Western Design Conference and Lewistown Weekend!

Sam and I presenting awards at the Trappers Convention
Selling Deep Fried Oreos at the Fergus High School Football Game- they're delicious

The outfits we modeled at the Western Design Conference- I wore the brown one with the skirt

Kate- I mean Mrs. Ruland- and I show off some abstract art

Going to Jackson Hole for the Western Design Conference with Julie Ewing was a one-of-a-kind opportunity. I was with a girl who is about to run for Miss Rodeo California, and a girl who is about to run for Miss Rodeo Canada. We had so much fun and stayed in the coolest cabins that reminded me of the "Aspen" hotel rooms on Dumb and Dumber. I felt very spoiled. Sherry Jolley came and modeled with us as well and it was great to see her. The clothes were fun to wear and I got to model in two other designers sets, so I felt really fortunate. It was such good practice for America because the runway is a similar T- stage. I had a great time. Thank you Julie! You are a talented artist and an incredible person!

My weekend in Lewistown went really well and was packed full. On Friday, I did school visits and spoke to Ag classes. I also got to teach abstract art in Kate's class, which was really fun. We then went to cheerleading practice because Kate coaches the Junior High Cheerleaders, then to a football game. I helped out SKILLS club by selling deep-fried oreos. They were a hot ticket item and really good, if I do say so myself. The next day Sam, Kate, and I headed to the Trappers Convention. I did a bullwhip cracking demonstration, and we modeled fur coats. Sam and I also helped with the auction. Sunday was my favorite day of the weekend because Kate and I hauled her horse out to Ed Lamb's house and he donated a riding lesson. We worked for about 3 hours on the patterns for America and I really learned a lot. Ed is a super trainer and he really knows horses. It was so generous of him to school me for MRA and so nice of Kate to let me use her horse. This horse was perfect for the lesson. I would like to thank Kate Ruland for letting me stay at her house and giving me so many opportunities. It was a very productive weekend!

Ellensburg, Dillon Jaycees Rodeo

Gus saying Ciao!!!

This bay stud was great around the kids

Miss Big Sky Prorodeo Roundup- Tesla McDowell and I paying our respect, with lots of others

Miss Rodeo Washington, Virginia, America, Mississippi, and I before first perf of Ellensburg

Having fun at the MRW speech luncheon

The Ellensburg Rodeo Court and I (Oh, and some photogenic committee men :))

Ellensburg is an awesome rodeo. It is the last stop of the Million Dollar Tour and a Gold rodeo, which amps up the contestants, audience, and entertainment. It was great to watch the Miss Rodeo Washington Pageant and it was such a tight race that I had no clue who the winner was until the moment she was announced. Getting back into pageant mode was really good for me, and of course it was fun to hang out with all of the other state queens and Miss Rodeo America. I would like to thank Nicole Ray, Miss Rodeo Washington and the Miss Rodeo Washington board for being so hospitable and showing all of us what a great place Washington is. We had the opportunity to tour a wind farm, take part in every aspect of the pageant, and ride in the Ellensburg Rodeo- which has one of the most amazing grand entries. Thank you to Jody and Gary Rempel, who let me use one of their horses for grand entry. Ellensburg was one of my favorite rodeos, but I had to rush home for the big hometown rodeo.

Labor Day wasn't exactly what I would have chosen for the perfect "hometown" rodeo. It was definitely funny and the audience got their ticket's worth. I was riding a friends little western pleasure horse and he decided that for the steer wrestling he was going to become a saddle bronc. I had gone all year without getting bucked off and right at the end, he got me. Kyle Shobe was the announcer and I was lucky to have him there because he made it really funny by saying, "Oh, she's goin' for eight seconds!!" and all of this stuff about being a cowgirl. I felt pretty cowgirl when I was crawling out of the dirt with manure stuck all over me and the whole town of Dillon watching. The horse bucked so hard it ripped my spurs, banner, and crown off. Scott Cameron the rodeo clown took the crown and banner and put them on, then proceeded to dance around. Wow.... I'm still hearing about that. The next night I rode this really nice bay stud of Sammy Ryan's. Thanks Sammy!!! He was an angel. I enjoyed riding in the parade, but did hear the phrase "bucked off" probably 20 times. I was proud of myself for staying lighthearted and just let that just roll off my shoulders. After all, that's what being Miss Rodeo Montana is all about! It reminded me of a quote by Eleanor Roosevelt, " A woman is like a tea bag, you don't know how strong she is until she's in hot water".

Missoula Stampede

My Scrapbook Cover! Thanks Muley Bluz!!!

Sam, Hank, and I trying to stay dry

Signing autographs at Quality Supply with all of the Missoula Stampede Girls

It's all about teamwork- picture from the Rocky Mountain School of Photography

Missoula is my stomping grounds and the first rodeo I ever saw was at the Western Montana Fair, so I am partial to this one. The Missoula Stampede committee has gone above and beyond to raise the bar for their rodeo. They succeeded in attracting many of the top cowboys in the PRCA and it's always fun to see the sport's finest athletes. I stayed busy doing many interviews, both radio and television. I did an interview on an MCAT show, as well as a part for a Wildlife Film Festival video on the fair. I would like to thank Gretchen Kirchmann for organizing my schedule. We definitely got the most out of the week. It was great emceeing the style show with Sam. We had so much fun recounting some of the finer moments of the year! There were so many highlights in the week, including going out to lunch with Laura Bakker, Sam, and Bill Nooney. Mr. Nooney is a huge supporter of the Miss Rodeo Montana organization and he makes the gas card for Miss Rodeo Montana possible. Lynn and Audrey Sholty put on another successful Ribbons and Rhinestones Golf Tournament and I had my first golfing experience. I didn't know you couldn't wear cowboy boots so I felt a little naieve when I showed up in my Justin Boots ready to golf. It all worked out and I just had to tiptoe on the greens:)
I would like to especially thank Laura Bakker for once again running an awesome pageant. The girls will do a great job and I hope that they can make it up to the Miss Rodeo Montana Pageant for the style show this January.

I got my scrapbook cover from Muley Bluz out of Ronan. Thank you so much Steve! This man is an amazing artist and probably one of the nicest people I have met all year. He did a superb job and I am so excited to see the beautiful finished product!

Summer Photos

I Love Sam!!!
I love Stick horses and Sam

Sam and I Stanford

Helena with my ladies

Pretty sassy

Represent

Sam's hair looks good

Rodeo Pictures

Sam and in front of the new Helena Fairgrounds
Libby and I at Livingston

Kickin' back with Lauri and Libby Gurnett

All the Great Falls gals

Come one Jourdan, where's the pink? :) just kidding

Interviewing Amy Hager- the new Miss Big Sky Prorodeo Roundup Princess

Interviewing Hannah Heckman- Montana High School Rodeo Queen

Pushing calves with Miss Amy Hager- CONGRATS GIRL!

Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue

Taking in Old Glory on Mr. Ike Sankey's Horse

All of the Big Sky Prorodeo Girls- Good Luck Ladies!

A candid one


I owe a huge thank you to Laura Hager, who provided all of these wonderful photographs for my scrapbook! Thank you so much for helping me!

Last Chance Stampede and the Big Sky Prorodeo Roundup

Some of the chicks n chaps clinicians in Helena
Libby, Sam, and I are "tough enough"

The Great Falls Voyagers Baseball Game- peanuts anyone?

Mr. Ike Sankey and I before the first performance in Great Falls

My new family

The last two weeks were two of the biggest and best pro rodeos in Montana- Helena and Great Falls. In Helena, Sam and I had a lot of laughs navigating our way through the absolutely gorgeous new rodeo facility at the fairgrounds and driving through town. We did a kiddie parade and a regular parade where we rode in a wagon. That was nice to be in the shade! Unfortunately because of the flu- I missed the kiddie rodeo and Sam had to tackle that one herself. But I was back in the saddle again for the rest of the weekend. The rodeo went off without a hitch and I was once again riding Billy "the machine" Manley. That horse is a powerhouse. The Last Chance Stampede committee did a great job and had some spectacular grand entries- one involving a helicopter flying right over the arena. I also got to hang out with Libby Gurnett and she and her horse Digger did a great job at the rodeo. The Chicks N Chaps clinic was a huge success and all of the ladies had so much fun. They even auctioned off a date with one of the cowboys who professed to be 29 and single. Gary Rempel was there picking up so the girls and I got to spend most of the weekend with Jody too, which was nice. The rodeo went really well and I had a lot of fun with all of the girls.

I then headed to Great Falls to promote the Big Sky Prorodeo Roundup at a Voyagers baseball game. That was definitely fun and different! They wanted me to throw the first pitch but I absolutely refused. I have not said no to one thing this year- but this. I felt bad but no one wants to see me try to throw a ball at a target. I would have embarrassed the entire sport of professional rodeo!

The Big Sky ProRodeo Roundup crowned four new girls to the rodeo royalty. These girls were fun to do speeches and model with and I am fully convinced they will be a huge asset to the program. Congratulations to the new royalty! I had so much fun and laughed a lot with all of the outgoing girls- Libby, Jourdan, and Hannah Heckman - our Montana State High School Rodeo Queen. Hannah did an awesome job at Nationals, garnering 2nd runner up! Thank you so much to Lorell and Rocky who helped all of us girls so much! All five performances were exciting, chaos-free, and fun!

C.M. Russell Stampede and Libby presentation

Queen hopefuls in Libby

The Manley's lovely steed Billy

Sam and I after the rodeo- lookin' a little windblown

The C.M Russell Stampede in Stanford was really fun because I was with my sidekick Sam!!! The committee is awesome and they sponsor my belt buckle, so I really appreciate them and everything they do for the MRM program. I put on a kiddie rodeo on Saturday, which was packed to the hilt with little ones. There was a little guy, no older than 2, who could handle a rope like nobody's business. I was surprised when he caught on the first try. That was fantastic to see. That evening I helped auction off the art from the quick draw. This is the best quick draw in the state. They had the best artists and some masterpieces created that evening. The committee was so hospitable and very kind. I really appreciate them putting me to use and I hope that I helped them out a little! They even took me out to dinner after the rodeo was over!

Sam and I worked slack in the morning, then took a little break to get ready for the rodeo. The rodeo was supposed to be hot, but the wind was blowing so hard that I couldn't even feel the heat. That was nice! I was so happy to be working with Barney Sheridan- my favorite announcer! He and his family were there and his daughter did an awesome job with music. I was also very impressed with Sparky Dreeson of Gold Buckle Rodeo. That man does everything. He ran flags with us at grand entry, worked timed event chutes, picked up, and did all of the other typical things a stock contractor does. This guy really works in all corners of the arena!

The next morning I packed up and drove over to Libby. I gave a presentation on the Miss Rodeo Montana program to three girls who had competed in a pageant last week for the Libby rodeo. They will see who gets crowned this Friday at the rodeo! Good luck ladies! Thanks Betsy for getting this arranged! They are currently trying to build up their queen program and I think it is great that they are holding fast to tradition!