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

Bulls, Broncs, and Barrels!

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

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