Rodeo San Antonio!

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

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!

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

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!

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