. There is no better way to get to know someone than on an 8 hour road trip, and by the time we returned to Iowa, we all felt like sisters--at least the type of sisters who get along with one another and do not fight!

While in Cheyenne we participated in a chuckwagon pancake cooking and acutally flipped the pancakes out of the wagon to the "catchers" armed with cookie sheets to land the hotcakes! I do have to say that I got pretty good at flipping the pancakes out of the wagon and relied on my ancient basketball skills to put some pretty fancy "english" (backspin) on the flying hotcakes! The rotary club sponsoring the breakfast tried to get me to sign a contract to come back the next year to flip pancakes, but I had to turn them down.

The Harry Vold Ranch provided the other state queens and I with beautiful, sleek, athletic, and fast black horses to do "fly bys" during the performances of rodeo. It was awesome! The arena is within a horse racing track, so we got to run our horses in front of the south grandstands on the homestretch of the track. The girls and I were there for three performances, and after each run I was ready to do it again! There are not many other things better than flying at full speed on a horse--that you know will stop when you want him to! I had a wonderful time at the rodeo and felt honored to be a part of it.

Katie Zuidema (Miss Rodeo Michigan), me, and Kelsea Walker (Miss Rodeo Illinois) sporting our beautiful Vold horses before the parade.

We were also able to borrow horses to participate in the rodeo parade throughout downtown Cheyenne. I felt very spoiled because each time we went to pick up our horse, they were already saddled! I would like to thank Kip, who works for the Vold Ranch, for the hard work he put it to get our horses saddled, looking great, and ready to go! I was lucky to get to ride Scar, a pickup horse, for the three days I was there! I would have gladly loaded the black bald-faced horse on a trailer and taken him back to Iowa with me!

During our trip we met many wonderful people including Karen Vold, wife of Harry Vold, who has great bucking stock every year at the NFR. We also met Bobbie Romer, a past bullfighter who was there trying to fight off the bull that struck Lane Frost and caused his death. We were honored to talk with Mr. Romer who has quite a colorful history himself in the rodeo world.

However, the one person who touched my life in so many ways and has given me a new outlook on life, is Arlene Kensinger. She is a past trick rider and trick water skier from Cheyenne who has been very instrumental in the advancement of the rodeo queen world. Arlene is the one all rodeo queens can thank for being considered an integral part of the rodeo and public face for the sport. She is a member of 5 different Hall of Fames, so I was honored to be in the presence of a living legend! Arlene lost her leg in a tragic accident 12 years ago, but because of her optimistic outlook and stately presence, one would never know. Thank you, Arlene, for being an inspiration to me to take whatever pitch is thrown at me and hit a homerun with it!

It always feels good to get back home, but Cheyenne was one place that was hard to leave. I was kindly hosted by Ann, Paul, Heather, and Justin Sanchez. They let me stay in their beautiful home and welcomed me in like one of the family. Heather and I start vet school together in Ames in August, so it was neat to get to know my newest study partner! I was sad to leave the Sanchez home, but glad to know that I will be seeing them again over the course of the next four years! Everyone from the rodeo committee went out of their way to make all of us state queens feel welcome! There is no question why the rodeo is the "Daddy of 'em All" and part of every cowboy song. Thank you, Cheyenne, for a memory of a lifetime--I will definitely return!

This week I will head to the Iowa rodeo very near and dear to my heart--the Sidney, Iowa Championship Rodeo! As always, I will be celebrating my birthday at the rodeo, so if you are in Sidney on Friday, August 3rd, you will have to stop by the McCarthy One Hour booth, who are one of my kind sponsors, for some birthday cake! After Sidney, I will be heading to the State Fair to show a steer for the Iowa Farm Bureau in the Governor's Charity Steer Show! I am SO excited and cannot wait because I have ALWAYS wanted to show a steer and now I have the opportunity. The steer's name is "Chopper" and have been told he is a looker, so watch out Governor Culver, Chopper and I plan on giving you and your steer a run for your money! The show is Saturday, August 11th at the best state fair in the nation, so come join us if you are able!

On the Road Again!

2007-07-24T00:38:00.000-06:00

Look who I found at the Lenox Rodeo: Lauren Scholz (Miss Sidney, Iowa Rodeo) and Rachel Burton (Miss Rodeo Iowa Teen)!

What a fun-filled week!

Rachel Burton, Miss Rodeo Iowa Teen, and I had a busy but fun run of rodeos in Southern Iowa. We began the week at the Centerville, Iowa Rodeo in conjunction with the Appanoose County Fair. John Steenhoek of the Heartland Rodeo Company supplied the great stock for the two-day event that kept the crowd entertained throughout the evening. Rachel and I got to help run flags in the opening ceremony as well as clear the arena during the timed events. I would like to commend the Appanoose County Fairboard for a great fair. The rodeo was a great addition to the list of entertainment; I think every county fair should have a rodeo!

Upon leaving Centerville we headed to Lenox, Iowa for the rodeo produced by the Rite 'N' Gear Rodeo Company and contractor Barry Wright. Rachel and I had a fun time helping with the mutton busters and carrying flags in the grand entry. We were able to watch and enjoy the rodeo from the autograph table which enabled us to meet many of the rodeo spectators during the performance. We were joined by the Lenox Royalty, Katie Stark and Suzi Fife, Lacey Glover (Miss United Rodeo Association), Suzette Walker (Miss Teen Rodeo Iowa), and Lauren Scholz (Miss Sidney, Iowa Rodeo). I also got to be in the presence of the great Miss Rodeo Illinois, Kelsea Walker, who works for Barry Wright. I had not seen Kelsea for over a month so she was quite the sight for sore eyes with her Angora "woolie" chaps!
From Lenox Rachel and I moved to Bedford, Iowa for an Extreme Bull Riding Tour Event held in conjunction with the Taylor County Fair. It was great to see Todd Crase and Shad Smith again, and even more fun to watch the event. The tour attracted many PBR standout riders to Southwest Iowa. Todd and Ryan Skillett do an outstanding job with the production of the event, complete with fireworks, smoke machines, and lighting the arena on fire for the short round. Shawn "Boom Boom" Thompson is also a vital part of the show by keeping the crowd entertained and light-hearted from his barrel.
Shad Smith prides himself, though humble as they come, in the quality of his bucking stock. Many of his bulls are on the PBR Tour and will buck at the PBR Finals in Las Vegas this fall. Shad's Double "S" Bucking Bull Ranch resides in Sidney, Iowa which makes me proud because of another standout from our state! During the Extreme Event there was a section of freestyle bullfighting which was definitely a crowd-pleaser! The bulls were small, quick, and mean which made for some great bullfighting! Great job Shad, Todd, and Ryan for the work you do to make your events "the hottest show on dirt"!While in Bedford, I ran into my aunt, uncle, and cousins, who showed their lambs at the fair. Though they tried to play "tough guys" by not smiling, Rachel and I talked Paul and Dalton into posing in a picture with us because Paul won champion and reserve champion rate of gain--and this was his first year of 4H! Congratulations, Paul, on a job well-done!

On Monday I headed to Nevada, Iowa to judge the Story County 4H Horse Fun Show. I had a great time selecting winners in the Costume Race, Tandem Back to Back Class, Adult Western Pleasure, Water Glass Pleasure, etc. Thank you, Claire Hall, for the invitation and opportunity to have fun with the kids and their parents!

This week Kelsea Walker (Miss Rodeo Illinois), Katie Zuidema (Miss Rodeo Michigan), and I are headed to the "Daddy of 'em All" in Cheyenne, Wyoming! I am very excited and looking forward to the trip because I have driven by the arena several times, but have never stopped or been to the rodeo. I cannot wait to get there and experience the atmosphere of one of the most famous rodeos in the world! As neat as it is, the host family I will be staying with is the home of a future vet school classmate that I will get to meet!

I hope you are enjoying your summer as much as I because it is flying by way too quickly! I cannot believe it is almost time for the rodeo season to slow down and school to begin! I will be sure to take many pictures in Cheyenne, so please check back in a few weeks!

Meet our 2008 Miss Rodeo Iowa Pageant Contestants

2007-07-17T16:29:00.000-06:00

Meet the three young ladies who are vying for the title of Miss Rodeo Iowa 2008 at http://www.rodeoroyalty.com/MRI/2008/08.htm.

A Delightful Time in Decorah!

2007-07-15T22:02:00.000-06:00

What a FANTASTIC weekend! I just returned home from Decorah—the state’s hidden treasure of breath-taking scenery with rock bluffs and deep valleys. The Winneshiek County Fair was going on during my visit, along with the PRCA-sanctioned rodeo produced by the Three Hills Rodeo Company of Bernard, Iowa. I was glad to be working with the Morehead family again because they are always fun to help and put on a great rodeo! This was my last rodeo of the season to work with the Moreheads, which is sad, but thank you Dave, Marla, Jake, Courtney, Lindsay, Angie, and Ben Meyer for a great year!

During my time in Decorah I was granted the opportunity to do something I have always wanted to try—drive a team of horses! Julie Buddenberg, a 19-year-old local and talented young woman, let me drive her team of Belgian horses around the fairgrounds! I was thrilled to be in control of the lines, and cannot get over the power that was harnessed between my fingers! Julie taught me how to “swing” the team right and left by using verbal “gee” and “haw” cues. Just a little tidbit of information: the origin of the cowboy’s “yee haw” comes from a hitch drivers commands of “gee” and “haw.”

I am Julie’s newest, biggest fan because of her magnetic personality, amazing strength and talent in driving the horses, and for the many accomplishments she has achieved. Julie has driven teams of two, four, and six horses; not to mention work for the Priefert Percheron Hitch that travels all throughout the United States performing at rodeos, stock shows, and other events. Julie also supplies rides for weddings and other occasions, so if you are in need of these services, be sure to look her up!

Saturday, Julie (who is also the Winneshiek County Fair Princess) took the time to show me around beautiful Decorah. We started out with a tour of their very nice and state-of-the-art dairy farm where they milk 330 cows and house her big draught horses. I was impressed with how smoothly things seemed to run on the farm, and to find out they have the highest rolling herd average in the state of Iowa for milk production!

Once we left the dairy farm we headed to the north side of town to Dunning Spring, a beautiful waterfall running out of a cave in one of the rock bluffs. I was taken aback by how peaceful the area was—and to have it in Iowa! Once we left the spring, we went to the Palisade lookout area and overlooked the city of Decorah atop a rock bluff. If everyone knew how beautiful it was in Northeast Iowa they would want to live there! When we made it to the bottom of the bluff we drove across town and visited the state fish hatchery where they raise and transport brown and rainbow trout to stock Iowa streams and lakes.

During the fair I was honored by getting to judge the apple pie contest—what a tasty experience! I was sure to take quite a few sample bites from each pie to make sure I picked the right winners . . . not to mention it was right around lunch time! I met the large County Fair Royalty Court, complete with beef and dairy princesses, and got to take a picture with them—I felt honored to be surrounded by all of the beauty!

Though it was hard to leave, after the rodeo was over Saturday night and the horses were unsaddled, I departed from Decorah—but had a permanent smile on my face as I thought back to all of the wonderful things I got to do this past weekend. I am very glad I was able to make the trip and the Winneshiek County Fair Committee welcomed me to their event. I would like to thank Ted and Edna Schramdt for all of their help in making me feel welcome and part of the fair.

I have had such a wonderful time this summer traveling throughout Iowa getting to experience for myself what an extraordinary state I am blessed to live in! Thank you, once again, to everyone who has helped make this year possible, real, and wonderful! I will write again when I return home from Centerville and Lenox!

From Northeast to Southwest Iowa

2007-07-12T12:20:00.000-06:00

Happy Fourth of July!

Since the last time I have written, I have been from one corner of the state to the other. I was invited to judge the "cold call" portion of the AgVantage Truck "Roadeo" in Waverly, Iowa. Newly crowned high school queen, Charity Howk, and I had a great time with the employees of the company at the event. During a delicious catered meal we listened to Southwest Iowa cowboy poet and singer Brooke Turner. Brooke rode a horse all the way to Nashville, TN to sell a song he wrote to raise money for spinal cord research; he is a very honorable and admirable person, as well as everyone's friend--this man knows no strangers and always has an entertaining way of explaining things and telling stories!

After returning home from Waverly, I loaded up my new grey mount for the summer, Pepper Ann, and headed to the Exira, Iowa rodeo. I would like to thank Gary and Marla Long of Centerville for allowing me to borrow their mare for the remainder of the summer. Though she is young, Pepper Ann takes everything in stride and has turned out to be a very quiet and willing trooper at the rodeos--not to mention very flashy!

This was a first-time event in honor of the town's sesquicentennial celebration I had a wonderful time carrying the flag, clearing the arena, and getting to know the committee. A very special "thank you" to the rodeo committee for the wonderful "Welcome Miss Rodeo Iowa" banner that was displayed on the bumper of a truck at the entrance gate! It made me feel very welcome and caused me to blush when I drove in. It was a beautiful day for a rodeo, and the Grand River stock was bucking for all they were worth! Announcer Blaine Partridge called the rodeo to life, and my mom was there to run the music to keep the crowd involved during the event. Happy 150th birthday, Exira!

From Exira Pepper Ann and I moved on down the road to Shenandoah and New Market, Iowa for their 4th of July celebration parades. The bright sun and crowd full of red, white, and blue created the perfect atmosphere for such a proud day. Though New Market is a town of a few hundred people, thousands of visitors flocked to "Southwest Iowa's Hot Spot for the Fourth of July" for the parade, truck and tractor pulls, singing, games, and of course, the 45 minute firework show that remains in the minds of all who witness it until the next year.

After the fireworks were over, the next day I traveled to Leon, Iowa for their annual rodeo. It is one of the biggest rodeos (for all associations) in Iowa, as they proudly hosted over 650 contestants! Pepper Ann and I had a great time with Aleigh Beahm, the 2007 Miss Leon Rodeo, and Blondie during the performances, as well as slack. I also had a great time getting to know the very talented 2007 Leon Rodeo Princess, Chelsie Broich. I was amazed by the number of families who came to participate in the rodeo and enjoyed watching them cheer one another on, but still maintain friendly competition. I really enjoy the atmosphere of the smaller rodeos for this reason.

While in Leon I ran into John Steenhoek of the Heartland Rodeo Company because he had brought many of the bucking horses that gave the roughstock riders a run for their money. It was good to see John again because I had not seen him since the rodeo in Des Moines last December. I am looking forward to seeing John and the rest of the crew again in 2 weeks at the Centerville, Iowa rodeo July 17-18, hosted by the Appanoose County Fair Committee!

I am now headed back to Northeast Iowa for the Decorah PRCA Rodeo held in conjunction with their county fair. I am looking forward to seeing the wonderful Morehead family again of the Three Hills Rodeo Company. From Decorah I will head to Centerville, and from there I will move to Lenox, Iowa on July 19-21.

I have had a wonderful summer so far, and just realized the other day that the Iowa summer rodeo season is almost through, which made me sad because it has flown by so quickly! Before I know it, I will be back in Ames in a veterinary lecture hall trying to learn biochemistry, dog anatomy, and study for the Miss Rodeo America Pageant! Thank you to everyone who has helped me become who I am and get to experience this wonderful year! I am for sure that I am one of the most fortunate people in the world because of the great network of family and friends I have been blessed with! Take care, enjoy the rest of your summer, and I will write again soon!

Edgewood Days

2007-06-26T14:59:00.000-06:00

(It's me! Shoeless Joe Jackson was no where to be seen at the Field of Dreams this day, but I was quick to take his place and check out the corn before I stepped up to the plate to envision my homerun!)

Not even the rain could spoil the great rodeo action in Edgewood, Iowa during the Edgewood Days PRCA Rodeo. Dave and Marla Morehead of Three Hills Rodeo Co. contributed to the action and excitement as Roger Mooney added colorful commentary. Thursday evening was "Tough Enough to Wear Pink" night, and we were definitely ALL tough enough--the crowd included. Though Mother Nature dumped buckets of large, cold raindrops, most of the bleachers remained full of die-hard rodeo fans! It was great to see everyone out to support such a wonderful sport and great cause with the breast cancer awareness campaign.

During my visit to Edgewood I stayed at the very nice home of Jim and Kathy Funke who have the most peaceful screened-in porch I have ever been on! I would have been perfectly content to unroll a sleeping bag and camp on the porch the entire weekend, but I was spoiled with my own room in their beautiful basement. Jim and Kathy took great care of me and welcomed me into their home like I was one of the grandkids. I had a great time visiting with them and getting a tour of their farm and the town of Edgewood. Thank you, Jim and Kathy, for your wonderful Iowa hospitality!

The week of the rodeo was filled with school, nursing home, and daycare visits coordinated by Chamber of Commerce director, Elise Bergan. Thank you, Elise, for allowing me to meet many of the great people in and around Edgewood. I visited children in surrounding towns including Strawberry Point, Colesburg, and Dyersville. Yes, you read correctly: DYERSVILLE--the home of the famous "Field of Dreams." I was lucky enough to visit the field and even get to experience what the "ghosts" did in the movie by walking out of the cornfield! I knew for sure that it was Heaven on Earth to be in Iowa!

After I left Edgewood I made a visit to the Camp Aldersgate Summer Camp near Stanton, Iowa to talk to the campers and their parents about the many opportunities and activities associated with horses; "rodeo queening" was one of the examples! Thank you, Angela Wallick, for the opportunity to visit the exciting camp in the beautiful rolling hills of Southwest Iowa. Being such a small world, I ran into Irene Pauley and her daughter Melissa at the camp. Irene is one of the newest members of the Miss Rodeo Iowa Board.

The next couple of weeks will be full of traveling and great times as we get into the heart of rodeo season. Wednesday, June 27 (the same day as Megan Wiemold's--Miss Rodeo Iowa 2004--Miss Rodeo Iowa Horsemanship Camp) I will be in Waverly, Iowa for a Truck Rodeo Event. I am excited to be a part of the function and get to judge one of the events! This weekend I will be at a rodeo in Exira, Iowa, and then it is on to the Leon Rodeo over the Fourth of July!

I wish you a safe, happy, and fun Fourth of July! If you are in attendance at a rodeo in Iowa, chances are, you will be seeing me! I love this "job" and feel so fortunate to represent Iowa because I am having the time of my life! Thank you for checking in on me and reading the blog--I enjoy sharing my experiences with you and hope you enjoy reading them! Take care, and I will write again soon!

Hello, Bellevue!

2007-06-20T06:52:00.000-06:00

What a great time!

I just returned home from Bellevue, Iowa and the 20th annual Jackson County Pro Rodeo organized by the Bellevue Horseman's Club and hosted at their grounds, complete with beautiful and breath-taking scenery. The arena is nestled in the beautiful hills of northeast Iowa, hidden from the road, creating a very exciting atmosphere. The river town of Bellevue (which means "beautiful view" and describes it exactly) is right on the Mississippi which makes it a very unique and fun town.

During my stay in Bellevue, I was treated like royalty at the Potter's Mill Bed and Breakfast. http://www.pottersmill.net/ If you are ever in the Bellevue area and want to step back in time, be sure to book your reservations at the Mill! The Potter's Mill is an 1800's flour mill remodeled into one of the nicest places I have ever had the pleasure to stay in! My room, called the Mill Creek Suite (you should visit the website and look at it), had the most beautiful of the creek used many years ago for the water to power the mill. The room was equipped with a king-sized bed and whirlpool bathtub! I have never taken a bath in a tub with jets before, so I was sure to check that off of my list of things to be accomplished in my lifetime! Billie Jo, Chris, and Charolette are the three wonderful women who offered their hospitality, great cooking, and motherly care to me while I was at the Mill. I had a wonderful time getting to know them and their children, so be sure to tell them hello when you visit Potter's Mill!

I had the most wonderful four days in Bellevue getting to know the club members and the great people of the Three Hills Rodeo Company. I am proud to be from Iowa knowing and now seeing for myself of the bucking greatness of Dave and Marla Morehead's rodeo stock! Their stock have seen the lights of Las Vegas several times over, and it is no wonder why. The top-quality bulls and horses brought in many famous names such as bareback rider Bobby Griswold (who competed at the NFR last winter) and 4-time Linderman Award winner, Chip Whitaker. The Linderman Award is a very coveted award recognizing the cowboy who has won the most money in roughstock and timed events combined! I was disappointed to find out after I had posed for a photo opportunity with Mr. Whitaker that my camera card was full! Talk about bad luck!

I was mesmerized by Bob Johnson's overland stagecoach performance. Bob and his crew are from Delmar, Iowa and have performed at the Wrangler National Finals in Las Vegas. He drove a team of six glistening black horses around the arena at break-neck speeds without any problem! I think the stagecoach is one of the most impressive and beautiful things about the American West--which is why I choose to bank at Wells Fargo--because of the stagecoach! (Yes, weird, I know!)

During the rodeo I was honored to help the Three Hills Company carry sponsor flags before each event. I would like to especially thank Toby and Scott Seiler for letting me ride their horse, Zeke, on Saturday night! He was fun to ride and stood very quietly between events awaiting our quick moment of glory, dashing around the arena. Stacy Bevan also took very good care of me during my stay in Bellevue by taking me to a daycare and preschool, the Dodge dealership, the rodeo kick-off event, and other places for me to help spread the word about the rodeo. Julie Mueller, the chairperson of the rodeo, also went out of her way to make me feel welcome.

Times like the ones I had in Bellevue make me feel so lucky, happy, and fortunate to be in the position I am. I had so much fun getting to know everyone, see a very beautiful part of Iowa, and spend time absorbed in the rodeo atmosphere. It was very hard to leave my new friends on Sunday morning, but I was glad to realize that I will be back in the area the following weekend for the 20th anual Edgewood, Iowa Pro Rodeo and later in July for the Decorah, Iowa Pro Rodeo! Thank you, Bellevue Horseman's Club and Potter's Mill, for making me feel so much at home!

Sunday morning I left Bellevue and headed to Fort Madison for the crowning of the 2007-2008 Iowa High School Rodeo Queen and the short-go of the state high school finals. It was fun to see such talented youngsters compete in the events and give 200% effort, despite the very warm Iowa humidity! Congratulations to the new queen and all of the state champions!

This weekend I will be in Edgewood, Iowa for the Pro Rodeo. I will be sure to clear the pictures off of my camera so I will have room to store clips from beautiful northeast Iowa! Take care, and have a great week!

It's no bull - I love this job!

2007-06-07T04:46:00.000-06:00

To kick off my summer rodeo tour I headed to northwest Iowa for the Cherokee PRCA Rodeo. I had a WONDERFUL TIME and the experience of a lifetime when I got to ride Rodney Hayes' "Billy the Kid" before the rodeo. I was very honored to meet Rodney because he and Billy performed at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas last winter. They put on a great show, and Rodney is a one-in-a-million individual. I was impressed to find out for myself that Billy the Kid rides like a well-broke reining horse, complete with spins and bows!

During my time in Cherokee I was in the lovely presence of Racquel Telfer (Miss Days of '56 Rodeo and Miss Rodeo Lenox), Suzette Walker (Miss Teen Rodeo Iowa), and Amelia Elliot (Miss Rodeo Cherokee). We had a great time visiting the Bright Beginnings daycare, Cherokee Villa nursing home, helping out with the calf scramble before the rodeo (which was entertaining becuase the muddy arena didn't care we were all wearing white pants!), and helping the contestants during the second annual Exceptional Rodeo.

Megan Wiemold, Miss Rodeo Iowa 2004, is the coordinator for the rodeo and once again did a tremendous job with the event. There were approximately 30 contestants participating in bull riding, horse riding, roping, and goat tying. Everyone did great and had a wonderful time--including me! I was honored to get to meet and tag along with my partner, the one-and-only Roy Rogers! (However, since Roy is such a celebrity, he entered the rodeo under a code name.)

To top off the weekend, the queens and I got to ride in the rodeo parade on Saturday afternoon. The rain was nice enough to hold off for us, however, it made the arena one muddy competition area! The steer wrestlers appeared to trade in their rodeo ways for a new hobby of "steer water skiiing" because all of them had a little trouble getting their feet set! Reining world champion bull rider BJ Schumacher competed during the Thursday night performance, and reining reserve world champion saddle bronc rider Cody DeMoss rodeo Saturday evening.

My next stop was the Iowa Quarter Horse Association 7-Day Run in Des Moines. It was fun to spend the day with my feed sponsor rep, Bill Horton of Nutrena. I was busy handing out ribbons at the show and missed out on sampling some great Iowa Pork at the World Pork Expo, also going on at the fairgrounds. However, it was fun to watch the show and see all of the wonderfully trained equines in the state of Iowa!

My next trip takes me to the river town of Bellevue, Iowa for the Jackson County Pro Rodeo. I will check in with you again when I return! Take care!

- Amanda

The Traveling Begins!

2007-05-29T13:37:00.000-06:00

Rachel Burton and I pose with western music legend Micheal Martin Murphy at the John Wayne Centennial Celebration in Winterset!

Hello, hello!

My travels have begun! On Saturday, May 19 I traveled to the rodeo town of Leon, Iowa for a Wrangler Division (6-8th graders) Rodeo. I had a great time watching the young, talented rodeo athletes. It was a beautiful afternoon for a rodeo and the little bay and I were glad to be a part of it. I felt somewhat old and out of place watching the young ropers, chute-doggers, and goat tyers, however, I was so impressed with their professionalism and sportsmanship. I couldn't help but feel like I was connected to them because they were all little ladies and gentlemen; I hope I was like that when I was that age!

My next adventure was the John Wayne Centennial Celebration in Winterset, Iowa along with Miss Rodeo Iowa Teen, Rachel Burton. Rachel's horse once again towered above my little bay, but we both enjoyed ourselves in the parade. We appeared to be a bit "from the future" compared to the rest of the parade participants from the John Wayne era, but it was very fun to see all of the stagecoaches, trick ropers, and singers. Rachel and I got to meet Michael Martin Murphy, along with John Wayne movie stuntmen, and even got some lessons on how to crack a bullwhip on horseback.

The Palo Alto Cattlemen grilled some very excellent burgers and steak sandwiches at the Wild Rose!

On Memorial Day Monday I was in Emmetsburg, Iowa at the Wild Rose Casino's bullriding and barrel racing event to celebrate their one year anniversary. (Barnes PRCA Rodeo from Cherokee and Peterson, Iowaa supplied the bull stock for the event.) During the day I toured the casino and greeted people on their way in to let them know about the evening event. The Palo Alto Cattlemen grilled burgers and steak sandwiches for the event, and I was lucky enough to see a few familiar faces from West Bend, Iowa. I had a great time visiting with them during the event, as well as signing autographs for young bull riding and barrel racing fans.

This week I will be in Cherokee, Iowa for the PRCA Rodeo May 31-June 2. We have many fun events planned for the week, and I am excited for the first Iowa professional rodeo for the summer season. Barnes PRCA Rodeo will supply the outstanding stock for the event. Each year the Barnes' send bucking horses and bulls to the NFR, which is another great thing about Iowa that makes me proud to be a representative! I will be sure to get pictures up on this site once I return home from Cherokee!

Graduation and California!

2007-05-11T12:28:00.000-06:00

Betsy Hefty (best friend, roommate, and my favorite "cow"girl) and I pictured with a set of Holstein TRIPLETS we witnessed being born on the Joseph Gallo Farm in Atwater, California.

It's official!

On May 5 I graduated from Iowa State University with my Bachelor's Degree in Animal Science. It was a wonderful day filled with family, friends, and fun memories. It still has not sunken in yet that I have finished 4 years of college, but I am glad that I do not have to go back for classes and tests until August!

On Sunday, one of my professors and his two graduate students, along with my roommate and I flew out of the Des Moines International Airport en route to California. We were headed to do one of the graduate student's research project on fetal stress during parturition in cattle. We set up shop at the maternity barn at the Joseph Gallo Farm in Atwater, California. All of the farm's milk goes toward the production of cheese, which they manufacture on-site.

The farm is very impressive because they have a manure digester that collects methane to power 80% of the farm's energy needs. There are 10 different milking sites, each with approximately 1,700 lactating cows that are milked 3 times a day. During our stay, we saw approximately 20-25 calves born EACH DAY!

The highlight of the trip was witnessing the birth of triplets! A very tired, but not any bigger than average Holstein cow gave birth to a 73 pound bull, 68 pound heifer, and a 66 pound heifer . . . that is a LOT of calf to be inside any cow! Way to go, Ma! Most heifers born twin to a bull are considered free martins (~80% of the time) because the male's hormones prevent all of the heifer's reproductive organs to develop. However, in some rare instances, the heifers develop normally, which appears to be the case with these two heifers. It will be fun to try to keep up with the heifers to see if they are able to be bred and enter the milking string.

As with any out-of-state trip, I had a great time, but it was great to be home! Des Moines never looked more beautiful Thursday night--even in the dark! I am excited to be back in Iowa getting ready for a fun-filled summer of visiting all corners of the state. I have added a BOA Bullriding event to my schedule in Emmetsburg, Iowa on Monday, May 28 (Memorial Day). Until then, enjoy the spring weather, and I will write again soon!

Congratulations Jill!

2007-05-03T14:18:00.000-06:00

Jill Perkins, Miss Rodeo Iowa 2002, and Nick Neumann were married on April 21 in Omaha. Pictured with Jill above are Lori Bortner (MRA '03), Kimber Metcalf Dall (MRI '03) and Lindsay Ahrenholtz (MTRI '03). Also on hand for the festivities from the MRI Family were Megan Wiemold (MRI '04), Bobbie Hinds, Aleigh Beahm (MTRI '05) and her mom Christy Wainscott, Nicole Watkins (Woodbine Rodeo Queen '04), Irene Blazek Pauley, Doug Dall and Lindsay's mom Laura Shelton (who asked if Lindsay could give back the boquet!). The ceremony and reception were beautiful and we wish Nick and Jill all the best as they begin their life together.

College and High School Experiences for Doc, the Little Bay Horse

2007-05-03T13:06:00.000-06:00

(Doc and I awaiting the VEISHEA parade with the shiny Sunshine "S" Trailer Sales trailer in background!)

Beautiful weekend weather and faithful alma mater support brought thousands of Cyclone Alumni and other visitors to Ames for the 150th birthday of Iowa State University and the VEISHEA Celebration on April 21. The little bay and I were colorful participants in the Saturday morning parade as we made our way through the route waving and smiling at all of the red-and-yellow-clad bystanders.

As we were waiting for our turn to enter the parade route, Doc (the little bay) told me that he had never been in a parade before and was not quite impressed with the loud bands and huge helium-filled creature balloons, but since he did not know what to expect, he would give it a shot. He did really well and didn't seem too phased by all of the activity and commotion, so I am sure he will learn to love parades as much as me! The VEISHEA parade had an estimated 75,000 people in attendance, so it was nothing like breaking the little bay into his "PR" job at a "small" event . . . or so I told him!

(Rachel Burton, me, and Holly Soucie awaiting the grand entry in Sidney--yes, I do have a little bay, but Rachel's horse Tank proves true to his name and is REALLY TALL!)

Saturday, April 28th I attended the Sidney, Iowa High School Rodeo for another "first" for the little bay. Doc has never been to a rodeo, so I wanted to have a trial run with a large crowd, flapping flags, blowing fence banners, and the PA system of the announcer before we get ready to attend the professional and amateur Iowa rodeos. Before the grand entry I ran into two of my most favorite high school rodeo competitors and beatutiful queens, Rachel Burton (Miss Rodeo Iowa Teen) and Holly Soucie (Iowa High School Rodeo Queen).

I did not participate in high school rodeo, but after spending the day in Sidney, if I could go back in time I would have added it to the list of activities I participated in. All of the student directors, judges, and contestants were very helpful and cordial to one another. The atmosphere of the rodeo was the epitome of why people refer to rodeo as "one big family." I felt very fortunate to witness the camaraderie, healthy competition, and sportsmanship that contributed to a successful rodeo.

Doc and I got to help the pick-up men chase out calves and steers. The little bay proved true to his Doc O'Lena lineage by being very keen and serious about his bovine-tracking and cutting duties during the rodeo. I am looking forward to spending the summer on the road at rodeos with this little horse because I think we will have a lot of fun, and he will turn into a very handy horse to have!

On Sunday I traveled to Knoxville, Iowa to put on a small "Cowgirl Queen Clinic" for a group of girls vying for their local title. We had a lot of fun practicing how to sit, stand, and pose properly, as well as how to create "queen hair" and "horse show make-up." The last part of the clinic we spent in the arena practicing how to sit on a horse correclty and tuned-up thier horsemanship. I hope the girls enjoyed themselves as much as I did because it was a wonderful experience for me. Best of luck in June, gals!

May is somewhat of a slower time for me for traveling as Miss Rodeo Iowa, however, I get to travel to the Gallo Dairy Farm in Merced, California the day after graduation from Iowa State. I was selected to go with a group from ISU to help with a reasearch project. I am very excited to return to the farm (we were there last spring and this fall) because it still amazes me to see a farm with 40,000 dairy cows! We will spend most of our time in the maternity barn, but it is an impressive operation, nonetheless.

My Miss Rodeo Iowa duties will resume the weekend of May 25-27 for the John Wayne Centennial Festival in Winterset, Iowa. As far as I know, the little bay and I will be participants in the parade, along with a few other events. If you are even the SLIGHTEST John Wayne fan, you should mark it on your calendar to attend because they will be opening a new museum, you can tour the house he was born in, hear singers such as Riders in the Sky and Michael Martin Murphy, as well as watch trick riders and other performers. Check out the website: http://www.johnwaynebirthplace.org/centennial/index.html . . . you KNOW you want to go!

Until the next time for more adventures with the little bay . . .

More Fun in Iowa!

2007-04-19T19:49:00.000-06:00

New horse! Please visit the link below and enjoy more pictures of the little bay and my travels in Iowa!

http://ImageEvent.com/mripageant/aprilfuniniowa

What an experience!

Saturday, April 7 I spent the day at Camp Sunnyside in Des Moines. My family and I have participated on the fundraiser ride to Des Moines and dances throughout the year, however, my time at the camp with the kids has been one of the most rewarding things I have done with the organization. Throughout the day we kept busy with many different activities, including coloring, painting Easter eggs, playing games, and taking a covered wagon ride from the John Deere plant in Ankeny back to camp!

During the wagon ride, pulled by a very beautiful draft team, we sang songs and chatted about horses. The campers were so fun, and by the end of the day I felt as if I had known them forever because we were poking fun back and forth at each other! I went in with an open mind and open heart, ready to give sympathy to the children who attend the camp for the challenges and adversity they have overcome. However, I left with a new outlook on the lives of the people who attend the camp, and 10 new wonderful friends!

The lovable individuals I spent the day with at Camp Sunnyside showed me something that became a turning point in my life. These kids are not looking for our sympathy, they do not want to be treated any differently, and do not want us to make exceptions for them--all they want is to laugh, smile, love, and live just as we do. They are unique, talented, and bright individuals with caring hearts who just have to deal with a body that does not work as well as ours sometimes. Thank you, campers, for your friendship and life lessons.

Saturday evening I attended the Pony Express Victory Dance in Des Moines and got a brief chance to speak to the attendees about my experience at camp with the kids. I had a wonderful time, and I appreciated the opportunity to share my memories. I also had a great time dancing the night away because I LOVE TO DANCE!

The next day I traveled to Greenfield, Iowa and picked up some new cargo in the nice Sunshine "S" Featherlite Trailer I get to use for the year. The 14.1 hand little bay I have now has an outstanding pedigree and rides like a push-button horse. I am still getting used to the whole size issue, but I think I will grow to like the little bay when we get to know one another better. I haven't yet decided what to call him, but he answers to many names, including the ones I have been using lately: Doc, Duke, Tiny, Junior, Shorty, Little Horse, Slick . . . I am sure one will fit sometime soon!

Thank you, Jack Day, for helping me find this horse! Jack has done so much for me over the past year helping me get my big sorrel horse ready for the Miss Rodeo Iowa Pageant, as well as how to be a better horseman (or "woman," I guess). In my opinion, Jack is one of the best horsemen I know--just as good, if not better than Clinton Anderson, Cleve Wells, Richard Shrake, and the rest. He has a way of explaining things so I understand what the horse is thinking, what I am "telling" the horse by using my reins and legs, and how to get a horse to collect himself and ride into the bridle.

The next week I traveled to the Shenandoah Middle School to speak to 5-8th graders about the "Character Counts" program. I LOVE to speak, and especially to young people, because I want to convince them the sky is the limit if you put your mind to something and are not afraid of a little hard work to get there. I focused on how responsibility, leadership, trustworthiness, and kindness play into building your own self confidence, which to me is one of the most beautiful characteristics in a person.

That evening, I headed back to Council Bluffs to the Mid-American Center to watch the Omaha Lancers hockey team defeat their Sioux City rivals. The PR director for the Lancers read my interview in the paper about my post-eating incident at the end of February and said she was impressed with my sense of humor, so she wanted to give me hockey tickets. I gladly accepted them and took my dad, his wife Theresa, and one of my sponsors. It was neat to see how the hockey rink inside the building had been transformed into a rodeo arena. I had a slight tingle of remembrance along my jawline as Dad and I had our picture taken standing above the "accident scene," however, it was much nicer to leave the building in Dad's truck this time rather than an ambulance! Thank you, Lancers, for the great tickets! The game was awesome and our seats put us down 3 rows from the rink!

Just this past Monday, I was given the opportunity to judge the Iowa FFA Idol contest in Ames during the Iowa FFA State Convention. I had so much fun listening to singers, guitarists, pianists, fiddle players, and watching dancers, jugglers, and baton twirlers! We witnessed so much young talent in Hilton Colliseum, and it was hard to pick only two finalists. If I was half as talented as those kids I would be set! Once the other judges and I did decide on the finalists, the crowd picked the winner by the amount of applause they received.

If you get a chance, please join me in doing an anti-rain dance for this weekend becuase the new little bay and I will be riding in the VEISHEA parade in Ames. This will be a fun year as Iowa State celebrates its 150th birthday--with free cake and all! As a student, I am proud of the VEISHEA event and all of the hard work and planning that goes into producing such a wonderful weekend. All of the activities, booths, events, concerts, and the parade are planned, organized, and run by students. Central campus is filled with tents sporting club displays and games for children, petting zoos, food stands, and other booths showcasing all of the great things about Iowa State University. Many alumni come back every year and bring their children to watch the parade on Saturday and try the famous "VEISHEA Cherry Pies" that have been made and sold for many years. I have been in the parade for the last 3 years of my college career as "Road Apple Cleanup" dressed as a rodeo clown, so I will have to be sure to tone down the make-up this year as Miss Rodeo Iowa!

Thank you for checking in on me, and I hope you enjoy the pictures! I hope you are enjoying the spring weather as much as I; it is getting very hard to go to class and be cooped up inside! Have a great time, and I will write again soon!

Annual Clinic Report

2007-04-09T08:11:00.000-06:00

After two weeks of cancellations due to Iowa blizzards, the annual clinic was finally held at the beautiful Wildwood Hills Ranch in St. Charles, IA. Participants came from across Iowa and Illinois to garner hands-on experience and one-on-one instruction from clinic coordinators and instructors Jill Perkins, Megan Wiemold and Kimber Dall. Tips and tricks for all aspects of pageant competition were covered, and a clothing sale and mock pageant were also held. MRI committee members Connie Wiemold, Paula Jameson, Kristi Wainscott, Irene Blazek Pauley, and Tammy Roepke helped throughout the weekend with food, instruction and answering questions from parents. Lindsay Ahrenholtz, former Miss Teen Rodeo Iowa and Iowa High School Rodeo Queen, was on hand to give insight on high school rodeo pageants. Due to the clinic being held on the same weekend as the Iowa Horse Fair reigning MRI titleholders alternated between events. Suzette Walker, MTRI '07, attended the clinic on Saturday, with Amanda Eason, MRI '07, and Rachel Burton, MRIT '07, attending on Sunday. When not at the clinic the titleholders were greeting guests and participating in a variety of events at the Horse Fair.

Another clinic will be held later this year and it will be coordinated by Megan Wiemold. "Cowgirl Horsemanship" was not held in 2006 due to scheduling conflicts but will be held in the next few months. When the dates are finalized they will be posted on RodeoRoyalty.com, and you'll want to register early as space is limited.

Thanks again to all who attended the clinic and to those who helped make the event a success. This is a major fundraiser for MRI and we appreciate your support. Good luck to you and we can't wait to hear about your pageant successes this summer!

Busy Week!

2007-04-03T09:43:00.000-06:00

What a great week!

Wednesday, March 28 Todd Crase, of the Extreme Bullriding Tour, and I went to the Discovery Program in Indianola, Iowa to talk to clients with mental and/or physical disabilities about rodeo. I really appreciated the invitation from Todd, who works for a program similar to Discovery, and the staff because we had a great time! I told of my adventures as Miss Rodeo Iowa and answered questions about how I received my title, whether or not I rodeo bulls (Todd has!), and if I had ever had any accidents . . . which we all know the answer to that one!

Todd told about his very decorated rodeo career with many national and circuit titles in Saddle Bronc riding, and brought a rope to teach the clients how to rope. We spent a good portion of the morning in Indianola and rounded out the visit by signing autographs for everyone. Todd's friend (and resident of the home Todd works for), Jenny, treated us to a great lunch. We had a wonderful time getting caught up since I had not seen Todd since the Snowbull event in Burlington, Iowa. Thank you for lunch, Jenny!

Along came the weekend and I headed to the Iowa Horse Fair in Des Moines to sit in the Iowa Horse Council Booth, talk to fair-goers, help with the stick horse class, sign autographs in the Nutrena booth (thank you, Bill Horton, for being such a great sponsor this year! www.nutrenaworld.com), and watch Cheri Sorensen draw horses! Cheri is an AMAZING artist who just opened her studio west of the Tractor Supply in Ankeny, Iowa. She kindly donated a painting to my Miss Rodeo Iowa fundraiser auction--thank you, Cheri!

Joining me at the Iowa Horse Fair was Rachel Burton, Miss Rodeo Iowa Teen 2007, along with Lauren Scholz, Miss Sidney, Iowa Rodeo 2006, and other breed association queens. Saturday afternoon we got to do a queen's run in the Pioneer Pavilion while Bobbie Hinds, my national director, read everyone's biographies. Thank you, Dan and Ken Whitehill for letting me borrow Zip for the third year in a row for a queen's run! I really appreciate all these two and the rest of their family (Mary, Jill, Kayla, Jamie, and Corey) does for me. Whenever I have been in need of a horse, they have always gone above and beyond what I inquire about. Ken let me ride his reining mare, Precious, which carried me to the title of "Miss Sidney, Iowa Rodeo 2005."

Dan and Ken are the directors of the wonderful "Two County Dusters" equine drill team from Southwest Iowa. As a proud past member of the team, I am always excited to be in the same place as the Dusters so I can watch them perform. Of all the drill teams I have seen, including those at big, out-of-state rodeos, I can honestly say these 18-year and younger kids are the best drill team in the nation. The speed, precision, ease of executing difficult and dangerous maneuvers makes this team untouchable! As always, the Dusters had the crowd on their feet, clapping in awe! Great job, Dusters!

Sunday I headed south and east of Des Moines to St. Charles, Iowa for the Miss Rodeo Iowa clinic. It was great to see so many young and aspiring queens! I offered additional advice and comments to the already very thorough material of Jill Perkins (MRI 2002), Kimber Dall (MRI 2003), Megan Wiemold (MRI 2004), and Paula Jameson. We concluded the clinic with a miniature pageant for the girls to practice what they had learned during the weekend (the clinic was held all-day Saturday as well) and receive comments from our panel of judges. It was surreal for me to attend the clinic as Miss Rodeo Iowa 2007 because just one year earlier, I was one of the "queens in training" at the clinic. If it weren't for Jill and Kimber, I would not be where I am today. Thank you, Jill and Kimber, for all you have done to help mold me into the state representative I am today!

In the spirit of Easter Weekend, I will be traveling down to Camp Sunnyside in Des Moines to meet some of the individuals who attend the Easter-Seals sponsored summer camps for children with physical and mental handicaps. Word has it I also get to participate in some of the camp crafts and activities--I can't wait! The Pony Express Riders of Iowa will be making their grand parade ride into the camp on Saturday afternoon, April 7, followed by the "Victory Dance" held at the Seven Flags Event Center in Des Moines. The doors open at 7 p.m. with the dancing beginning around 8 p.m. All the proceeds from the dance, along with the money ridden to Des Moines by all of the state-wide Pony Express organizations who have had local fundraisers (dances, live auctions, horse sales, etc.), will go to Camp Sunnyside. I have been on the Pony Express ride from Sidney, Iowa to Des Moines 3 times, so this is an organization I fully believe and support. I am honored I get to help out at the camp to show Camp Sunnyside, the Pony Express Riders, and the Easter Seals Organization that the rodeo world cares about these kids!

Please check back for pictures from my last few events! Have a great week, and I will check in again soon!

Three " i's " are Better Than One!

2007-03-28T16:44:00.000-06:00

Check out the exciting happenings at http://ImageEvent.com/mripageant/omahaidahoandillinois.

What a great couple of weeks! In celebration of the "I"des of March, I kept with the "i" theme and spread my "I"owa hospitality to "I"daho and "I"llinios!

Idaho was absolutely beautiful and I had a wonderful time at the Dodge National Circuit Finals Rodeo (DNCFR) in Pocatello! During the six days I was there, the committee kept all 17 of us (queens) busy visiting schools, nursing homes, radio stations, and rodeo sponsors, but it was SO much fun. The committee was very kind to all of us the entire trip which made it hard to head back to the airport to return home. I got to know many of the girls really well which was fun because I had not seen many of them since my Lady-in-Waiting trip to Las Vegas!

On the plane ride from Salt Lake City, I sat by Texas bullrider Travis Campbell. I learned a lot from him about the circuit system and enjoyed hearing about his great career. He was in the picture on the front of my copy of the PSN (ProRodeo Sports News--the official publication of the PRCA), so I got his autograph! Travis is soon to be married, so I wish him and his fiance the best!

Once we arrived in Pocatello and got checked into our hotel suites (yes, suites--they were very big and so nice!) we got dressed to attend the "kick off" celebration at another hotel. Announcers Roger Mooney and Tim Fuller talked about the rodeo and different circuits, and then announced us while we paraded across the upper balcony of the hotel. My face was almost back to its normal shape after the post incident in Council Bluffs, and I was careful not to trip and fall so I could make Iowa proud as they announced "Amanda Eason, Miss Rodeo Iowa 2007, from the Hawkeye State!" (I apologize, but I still shudder each time they say "Hawkeye State" as I have to fight to keep the inner Cyclone from bursting out into the ISU fight song!)

The next morning, we got up and went to the Holt Arena (home of Idaho State University athletics) to practice the rodeo opening on the beautiful sorrel Sutton Rodeo horses. My trusty steed, Weep, was a lot of fun to ride because he had a lot of spunk and it was only his second rodeo. We got along just find and exceeded the expectations of everyone when we carried the flags. Thank you, Jim and Julie Sutton, for allowing us to ride your horses for the entire week!They were also kind enough to let us ride them in Rapid City earlier in the year. The rest of the day we split up into groups and made our civic group appearances.

One of my most memorable moments, beside having fun with the queens, was visiting one of the nursing homes in Pocatello. When the employees asked if we had any talents, I threw my bag down and broke out the "electric slide" to a Chris LeDoux tune they had playing. The other queens joined in and the residents loved it! Though I wanted to sing along with Chris, I figured it was safer to cut a rug rather than hurt the residents' ear drums!

There were 5 different rodeo performances and all of them were AMAZING! The DNCFR is the National Finals for cowboys within the 12 PRCA circuits who have Monday-Friday jobs and are unable to rodeo 365 days of the year to earn as much money (the top 15 money-earners in each event are the ones who get to go to the WNFR) as the contestants who compete at the Wrangler National Finals in Las Vegas. We saw many great rides and runs . . . it was so much fun to be a part of it! I got to carry the Texas Circuit flag in the opening, the Montana Silversmiths flag during the national sponsor run (which looked GREAT with my custom-made Cary Veach chaps!), and various other sponsor flags before and after events.

The way the DNCFR works is the top 2 contestants from each of the 12 circuits compete in 2 go-rounds. At the end of the 2 rounds, the top 8 contestants from each event move on to the Wrangler Semi-final round. The average is cleared so everyone is on an even playing field again, and then they have another go round. The top 4 contestants from each event advance to the Wrangler Finals round where the average is cleared again. At the end of this go-round, the contestant with the fastest time/highest scored ride is the event champion and the new owner of a Dodge truck for a year (custom made to their liking)! That evening Miss Rodeo Washington (Jesse Bud), Miss Rodeo California (Kadee Coffman), Miss Rodeo New Mexico (Ashley Stallings), Miss Rodeo Illinois (Kelsea Walker), and I went to the local Applebee's for supper and sat in the booth next to the new barrel champion, Shali Lord, and congratulated her on her new wheels!

Though I love Iowa, it was hard to leave the beautiful mountain-valley city of Pocatello. The whole week I thought everyone was saying "Iowa Falls" and "Iowa State Univeristy" because they would say "Idaho" so fast and somewhat mumbled that it sounded like "Iowa"! On the trip home, I rode in the same airplane as Great Lakes Circuit President, Wayne Knutson of Clifton Hill, Missouri. Miss Rodeo Arkansas and I slept on that flight, so I didn't get a chance to talk to him, but it was fun to meet him in person!

Not leaving much time to catch up homework from being in Pocatello, Paula Jameson and Rachel Burton (Miss Rodeo Iowa Teen 2007) bravely jumped into my Impala Friday, March 23 and headed to Flora, Illinois with me. We stopped in Springfield for a Professional Bull Riders event en route to Miss Rodeo Illinios' coronation. Lucky us, World Champion Bull Rider, Don Gay, and World Champion Bullfighter and 2006 PRCA Hall of Fame Inductee, Rob Smets were there! Rachel and I got our picture taken with them but felt bad because we weren't looking very "queenie," but didn't care too much because it is not everyday one gets the chance to meet people of this caliber!

We had a lot of fun at Kelsea's coronation and got escorted and introduced at the event to the "Magnificent Seven" theme song (the one they play at many rodeos during the grand entry and at the beginning of "City Slickers"), so I had to hold back my urge to gallop out of the hallway! Kelsea had a great turnout, and some pretty tasty cowboy beans for supper! She had a successful coronation, and it was great to see her again, even though we had just spent a week together in Idaho.

I have been having the time of my life traveling and promoting Iowa! Thank you to everyone who has contributed toward my year of traveling; I feel very fortunate, loved, and honored to have your support. Your kindness is greatly appreciated, and I will do what I can to make you proud this year! For your viewing pleasure, please enjoy the pictures from my latest trips. I will add more when I get them, so please check back (the Pocatello committee took MANY action photos and said they would send all of us a CD later)! I hope you are enjoying the nice weather as much as I am, and I will write again after my next group of activities from Indianola and Des Moines at the Iowa Horse Fair!

Fun from Burlington to Omaha!

2007-03-12T20:30:00.000-06:00

I'm just gettting caught up from a fun-filled weekend that started in Burlington, Iowa at the Extreme Bullriding "Snowbull" Tour event and ended at the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Omaha, Nebraska. I apologize in advance that I will not be able to put pictures up with this entry until I get back from the Dodge National Circuit Finals in Pocatello, Idaho because I fly out tomorrow morning.

I spent Thursday evening overlooking the Mississippi River at the Memorial Auditorium during Snowbull. The committee was great to work with, and the Extreme Bullriding Tour Production Team was very welcoming to Miss Rodeo Illinois, Kelsea Walker, and me. We were introduced in the opening, got to be present when the tour trophy saddle was given to the first runner-up, and signed autographs after the event. Friday morning, three third grade classes came to the auditorium for a "field trip" to meet the rodeo clowns, Kelsea and me, and to learn about bullriding. It was a great time getting to talk to the kids, but they made me feel old and out-dated because many of them had their OWN CELL PHONES! Wow!

Friday afternoon I headed west across the state toward Clarinda to prepare for my second appearance of the weekned. I was not ready to leave Burlington because I was having such a great time with Kelsea and the Snowbull Committee, but when I arrived in Omaha for the parade, I was instantly energized: my horse (yes, the crazy one that ran me into a pole a few weeks ago) and I LOVE parades! It was estimated that 15,000 people were in attendance that gorgeous, sun-shiny day! It was fun to ride through the Nebraskan streets promoting Iowa; however, I was happy to see at least ONE Iowa State ball cap in the crowd, so I did not feel so alone!

Tomorrow I will return to Omaha, again, except this time I will be parking the Impala at the airport while I head to Idaho. There will be at least 15 other state queens in attendance for the 5-day event, so it will be fun to spend quality time with the girls promoting our states! I will be sure to write and put up many pictures when I get back!

Dreamin' About the Sand

2007-03-02T17:56:00.000-06:00

This is the second weekend in a row in which Mother Nature has hit Iowa with a major snowstorm. With classes cancelled and all roads closed, I'm enjoying sitting back and remembering the warmth of the sand between my toes. Here is picture-proof of the fun we had at the Silver Spur Rodeo in Kissimee, FL!

http://ImageEvent.com/mripageant/kissimmee

Stay warm!

Amanda

"Hard-headedness": Confirmed Accusation!

2007-02-24T14:33:00.000-06:00

Greetings!

Of all the times I have been accused of being hard-headed, I can now say it is true! I had a little mishap this weekend at the first professional rodeo in Iowa of the 2007 season. One-quarter of the way in the arena carrying flag, my horse (who I hadn't ridden since Christmas Break--so it was my fault) decided to take the bit and run away with me. Not being anything new, I tried to pull him around in another circle to slow him down, but he spotted the open gate instead. The last thing I remember is seeing the bucking chutes . . .

From what I was told, my horse took a hard right and ran me face-first into the metal out-gate pole, which peeled me off and landed me face-first in the dirt. I was out for about 5 minutes and came-to in the ambulance en route to the hospital, where I spent the rest of the night and into the wee hours of the morning having CT scans, Xrays, and stitches put in to sew my jawline back up.

After being told that I had truly "left my mark"--as an indent in the out-gate pole, I felt very fortunate to be alive, but knew it's because I'm too ornery and mean to be allowed into Heaven yet! My Montana Silversmiths trophy buckle is bent and there is a deep cut in it--so I must have hit something hard. However, I am proud to say, in my defense, that my hat stayed on and that I technically DID NOT FALL OFF!

From the excitement (and for my consolation prize), I did receive a fractured jaw, 10 stitches along my left jawline, chipped teeth, and a whole army of bruises on my legs. However, beside not being able to chew, I am as good as ever and ready to go again! I am thinking the "soft foods only " diet will be a great spring weight-loss plan! Look out Jenny Craig!

GOOD NEWS for the weekend is I went to Shenandoah, Iowa at Sunshine "S" Trailer Sales http://www.sunshinestrailers.com/to pick up the BEAUTIFUL 20' trailer Jon Stripe is letting me use for the year! It is so nice that I can't help but smile and jump up and down every time I see it! When I hooked on my borrowed truck for the weekend (from Todd Crase of the Extreme Bullriding Tour http://www.rodeoattitude.com/dir_hd/extremebullriding/) to the trailer, I wanted my horse to drive the truck so I could ride in the trailer! As things turned out, it is probably a good thing I drove because my horse probably would have gotten a speeding ticket!

Thank you, Jon Stripe, for your kindness, support, and confidence in me by letting me use the trailer for the next 10 months! I am excited to get my trailer-level sponsors' logos on the trailer so I can begin my "traveling billboard" advertisement for them! No matter what horse I take throughout Iowa this year, it will be a very pampered and lucky one becuase of Jon's GREAT trailer.

Take care, stay warm through this last little bit of winter, and be sure to do your "Spring Dance" because I am ready for nice weather!

Florida Sunshine!

2007-02-21T22:12:00.000-06:00

Kelsea Walker and I atop a hunting buggy with our two "Host Sisters" in search of wild hogs on a Florida ranch.

Thinking if I headed south I would escape the Iowa winter, I flew to Kissimmee, Florida for the Silver Spurs Rodeo. The cold weather must be following me to all of my warmer destinations because the day before I arrived it was 70 degrees, but when I got into town , it was rainy and 55 degrees. All of the "Floridians" were apologizing between teeth chatters for the "cold weather, " but I was quite pleasant in longsleeves due to the "tropical" weather! I had a great time in the Sunshine State and would have loved to get to stay longer!

While in Florida we ate alligator, frog legs, and went wild hog hunting. I was a little disappointed that the hogs were too fast to catch and the dogs were not interested in chasing them down, but we at least got to see them! We went to the beach, visited a large cattle ranch (mostly Brangus and Brahman cattle), and got to pick our own oranges from a grove to take back in our suitcases! One of the best "tastes" from Florida I experienced was sampling the famous Clemie Jo's strawberry pie! It was absolutely delicious! Amanda Jenkins, Miss Rodeo America 2006 raved about the pie during the entire MRA pageant in Vegas, so I knew if I went to Florida I would have to try the pie. It was well worth the wait, but I had to stop myself from having too much because I wanted to be sure to fit in the airplane seat on the way home!

Heath and Kelly White hosted Miss Rodeo Illinois, Kelsea Walker, and me in their home. We had a great time getting to know the White family, as well as their two beautiful little girls. Joining Kelsea and I in Florida was Miss Rodeo Wyoming, Miss Rodeo Oregon, Miss Rodeo Nebraska, Miss Rodeo Idaho, and even Miss Rodeo America! We rolled up the legs of of Wranglers and waded in the tide on Cocoa Beach and took pictures with resident surfers!

Each evening we curled our hair, buckled our chaps, and climbed aboard horses to get introduced in the grand entry at the rodeo. The Silver Spur Riders were kind enough to let us borrow their beloved steeds. After the grand entry we visited rodeo sponsors in their boxes and signed autographs. Friday night, Mr. John McCarthy of McCarthy's One Hour Heating and Air Conditioning (one of my sponsors), came and visited me at the rodeo! He was down in Daytona for the races and drove over to come to the rodeo. It was fun to see familiar faces that far from home!

I am beginning to get excited because of all of the warm weather, melting snow, and smells of SPRING being just around the corner! I was beginning to lose faith in that pesky groundhog, but he has redeemed himself! I will be sure to get my pictures up as soon as I can. Until next time, take care!

Congratulations Amanda!

2007-02-15T10:36:00.000-06:00

Amanda has just received word that she been accepted into the School of Veterinary Medicine at Iowa State Univeristy as a member of the class of 2011! We are proud of you Amanda and know that you will make an outstanding veterianarian.

Rodeo San Antonio!

2007-02-11T21:37:00.000-06:00

View my photos from San Antonio by clicking here.

If I wasn't so partial to Iowa, I would want to move to Texas! In the middle of February, it was 55 degrees and all of the Texans were freezing--I thought it was tropical compared to the sub-zero temperatures we have been experiencing! I was engulfed by the Texas hospitality and fell in love with the "culture" where all of the women know each other by their first names: "honey," "darling," "sweetheart," and "baby." The young kids were all very well-mannered, as I have never been called "ma'am" so many times in one phrase!

I had a great time in San Antonio helping out at the Exceptional Rodeo, brushing the dirt off of the mutton busters, signing autographs, and taking in San Antonio history! Miss Rodeo Texas, Joanna Blackwell, and Miss Rodeo Oregon, Jennifer Steffen, were my companions for the weekend. We spent part of Friday visiting the Fisher house for wounded and recovering soldiers and their families. It was inspiring to visit a place that was so supportive to the men and women who keep this country free for us. Later that night, Jennifer and I attended a reception for new army recruits that were taking their oath of service that evening before the rodeo. It was very humbling to talk to the recruits and thank them for what they will be doing for America; I was touched because the majority of them were younger than I.

San Antonio is the richest rodeo in the PRCA, offering over $1 Million in prize money for the contestants. However, during the rodeo they had mutton busting and a calf scramble for the kids, which was awesome to see that they still took time out for the kids. Hadley Barrett and Randy Corley kept the crowd informed of what was going on, and Sugarland and Alan Jackson serenaded the fans who stuck around after the rodeo Friday and Saturday. I got to meet many of the contestants while we signed autographs and ate delicious meals in the hospitality room.

While in San Antonio, Jennifer and I stayed with Julie Kalison, a very kind San Antonio resident, who went out of her way to make us feel at home in Texas by taking us to the rodeo and around town. We ate lunch at Mi Tierra, a famous Mexican restaurant that has been on t.v. shows such as The Food Network and The Travel Channel, and then headed to the Alamo. The building from the outside is not as big as one would think, but when you walked inside, the history swallowed you up and took you back in time.

After the Alamo, we headed across the street and walked down to the River Walk, which was absolutely beautiful! The San Antonio River runs right through town, and there are shops and restaurants that are along both sides of the waterway which was really neat because we got to eat lunch overlooking the river! We also were able to do some shopping, and for this Iowa girl who only finds Western wear at Western stores, finding designer Western wear such as Sage West and Rockmount at Dillard's Department Store was incredible!

Though I had a great time in Texas and Joanna Blackwell was one of the nicest and most genuine rodeo queens I have met, it was great to see Iowa again! I am back for a few days to turn in homework, take tests, and attend lectures, then it is off to Florida for the weekend! Be sure to check out the pictures from my trip! Take care, and I will be sure to write again soon!

--Amanda

Lincoln & Rapid City

2007-02-07T21:33:00.000-06:00

My busy travel schedule has begun!

At the end of January, I traveld to Lincoln, Nebraska to a PRCA Rodeo in Pershing Auditorium produced by Mossbruckers of North Dakota. Holly Soucie, the Iowa High School Rodeo Queen, lives just outside of Lincoln, and she joined me for the fun of running sponsor flags and clearing the arena. Holly supplied the horses and we had a GREAT time--minus the cold weather. However, we were very thankful for Cary Veach's ability to make a durable, flashy, and warm pair of chaps to keep our legs from going numb!

Kyle Whitaker, 5-time Linderman Award Winner (the highest money earner winning a minimum of $1,000 in both a timed and roughstock event), competed on his home state turf in Pershing, and rodeo clown Bert Davis kept everyone entertained with his high-energy and amazing dog training ability. Bert and the "Motley Crew" which consists of about 5 different dogs that he has rescued from humane societies, wowed audiences with their amazing tricks.

The next weekend I sprouted wings and flew to Rapid City, South Dakota for the Black Hills Stock Show and Rodeo hosted by the Sutton Rodeo Company of Onida, South Dakota. The Suttons had many appearances scheduled for 11 other state queens and myself. Unfortunately, my flight got delayed on Friday so I missed the afternoon performance, but I was able to help run sponsor flags on Friday evening, Saturday afternoon, and Saturday evening . The horses were great, and we even got to go out in the arena and be introduced in front of everyone.

On Saturday morning we went to the Veterens Hospital in Sturgis, South Dakota (no motorcycles in sight yet). It was fun to talk to the patients and we signed many autographs and took a lot of fun pictures. After the hospital visit we headed to the Watiki Water Park Grand Opening. The other queens and I were jealous of this indoor water park because of the two large curving water slides! We signed autographs for guests staying at the motel attached to the water park and even got to be on t.v.!

The rodeos were awesome, and the Suttons were very kind and accommodating. I am not ready to move to South Dakota because the wind blows a little much for my liking, but I would like to go back to see Mt. Rushmore and Crazy Horse. I had to fly back home before the other queens went to visit the rock statues, so I was a little disappointed. However, during the stay I got to know many of the other state queens and had a lot of fun spending time with them. We are going to have a great year together!

Sorry I don't have any pictures up--I will post them soon! Until then, take care, and thank you for checking up on me!

On to Denver . . . My First Official Appearance!

2007-01-18T20:18:00.000-06:00

While in Denver I got to meet Tuff Hedeman (above). You can see more photos from my trip to Denver by clicking here.

I just returned home from the National Western Stock Show and Denver Apparel Market. Don and Shirley Staver of Afton, Iowa own a western store and were kind enough to let me ride along with them and share a motel room in Denver. I was able to help the Staver's pick out clothing and other merchandise for their western store for the rest of the season! It was a lot of fun and makes me want to own a western store! Don and Shirley are fantasic people and I had SO MUCH FUN in Denver! While at the market, I met Tuff Hedeman, Larry and Denise Mahan, and John Lawson, a Jackie Gleason (plays in my all-time favorte movie, Smokey and the Bandit) look-alike who works for Ruddock Shirtmakers. I was able to make many great contacts and see other visiting state rodeo queens, as well as Ashley Andrews (Miss Rodeo America), which was great because I haven't seen them since Las Vegas!

I was able to help out Saturday evening, January 13, at the National Western Stock Show Rodeo. My chaps, beautifully made by Cary Veach of Ankeny, Iowa, made their maiden voyage in an arena atop the Cervi Rodeo Company victory lap horse. I also had fun helping the "short stack" cowboys and cowgirls up out of the dirt after the wool-clad stock gave them a literal "run for their money."

The success of my coronation and the great time I had last weekend in Denver heightens my expectations for excitement and fun times for the upcoming year. I am already thoroughly enjoying myself, and there are many more events to come! With that, I leave you with an ear-to-ear smile and best wishes for safe travels and good days! Take care!

--Amanda

Coronation Celebration

2007-01-07T16:05:00.000-06:00

Speechless is something that does not usually happen to me, however, I cannot put my finger on a word that encompasses the appreciation, surprise, gratitude, excitement, and honor I feel when I think about the support I have of everyone who helped with my Coronation Celebration. Over 100 people donated items for the event, and many others, including my family and queen committee, were a part of making the night a success. Over 300 people packed Wibholm Hall in Clarinda, Iowa for an exciting celebration. I would like to thank each and every one of the people who attended--and especially those who had long road trips to travel to Southwest Iowa. I was so happy to see everyone and could not believe that so many people had taken time out of their busy schedules to come join me!

The evening began with a delicious meal followed by introductions of visiting royalty. I was very honored to be in the beautiful, shining presence of Erika Harlan (Miss Rodeo Iowa 2006), Aleigh Beahm (Miss Teen Rodeo Iowa 2006), Holly Soucie (Iowa High School Rodeo Queen), Kelsea Walker (Miss Rodeo Illinois 2007), Racquel Telfer (Miss Rodeo Lenox 2006), Courtney Stark (Miss Teen Rodeo Lenox 2006), Lauren Scholz (Miss Sidney, Iowa Rodeo), Nicole Watkins (Miss Rodeo Whiting), and the newly crowned Miss Rodeo Iowa Teen 2007, Rachel Burton. Eleven-year-old Alexis Hawley of Burlington dazzled everyone with her powerful voice in two songs by Carrie Underwood, and 4 wonderful contestants (Steve Eason, Chance Turner, Ken Whitehill, and Andrew Bexton) tried their hands at rodeo royalty in the Mr. Rodeo Iowa contest. My dad, having a slight advantage over the rest of the contestants because he has been familiar with the "queen world" for the last few years, managed to snatch the title away from first runner-up Chance Turner by the smallest of margins.

Paula Jameson of Bridgewater, Iowa created a song-accompanied slide show of pictures from the Miss Rodeo Iowa pageant and our recent trip to Las Vegas. I love watching the clips and dancing to the "Viva Las Vegas" tune that plays while pictures of the Belagio light show, National Finals Rodeo, and Vegas Vic flash across the screen. Paula has done so many things to help me out; I am very fortunate to have met her and owe a large part of the fun I will have as Miss Rodeo Iowa to her because I would not be "blogging" now if it was not for her.

Following the video, the live auction began and many great items were sold to raise money for my travel and wardrobe expenses I will incur throughout the year. Thank you to everyone who donated auctions items and also to those who purchased the great items. The auction went on for a longer time than I thought it would, but I was sure to tell the audience that though I apologized for the auction running long, I was not going to apologize for the wonderful support evident in the items from the local businesses that was embodied in the lagrge support they showed me through the many auction items. All in all, I had a wonderful evening and smile every time I think about the night.

--Amanda

It Is Official!

2007-01-02T01:14:00.000-06:00

Hello, 2007!

Happy New Year to everyone! I am excited because I have officially assumed the duties of Miss Rodeo Iowa 2007. I am so excited for the fun to begin! Things are going well as we are coming into the backstretch for my Coronation Celebration which will be held this Saturday, January 6 at 5:30 p.m. at Wibholm Hall in Clarinda, Iowa. It will be a fun-filled evening and I am looking forward to seeing everyone who will be attending.

I start my final undergraduate semester the following Monday and then we leave for the Denver Market and Stock Show that Thursday, so it will be a whirlwind week! I will be sure to check in again when I return from the Stock Show to share pictures and highlights of my travels. Have a great rest of the week, and I hope to see you at my Coronation!

--Amanda

Bulls, Broncs, and Barrels!

2006-12-18T00:31:00.000-06:00

What a weekend! John Steenhoek and the Heartland Rodeo Company put on a great show this weekend at the Iowa State Fairgrounds with arm-jerking broncs, high kicking bulls, and blistering fast barrel racers. Bethany Jo Thompson, Miss Rodeo Aksarben, and I got to help run flags in the opening program. I got goosebumps when they announced my name as I carried Old Glory into the arena for the Star Spangled Banner; I was honored to be carrying the flag and Bugsy, John's big sorrel I was riding, was so fun to ride because he was long-legged, smooth, and could really move when he was encouraged to!

I was very fortunate to be a part of the production this weekend not only because I got to meet many great people associated with the IRCA and BOA circuits, but I got to sit in a sleigh with Santa and tell him how good I had been this year and that I would LOVE for him to bring me a truck to use for the year! (He said he would do the best he could, but not to get my hopes up too much because the elves were backed up making all of the other presents for this year.) I also got to spend the day with John Steenhoek at the Iowa Association of Fair Boards Convention and met many people from this great state.

This weekend got me excited for my upcoming year; I will have so much fun traveling, helping out at rodeos, and meeting people! As for now, I have a short break from classes and will be working out the details for my coronation celebration on January 6, 2007. It will be a great time with delicious food, great auction items, a 10-year-old singer who has a set of lungs that could set Gretchen Wilson back in her chair, and a dance afterward! There will be many queens present, so it is a night you do not want to miss! You can RSVP to me at aeason@iastate.edu or (712) 542-0857 or 1888 Uker Lane, Clarinda, IA 51632. In order to get a count for the number of meals to prepare, we ask that you contact us by December 20, 2006 if you would like to eat, otherwise, just arrive at Wibholm Hall on the fairgrounds in Clarinda, Iowa at 5:30 for social hour, 6:30 for auction time, and about 7:30 for the music! Hope to see you there!

Take care and Best Regards,

Amanda

Back to the Real World

2006-12-04T16:22:00.000-06:00

With a frosty "welcome home" of single digits and gusty winds, Paula, Bobbie, and I returned to Iowa on Sunday afternoon. Congratulations to Erika for placing in the top 10 at the Miss Rodeo America pageant and for winning the Central Region Scholarship. She did a great job the entire week at the pageant and I had fun watching her. I have big shoes to fill this next year, however, I am looking forward to how fun it will be.

Recapping from the last time I wrote, I listened to the 2nd and 3rd round of speeches and attended the Miss Rodeo America President's Luncheon where the contestants answered current event questions that were written in a format for the girls to state their knowledge and opinion on the subject. Wow! The questions were very tough and about very current and controversial issues . . . I am glad I have a year to prepare for that!

Thursday evening was the Ladies in Waiting Bowling social at the hotel where we got a chance to get to know one another and establish traveling partners. I had a lot of fun because the girls were great AND I had some pretty good luck bowling! (I wonder if that luck would have transferred over to gambling . . .) After the social event I had a quick change of clothes and then I was off to the first performance of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo! It was the neatest thing I have ever been to . . . there was so much electricity and excitement in the air at the Thomas and Mack Arena. We had upper bowl seats directly above the roping boxes, so we had a great view of the timed events and a straight-on view of the bucking chutes. We saw many great rides and runs and it was a very smoothly-run rodeo. Thank you, Bob Britton, for the tickets--I had the time of my life!

Saturday finished up the week with the coronation of the new Miss Rodeo America, Ashley Andrews from North Dakota. I had a lot of fun watching and learning and am excited to go next year, but I am more excited for the upcoming year. My coronation is the first "official" event as Miss Rodeo Iowa, and then I am off to Denver and many other places! I will check in on this blog to update you on my travels throughout the year, so check back often to see what I have been doing and where I have been!

Until next time . . .

--Amanda

Fascination, Inspiration, and Awe

2006-11-29T19:15:00.000-06:00

Hello, again!

There have been a whirlwind of activities since the last time I have had a chance to report! Monday night was the "Get Acquainted" party where we got to see all of the Miss Rodeo America contestants dressed in beautiful rhinestone-dazzled leather outfits. It was a very fun and relaxed atmosphere because the girls were not judged, and there was a dance after each contestant introduced herself again and got to say a few words about their pageant experience. I thought it was a great night because it gave us a chance to talk to the girls, try an array of tasty hors'devours, and dance the night away! I got to meet many of the other state "ladies in waiting" and took many pictures with them. There are many nice girls that I am looking forward to traveling with during the summer!

Tuesday was the PRCA Luncheon where the contestants paraded around in their chaps and answered rodeo knowledge questions in front of everyone. We ate a scrumptious Iowa chop and were entertained by Susie Dobbs. Troy Ellerman, the commissioner of the PRCA, spoke a few words of encouragement to the contestants, and Harry Vold, the stock contractor of Cheyenne Frontier Days, served as the auctioneer for the live auction benefiting the Miss Rodeo America Scholarship fund.

Later that night we filed into the ballroom of the Orleans hotel for the Miss Rodeo America fashion show . . . and what a production that was! Amanda Jenkins, the current Miss Rodeo America, was involved in a comical skit with many PRCA contract personnel notables, while PRCA announcer Tim Fuller served as the emcee. Set to a NASCAR theme, all of the contestants participated in choreographed dance routines while they showed off their personality and ability to relax and have fun.

When the room lights dimmed and spotlights surged to life, each contestant came out one-by-one and introduced herself by telling the audience her academic endeavours and future career aspirations. The dresses were stunning, the hair was beautiful, and the girls were polished. I sat and watched in awe and excitement because I know that I will get to be part of the elite group next year! Erika looked spectacular and modeled her fashion show dress better than anyone else . . . and not just because I am partial! Wednesday morning we listened to the first round of speeches, and I was impressed with quite a few of the girls' speeches, however, I am excited to try my hand next year!

The rest of the day we spend relaxing by driving to see Hoover Dam and visiting the local Dairy Queen. It was mind-boggling to think that the engineers were able to build something so great without the modern technology and equipment of today! We drove across into Arizona, which is in a different time zone that Las Vegas, however we survived the "car lag" just fine as we crossed back over into "Vegas time" about 10 minutes later. The Magnificent 3 and I just stayed in the car and drove over the dam, but we had a lot of fun watching people try to walk along the road and almost get blown away by the wind! It brought a whole new meaning to the term "wind tunnel"!

My Miss Rodeo America pageant experience as a lady in waiting has been great; I feel very fortunate that I have the opportunity to watch, take everything in, and learn for next year. I have been fascinated with the beauty of the contestants, inspired to study and do well next year, and in awe of how the "Miss Rodeo" organizations are able to create such a mature, poised, and well-rounded public spokesperson and ambassador for the greatest sport on dirt.

Until next time,

Amanda

Viva Las Vegas!

2006-11-25T21:16:00.000-06:00

My fingers can hardly keep up with the excitement that is pulsing through my veins . . . I AM IN LAS VEGAS! As the plane touched down I had Paula by the right knee and Bobbie by the left knee as I was singing "Viva Las Vegas" (though I only know the chorus . . .) through the biggest smile my face would hold. Amidst all of the excitement, my yearning to see the lights and sights of the "Vegas Nightlife," I feel very fortunate to be here. Lucky me, I get to spend 10 fun-filled days chaperoned by 3 spectacular ladies, one of which we do not see much because she is busily and dilligently working with the Miss Rodeo America Committee to keep the pageant flowing and the daily blogs about the pageant updated. I fondly refer to her as "queen boss" or "your Majesty" (otherwise known as Bobbie Hinds my national director). My second compadre for the trip is Paula Jameson, the teen queen coordinator, and rounding out the "Majestic 3" is Jessie Kokjohn, the Miss Rodeo Iowa pageant coordinator. I have a lot to learn while I am out here . . . and I have no doubts in my mind they will steer me down the right path.

This morning I watched 28 beautiful, practiced, and poised state representatives check in to the 2007 Miss Rodeo America Pageant. Through the glazed look in my eye and permanent smile of awe . . . I was slightly overwhelmed to think that next year that will be me! Though I am a little apprehensive, I am more excited to think how much I will change, mature, and experience in the next 12 months. The rest of the afternoon was filled with perusing through the Miss Rodeo America hospitality room looking through the contestants' leather and rhinestone-clad scrapbooks, doing some shopping, and trying to absorb everything!

Tomorrow is a free day for us, however, the contestants will be interviewing with a panel of judges who have credential lists many miles long (I hope I will be ready for that next year)! Paula and I will be taking in "Cavalia" while Bobbie and Jessie take in the spa (or most likely nap). "Cavalia" is a precision equine and human acrobat and dance act . . . I am really excited to see it! Speaking of shows, I have been mesmerized by the advertisements for the Phantom of the Opera, so I hope that will be on the agenda before I leave.

With that, I leave you with the words of the flight attendant as we were exiting the plane . . . "What happens in Vegas . . . will wind up on the internet." I will check in with you in a few days to share with you more of my exciting adventures with the "Majestic 3" as we viva Las Vegas!

--Amanda

Amanda Eason Earns Miss Rodeo Iowa 2007 Title

2006-11-21T12:01:00.000-06:00

Southwest Iowa cowgirl Amanda Eason traveled to the opposite side of the state in September to compete in the four-day Miss Rodeo Iowa Pageant. Competing against two other contestants, she was awarded the Horsemanship, speech and photogenics awards along with the title. For her efforts she received a tooled trophy saddle, belt buckle, clothing, horse supplies and many other awards. At the end of her reign she is eligible for a $1200 educational scholarship.

Amanda previously held the titles of Miss Sidney, Iowa Rodeo and Miss Rodeo Iowa State University. She is a pre-vet major and has applied for admittance in the College of Veterinary Science. Her goal is to not only have a successful large animal practice, but to also write about her experiences and become a published author.

On January 6 Amanda will receive the official crown and banner of Miss Rodeo Iowa at a Coronation Celebration held in her honor. This event is her major fundraiser to help cover her travel expenses and preparations for the 2008 Miss Rodeo America Pageant. During her reign she will make appearances at numerous functions within Iowa, including the Iowa State Fair, Iowa Horse Fair and rodeos in Sidney, Cherokee, Edgewood, Decorah and Fort Madison. She will travel to Cheyenne Frontier Days, the San Antonio Livestock Show and Rodeo and the Great Lakes Circuit Finals Rodeo in Louisville, Kentucky.

To learn more about the Miss Rodeo Iowa program, visit our homepage at RodeoRoyalty.com. Requests for apearances and potential sponsorships of Amanda can be requested by contacting National Director Bobbie Hinds at mripageant@yahoo.com.

Welcome to Amanda's Blog

2006-11-21T11:30:00.000-06:00

An exciting year awaits Amanda as she travels throughout Iowa and surrounding states as Iowa's First Lady of Professional Rodeo. Selected at the Tri-State Rodeo in Fort Madison last September, she has been busy readying for her reign which will begin January 1, 2007. Check back frequently as she posts about her travels.