Space Coast Honor Flight

August 24
Washington, DC


Thanks to my good friend Susan Jowers, who also happens to be the Miss Rodeo Florida Vice President, I learned of the Space Coast Honor Flight earlier this year. Susan had previously been a guardian and thought I would enjoy the same experience, so she encouraged me to learn more and get involved. 

I researched the organization - Space Coast Honor Flight or SCHF - and I learned that their mission is to take a group of WWII veterans on a one-day, all expense paid trip to Washington, D.C. to see War Memorials. It sounded like a great thing to be a part of, so I signed up for the August trip. At orientation, a few weeks before, I was able to meet the veteran I would be escorting. His name was Bill Haskell, 84 years old, Navy Veteran and currently lives in St Cloud, Florida. He was a friend of Susan's as well who she played tennis with - yes, even at 84! And if you ask Susan, he's pretty dang good, too! 

In the early, early morning of August 25th, Tracy Clements took me to pick up Bill. We arrived at his house at 3am and he was bright-eyed and bushy tailed, totally ready to go. He said he hadn't gotten any sleep all night, he was up watching golf. I think excitement had a little to do with it as well! We went to the same building we had Orientation at to sign in, regroup, and head to the Orlando airport. When we arrived, there were hundreds of cars in the parking lot. "What are all these cars for?" Bill asked. I honestly had no idea, there were only 25 veterans signed up to go on the trip and each of them can only take 1 guardian. When we walked in the front doors, we found out immediately. The meeting room was packed completely full. Airmen from Patrick AFB had come to wish us off, as well as family members and friends of the other veterans. There were even dignitaries present, a  Major General and congressmen from the local area! After the National Anthem, welcome speakers, and last minute instructions - we began to file out towards the bus that would take us to the airport. While walking out the door, a tunnel was formed and we walked through the center. People cheered, the honor guard held their swords in a V, and at the end of the line we were coined and shook hands with the General. Bill sat down with me towards the back of the bus, and he said he couldn't help but get a little emotional already. I knew right then it was going to be a very special day indeed.
Upon taking off from the parking lot, a group of over 30 motorcycles fell in line behind our police car escort. It was a sight to see as we pulled away! We drove right by the formation of soldiers saluting us, and waved one last goodbye to the rest of our friends and family. We would see them again about midnight - we're in for a long trip! 

Not having to stop at a single light on the way to the airport was awesome, and I could definitely get used to traveling that way. When we pulled up to the airport, another group was there to welcome us. Everywhere we went there were lights, flags waving, and people cheering and wanting to shake the veterans' hands. We even bypassed airport security and walked straight to the terminal - I could get used to that too! 

Sitting on the plane ready to go, our group leader told us we would be in for quite a few little surprises today. The first one happened as we were taxing from the ramp to the runway. The local fire department brought fire trucks out to spray our plane with the water cannons before we took off! When we landed in DC, more fire trucks greeted us in the same way! 
Stepping off the plane in Washington - spirits were high! I couldn't wait to see what the day had in store. When we walked out we were immediately greeted by an enormous cheering crowd forming a tunnel right there in the airport. Another general shook our hands, and this time there was a ton of navy Seamen to greet the vets. Bill was especially grateful, having served in the Navy himself. After we walked through all the people, in a sentimental voice and watery eyes, Bill said, "I thought everyone had forgotten about us." 

We boarded the bus and headed off to our first stop: the Air Force Memorial. Traveling in style, we also had a police escort for this portion of the trip - which was essential because DC traffic was nuts! I had been to the Air Force Memorial once before, but Bill had never been. He had actually never been to DC although he grew up just one state over in New York. Right out of High School I had the opportunity to intern for SD Representative Stephanie Herseth-Sandlin on Capitol Hill, so I lived in DC for about 3 months. 

After the Air Force Memorial, we went to the National Mall where our first stop was the WWII Memorial. Then we went over to the Vietnam wall, which isn't too far away, but on this day was exceptionally hard to get to because there were so many people everywhere! We made it happen though, and we only ran over a few people in the process and we didn't tip the wheelchair over once! Success! We also visited Arlington Cemetery and watched the changing of the guard at the tomb of the unknown soldier. Our final stop was at the Iwo Jima memorial, and then we boarded the bus for the last time to head back to the airport. Getting all of the stops into one day was challenging because there was so much to see, but not once did I see Bill or any of the other veterans grow tired. They were all so thankful to be there and quite a lively bunch! One veteran in particular kept us all entertained - his name was Earl. He was quite the ladies man, taking pictures with beautiful women all day and even stole a kiss from the flight attendant!  

As we settled into our seats on the plane to go back to Florida, I looked around at the group of 25 veterans I had just had the opportunity to get to know and share such a special day with. I felt very lucky to have made so many new friends, but especially fond of the relationship I had built with my veteran, Bill. I had gotten to know him so well in such a short period of time it was just incredible. I learned all about him as a young Seaman, his late wife, his journey through life and his reflection about what had happened to him over the last 84 years. I will never forget that experience for as long as I live, nor will I forget the emotion that ran through me when someone asked Bill what his favorite part of the day was. I couldn't help but smile and fight back tears when he replied, "Having Miss Rodeo Florida push me around." To be a special part of Bill's memory of his trip to DC is an honor, to call him a friend is a blessing, to spend the day with a true American hero - unforgettable. 

Miss Rodeo Florida Pageant Photoshoot

August 10: MRF Pageant Photoshoot, Okeechobee FL

Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo "The Daddy of Em All"

July 25-28: Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo, Cheyenne WY

Ogden Pioneer Days Rodeo

July 19-23: Ogden Pioneer Days and Miss Rodeo Utah Pageant

Miss Rodeo America Pageant Seminar

July 14-17: Miss Rodeo America Pageant Seminar, Colorado Springs CO

Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo & Hall of Fame Inductions

July 9-13: Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo and Hall of Fame Inductions, Colorado Springs CO

Calgary Stampede

July 5-8: Calgary Stampede

Black Hills Round Up

July 1-4
Belle Fourche, SD 

Back to the town I grew up in, finally! The Black Hills Round Up had been one of my favorite rodeos since I was a little girl and it was so great to be back as a state queen. I had the tremendous honor of being asked to carry the American Flag in uniform for the opening ceremonies on July 4th, I couldn't believe it. Chad Nicholson, the announcer, did a fantastic job. I just love this rodeo and it was so fun to get to be a part of it. 

The Miss Rodeo South Dakota Pageant is held in conjunction with the rodeo as well, so I was able to get in on some of that competition while I was home. 

Davie Pro Rodeo

June 21-22
Davie, Florida 

Heading down to Davie for a rodeo is always a great time. I love the arena and I love the atmosphere that it creates - there's a reason they call it Cowboy Town! I had an exceptionally great time at this particular rodeo, though, because of the fabulous people that I was surrounded by. I had the pleasure of driving down from Kissimmee/St Cloud with Miss Carrie Ann Clements, Miss Rodeo Florida Princess, and her mother, Tracy. When we get together - a good time is always had! We stayed with Susan Jowers, a close friend and Vice President of the Miss Rodeo Florida Organization. Her beach house was so beautiful and beachy, I didn't want to leave! She had a pool just outside her door, where Carrie Ann and I competed in swimming races and breath holding contests. I don't want to admit it, but Carrie Ann spanked me in almost every race! The one time that I won, we caught on camera. Although she didn't realize it until re-watching it on video - the reason I beat her from one end of the pool to the other was because I got out and ran down to the other end and jumped in! Carrie Ann and I had a blast. We even rented a surf board and headed to the beach in our free time - she's better at surfing than I am also, for the record! 

The rodeo hired one of my very favorite specialty acts, Rider Kiesner. He is a trick roper who also spins guns and can crack a whip like I've never seen! I always enjoy watching Rider - I first saw him at the 2012 WNFR. But, I had never considered being part of the action - until Davie! He needed an assistant and I thought I was the gal for the job, so I volunteered. I didn't quite know what I was getting myself into, until there I was - standing in the arena, whips flying by my head. Rider snapped a rose off of the stem while I was holding it in my mouth! I was always impressed watching Rider do his stunts from the bleachers or from the back of a horse, but I have a whole new respect for his accuracy and skill level being so close to the action! 

Miss Rodeo Florida Queen Clinic

June 15
Kissimmee, FL 

The 2013 Boots & Pearls Clinic took place on Saturday, June 15th at Suhl's Arena in Kissimmee again this year. It is hard to believe just one year ago at this very clinic I met my first Miss Rodeo Florida in person. I also met the entire Board of Directors and each of the contestants who would be running in the Miss Rodeo Florida pageant with me. To think a year has already gone by is just incredible, and oh - what I've learned! Last year, Sammy Roberts, Miss Rodeo Florida 2011 was in charge of the clinic. She did a fantastic job and left big shoes to fill - but I was excited about running the clinic by myself this year. My older sister, Trisha, and I have always done a lot of queen clinics through the years - but I've always got her right there beside me! So, this was a totally new experience. But, I was excited about it - I had a lot of new ideas to bring to the clinic, but I knew what valuable information the past Miss Rodeo Florida's had learned through out their year and I wanted them to be a part of it and share their ideas with the group - so I invited Amanda Spence, Miss Rodeo Florida 2012 and Heather Hall, Miss Rodeo Florida 2010 as well. 

The clinic brought a great turn out and we were able to raise a bit of money for the Miss Rodeo Florida Organization, so it was a successful day! 

Nebraskaland Days

June 9 -13

After a full week of guard drill in Sioux Falls, SD, I really needed a good rodeo to lift my spirits! And when I say a full week of drill, I don’t just mean sitting in an office doing normal Intel work. We had an Operational Readiness Exercise (ORE), and If you aren’t familiar that equates to 12 hour or more work days wearing gas masks, chemical warfare suits, and playing war games. A really great time had by all! 

Heading from Sioux Falls to North Platte wasn’t too bad of a drive, about 6 hours. However, just finishing a marathon week at the base made it somewhat of a struggle. My host home was so sweet to wait up for me to arrive. Poor Jody, she was up until about 2am! We had a conversation when I finally got there, but the next morning I really had no recollection of it. I was running on fumes when I came in and didn’t waste any time falling asleep. I was unconscious before my head hit the pillow! 

The next morning was the start of a great week! 16 other visiting queens came; it was so nice to see everyone again! We toured the Buffalo Bill Cody Ranch and also made a stop at the Golden Spike Railway Facility. The local TV stations were so thrilled to have us in town, they followed closely and interviewed a few of the girls. Later that night on the news I was excited to see us featured! There were cameras around all week, which was kind of fun. When we went to the bowling alley, a camera crew from the TV show “Rodeo America” showed up. This is a new series that will air on the Inspiration Network and had been seen previously filming in Denver for the National Western Stock Show.

Through the entire week, we had numerous autograph sessions. So many, that a lot of girls (including myself) ran out! In the instructions we received prior to arrival, the committee suggested we bring 500+ tear sheets. That seemed like a ridiculously high number, but we really did need that many. Luckily the committee was also prepared for girls to run out, so copies were made and we were able to get through the week! 

During Nebraskaland Days, the Miss Rodeo Nebraska Pageant was taking place. One of my good friends from college was competing, Gina Jesperson. We were on the equestrian team together. I was so glad that I was able to watch her and be there to support her! On the last day during the rodeo, coronation was held. Winning almost every category, Gina was crowned Miss Rodeo Nebraska 2014! I was so, so happy for her! It was so much fun to see her reaction as she came out of the arena and I actually got the FIRST hug and first photo taken with her! :D  

Miss Rodeo Nebraska 2014, Gina Jesperson

After the rodeo performance, I jumped in my parent’s vehicle and headed North. Just a 6 hour drive away from Rapid City to catch a flight back down to Florida the next day! It was quite a boring drive, absolutely no one was on the road. I was just hoping not to hit a deer! I had already done a number on the jeep, actually, and didn’t need any more dents in it! You see, when I was walking out of the Quality Inn after the end of the fashion show for the Miss Rodeo Nebraska pageant, I saw this huge RV trying to make a left-hand turn in the parking lot. “Hey I hope that guy doesn’t hit my car,” I said to the other girls I was walking with. Sarah, Miss Rodeo Colorado made a joke, saying there was 3 of us and only 1 of him incase he did. The next thing I know, CRRRRRRRUNCHHH!! He had ran into the back passenger side of my parents jeep! I couldn’t believe my eyes, ran over and banged on his door! The driver was an elderly gentleman and I don’t know if he even realized he hit the jeep until I stopped him! I called the police and got everything taken care of, but nonetheless, on the way home I only had one tail light and a sorry looking left side. Sorry Dad! 

Running Time in a Car: 227h
Running Mileage: 14,585m

Flights: 4
Running TV Interviews: 9

Running Radio Spots: 2

Running School Visits: 4

Silver Spurs Rodeo

May 31- June 1

For the 131st Silver Spurs rodeo, I was so honored to be asked to carry the American Flag in uniform and ride with the “Horses and Heroes Drill Team” for the opening ceremonies! The drill team is an assembly of veterans who participate in group therapy at Heavenly Hoofs Therapeutic Riding Center in Kissimmee. The program is designed for veterans that were wounded in combat or suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

When I had the chance to meet the veterans I would be riding with at rehearsal Thursday afternoon before the rodeo started, I was in awe. These gentlemen were truly an inspiration to me and I couldn't have felt more proud to ride beside them. Each had a unique background telling how they got to where they are today. Some of the soldiers suffered from physical wounds like leg amputations and traumatic brain injuries, and others suffered from emotional wounds like post traumatic stress disorder and depression. It was so interesting to visit with each of them and hear about their stories through out their service, but what I enjoyed listening to the most is how much happiness and healing horses have brought to their lives!

When Friday night finally arrived, I could feel the excitement in the 

air from the other veterans who were mounted up and all in a line 

behind me, ready for the ceremony to begin. As I stepped into the 

Silver Spurs arena on top of a beautiful palomino horse carrying Old 

Glory, the crowd sprang to their feet. As the 6 veterans trailed in 

behind me, they went wild with enthusiasm! The veterans trotted around me in a circle in the center of the arena, then stopped facing the crowd for their introductions. When Tim Fuller announced their names and service, not one person could be seen with a dry eye. My heart swole with pride as I tried to fight back tears of my own. Looking into each of their eyes as they raised their hands for recognition, I could tell how grateful they were to be a part of this moment. One veteran told me before we went in, that he had never been recognized for his service - not once. I was just so happy that that he had this opportunity, I knew it meant the world to him. 

I was also glad that my parents were able to attend this rodeo with me. Every time they come visit, they stay a little longer! This trip was about 14 days - but we had a great time and keep finding more and more new & interesting things to do! I am just waiting for the day when they make the big move! It's hard to keep dad away from the beach 

Check out my videoblog below where I talked with one of the vets - This gentleman was riding with one leg - how impressive!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=SQ853tHH8hc 

Running Time in a Car: 215h
Running Mileage: 13,881
Running TV Interviews: 7

Running Radio Spots: 2

Running School Visits: 4

Kentucky Derby

May 4: Louisville, KY

Every year, more than 30,000 thoroughbred babies are born. In the next two years, less than half will begin their racing career. By the time they are 3 years old, only 20 will have the opportunity to compete in the greatest race of all time, but just one - out of a field of 30,000 - will make history on the first Saturday in May. This year, I was lucky enough to witness the one that made it to the winner's circle at legendary Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky for the 139th running of the KENTUCKY DERBY.

 It is a race that I have grown up watching on TV and wishing that someday I would get to witness first hand. As Miss Rodeo Florida, I couldn't think of a better time to make my Derby debut. I also had a friend, @Brian Robertson, in Louisville that I had served with in Afghanistan who extended the invitation to stay with him & his family if I could come. It was perfect, I just had to go! Originally, I intended to watch the race from wherever I could. Infield tickets are the cheapest available - and with all of the expenses of being a state queen I didn't need to splurge any more than I already was. “Who cares where I sit,” I thought. I was beside myself with excitement just getting to attend.

 In the weeks before the race, I started doing my research. I wanted to know the field of 20 that qualified for the Derby inside and out before picking my favorites and placing any bets. I read about the horses, looked at the odds and studied what the experts were predicting. In my reading, I stumbled across a great article about a big bay horse named Normandy Invasion. His name alone stood out, because I am interested in all things military. But by the time I had finished reading the article about him, I had fallen in love. His owner, Rick Porter of Fox Hill Farms (and a former military member himself) had sent out a press release announcing that 4 veterans of World War II had been chosen to attend the derby as his guests. Those veterans were Bill Wilch, 89, of Middletown, Ohio; Ray Woods, 90, of Ottowa, Ohio; J.J. Witmeyer, 92, of Harahan, La.; and Alan Reeves, 91, of La Jolla, Calif. I was so thrilled at the idea that I immediately called my dad and told him about the horse I was going to put all my money on: Normandy Invasion.

The day before the race finally rolled around, and I called my dad again after I was out of work to let him know I was going to head out and start my 10 hour drive up to Louisville. I was surprised to hear the news he had for me. He said that he had contacted Fox Hill Farms, told them who I was and that I would be attending - and that they would love to facilitate a meeting between myself and the 4 veterans! I couldn’t believe it! With that news, I packed my things and headed north towards Kentucky. The excitement kept me alert & awake for about the first 6 or 7 hours of the trip, then I switched to Rockstar Energy Drinks. I arrived about 3am and caught a quick snooze before the big day!       

The next morning, I woke up bright and early. I didn’t even feel tired; I was too eager. When I arrived at the track, people were everywhere. Rain coats, umbrellas, and ponchos were the fashion. Everyone was bustling around, laughing and talking. I went through security and didn’t know where to start. My mind was in overload – I wanted to see everything! I didn’t know where to go first. I checked out the infield, the gift shop, and then went to the paddock - where horses were already parading around in a circle before stepping onto the track. Most people don’t realize there are horse races all day long, and the Kentucky Derby is race #11. I arrived around race #3. By race 4 I placed my first bet for $5. Two minutes later, I lost it all. That was quick, I thought.

After checking out everything there was to see on the lower level, I called Victoria (my contact for Team Normandy Invasion). They hadn’t arrived yet. I decided I would head upstairs to our table anyway and check things out. I walked by the red carpet area where celebrities were expected to arrive, waved at the paparazzi (didn’t seem too interested) and headed up the elevator towards Millionaires Row. When I got upstairs, it was like I had walked into a different world. There was nothing like it; excitement filled the room! Men were seen looking GQ-esque while donning preppy bow ties & stylish fedoras reminiscent of old-Hollywood movie stars. Women looked as if they were trying to out-do each other, with extravagant hats, upscale, classy dresses and fashionable high heels. Almost everyone had a mint julep in hand, the traditional drink of the Kentucky Derby. I couldn’t believe where I was. I stepped out onto the patio and my jaw literally hit the floor. The finish line was directly below me and I had a clear view of the entire track.

A police escort showed the veterans and the rest of Team Normandy Invasion to their table, they had finally arrived. The 4 gentlemen were so sweet; it was a true honor to meet them. Each wore a gray hat sporting the words “Normandy Invasion” and a red button to match. On their suit jackets, they had their ribbon racks and medals, which I thought was really neat. They were just beaming with excitement, their eyes bright and alert. I could tell how grateful each of them was to be a part of this big day. One even pulled out a framed picture of his deceased wife and set it on the table. "Me and my wife watched the Kentucky Derby for years. She always wanted to come," he said. “And now, she will.”  My heart just melted.

Before the race, we enjoyed supper, which was phenomenal. Tender and juicy roasted chicken, vegetables, potatoes, salad, and soft warm dinner rolls were served. But the best thing about the meal was the conversation. Every person that I had the pleasure to meet had an interesting story, career, or connection to the racing industry. I met all kinds of people. I even had the chance to mingle with a few celebrities. Artist will.i.am (from the Black Eyed Peas) asked me for a lighter. Star struck, I shook my head no. I almost blurted out a lyric from the song, “My Hump,” but decided against it. Looking back, I should’ve expressed my concern about the effects of smoking, but hindsight is 20-20. Other notables that I saw in the crowd were Dallas Cowboys Head Coach, Jason Garrett, a few basketball players, Lauren Conrad, Miranda Lambert and my very favorite country music artist Luke Bryan. It was fun to be in the same crowd as these celebrities. A day in the life!

The trumpet sounded as the horses stepped on the track for the parade of champions; everyone went wild! The horses pranced in front of the grandstands for a final look before their jockey’s mounted up. This was the first time I ever saw Normandy Invasion in person. He looked great – wide eyed, bushy tailed, and ready to win. As his jockey, Javier Castellano, climbed on top of his back, chills went down my spine. They made their way to the starting gate, and it felt like the entire crowd was holding their breath! “And they’re off,” the announcer yelled in his British accent. Mud went flying and the horses sprinted out of the starting gate. The “two greatest minutes in sports” had begun. It was hard to tell which was which, they were in a pack and most of the horses were sorrel or bay and kind of all blended together! By the time they rounded the first turn I had peeled my eyes away to glance at the leaderboard and get a better idea of who was in the lead. By the time the horses were on the back side of the track, Normandy Invasion started to gain on the leader. He pulled towards the front! I about lost it, I was going wild! Into the final stretch, he began to fade. Orb was coming up fast and crept into the lead just in time for the wire! Orb was the winner! What a fantastic race.

The Kentucky Derby is more than a horse race. It is a mood, an excitement and an atmosphere that creates a culture around the track. I cannot begin to explain how grateful I am for the experience. I will never forget the day that I spent at the derby. It has always been an item I have had on my bucket-list, and I never imagined I would’ve gotten to cross it off with such a great story to go along with it. The word ‘hero’ gets thrown around a lot these days, but I’ve never run across men who deserve it the way those 4 veterans do. It was an honor to sit at their table and witness the 139^th running of the greatest race of all time with them.   

Let me just close with the following thought: What have you checked off your bucket-list lately?

Running Time in a Car: 201h
Running Mileage: 12,981
Running TV Interviews: 7

Running Radio Spots: 2

Running School Visits: 4

Jasper Queen Contest

April 22: Jasper, FL

Running Time in a Car: 180h 58m
Running Mileage: 11,747
Running TV Interviews: 7

Running Radio Spots: 2

Running School Visits: 4

Supermodels Unlimited Magazine Cover Shoot

April 14: Oklahoma City, OK

Running Time in a Car: 172h 58m
Running Mileage: 11,255
Running TV Interviews: 7

Running Radio Spots: 2

Running School Visits: 4

Old Spanish Trail Rodeo

It’s always nice to have a rodeo close to home, and this one is probably the closest I’ll get all year. Baker, FL is home to the 24^th annual Old Spanish Trail Pro Rodeo. It is about 40 miles North of where I live. Mark Todd, production manager, saw my article in the NW Florida Daily News earlier this year and learned that I was in the military and also involved in rodeo, so he contacted my board and requested my attendance. I thought that was really great to pick up a new rodeo to attend, and also one that’s in the Panhandle because there aren’t many up this way that Miss Rodeo FL’s have gone to in the past.

The rodeo was great - both nights the bleachers were packed. One of the highlights was getting to meet the Trish Lynn & the All American Cowgirl Chicks. They are a trick riding drill team/entertainment group from Texas. They have their own TV show on RFD-TV also, called “Cowgirl Chicks Never Quit.” But what is so cool about this group, is that they are riding for a cure for cancer, and have rescued all of the horses that they ride from being abused or abandoned. Sadie & Hattie are Trish’s daughters, and they did all of the trick riding in Baker. It was really cool to see them working together, and it reminded me a lot of my sister and I – even their hair color matched! I got to have a couple of autograph sessions with them during the day and after the rodeo, so I got to get to know the girls a little bit and ask them tons of questions about how they got started and where they are today! I hadn’t ever seen their show before, but after I met them I went and found tons of their episodes online. You can watch all of season 1 & 2 of their TV show on YouTube here: http://www.youtube.com/cowgirlchicks

A lot of my friends were able to come to the rodeo because it was so close to home, and a lot of them had never even been to one before! I was glad that they got the chance, and also that I was able to be there to explain some things. I had to laugh about one of the comments my friends made about calf roping – they said all the men sure did a good job, but when they got to the women none of their ropes stayed tied to the saddles! I explained the difference in tie-down roping and break away roping, but it really was funny.

After the rodeo on Saturday, I packed my bags and got ready for a long day ahead. I would fly out to Oklahoma City, OK in the morning to do a photoshoot for the cover of Supermodels Unlimited Magazine, & then back home by Monday morning to go to work.

Check out my video blog from the Old Spanish Trail Rodeo here: https://www.facebook.com/dale.gmc#!/photo.php?v=10200687214238557

Running Time in a Car: 144h 58m
Running Mileage: 9,461
Running TV Interviews: 6

Running Radio Spots: 2

Running School Visits: 4

Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo

This week I went to the Sooner State for a rodeo I have always wanted to go to, but never had the chance. Oklahoma City’s Jim Norick State Fair Arena is host to the Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo. There were about 20 other state queens who joined in the fun, so it was really great to see all of the girls again! The RNCFR features 24 contestants/teams in each event who earned the right to compete by doing well in their home circuit (there are 12 geographic regions in ProRodeo’s circuit system). The top 8 qualify for the final performance. The total purse is nearly $480,000, so there’s a lot of money up for grabs, but the top prize in each event is a $20,000 voucher for a new Ram truck.   

For whatever reason, I didn’t get the official queen schedule until Tuesday, the day I ended up leaving. I just assumed our first day was Thursday since that’s when the first performance was, and I had planned on flying standby into OKC sometime Wednesday afternoon/night. When I learned that the first appearance was Wednesday at 11:00am things changed! I wasn’t going to be able to get on a flight with that late of planning, so I made the last minute decision to drive. I didn’t want to miss anything! After work on Tuesday I went to my house and frantically started packing, knowing I had a 14 hour drive ahead of me. Since I was driving I basically took my entire closet and figured I could decide what I wanted to wear later! I headed out of Ft. Walton Beach at about 5:30pm… which meant my expected arrival was 8 or 9am the next day.

I don’t really mind driving, until I get tired. That usually happens when I hit about 7 or 8 hours behind the wheel. With this trip, I started out tired because I had already been up at 6am and at work all day! I don’t know how I made it the entire way to Oklahoma City, but I did. My original plan was to stop at my sister’s house which is in Wynnewood, an hour South of OKC to take a power nap - but the GPS in my phone took me on an incorrect route and I ended up passing it by 20 miles and wasting at least a half hour. By the time I figured that out I was so mad I lost valuable sleeping time that I wouldn’t be able to sleep if I found it anyway. I drove the rest of the way into OKC and took about a two hour nap at the hotel before meeting the rest of the queens at our appearance at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.

The rest of the day went great, I was so excited to be there that I didn’t really feel too tired. It’s amazing how much sleep you don’t really need to function! All of the state queens had a blast riding around on the huge bus that was provided for us. We were rocking out to music and standing up on the seats dancing, of course! A ‘Harlem Shake’ video was of course made… Justin even posted it to their facebook page!! You can check it out on YouTube here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEfH4o8GtXo

There were two performances on Thursday, one Friday, and two Saturday. We had so many visiting queens that they split us up. I rode for three rounds, and had a different pony each time! After the rodeo Thursday, we all went to the Thompson Square concert which was really fun!  Friday morning we went to the OKC Gun Club to skeet shoot and got on teams with a few of the cowboys who were competing to see who could bust the most clay pigeons. My team had Jake Wright & his wife on it, myself, and Miss Teen Rodeo Oklahoma. We didn’t place in the competition, but we had a great time. I’d never shot clay pigeons with a shotgun before, so I was a little nervous for how I was going to do – but as it turns out I’m a pretty good shot. MRArizona, MRArkansas and myself were all pretty good and we decided we could be considered the “dream team,” that’s why we had to do a video-blog on the spot, check it out here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xw470HGtaYo

One of the highlights of my week was having the honor of walking Bareback rider, Bobby Mote into the arena for the opening ceremonies of the final round. We walked through flames & smoke and were the first ones to be introduced. I was lucky to grab a picture with Bobby before it took place and I got to visit with him for a bit about the horse he drew that night. He was such a nice guy and I really enjoyed getting to visit with him. 

Running Time in a Car: 140h 58m
Running Mileage: 9301
Running TV Interviews: 5

Running Radio Spots: 2

Running School Visits: 4

Southeastern Pro Rodeo

March 22-23rd:

Ocala, Florida hosted the 20^th Annual Southeastern Pro Rodeo. This isn’t too far of a drive from Destin, but I couldn’t resist heading down towards Orlando prior to the rodeo. I just love driving! There was another pretty good reason for heading down that way, other than my love of getting behind the wheel, though. I had set up a meeting with the Sherriff at the Osceola County Sherriff’s Department to pitch an idea to him. I know they had repossessed cars & trucks, and as much driving as I do – I am in the market for a different vehicle! Mine has been having so much trouble lately and I hate to put around 1000 miles on it every weekend. So, my idea was for the Sheriff’s Office to sponsor a repossessed vehicle for me to drive for the year. The best part is that it wouldn’t cost them a thing and they would get great recognition out of it because their name would be on the side of the truck and as you already know I get a lot of highway time in. I’ve already driven over 6,000 miles traveling the state of Florida alone & it’s not even half way through the year yet! So, prior to the Ocala rodeo, I ventured down to St. Cloud to stay with Mark & Laura Kessler and get a meeting in with the Sherriff.

The Kesslers have been some of the nicest people I’ve met down in Florida. They truly feel like my ‘Florida’ parents. It was nice that Laura worked right at the Sherriff’s office, so I have to give her all the credit for setting up the meeting for me. Mark had a hand in the presentation that I gave to the Sherriff as well, because he attended the meeting with me and had some great additions to my speech. To my surprise, the Sherriff was completely on board with the idea! I guess it isn’t that surprising that he thought it was a good plan, because I sure did, but it just seemed so easy I couldn’t believe I didn’t ask sooner! The only thing between me and my beautiful new truck is legalities – so the lawyers are reviewing the idea to make sure it’s completely legal. For the entire next week I will anxiously be awaiting the final decision! 

After the meeting with the Sheriff, Mark took me out for a celebratory breakfast! Then we headed to a shop downtown where I was able to design my very own custom flip flops. They aren’t just ordinary flip flops, they’ve got Swarovski crystal studded conchos and I added pearls in mine. They’re so beautiful and I will anxiously await their completion and arrival in the mail! So many things to look forward to this next week!

Laura & I watched a movie while we drove from their house to Ocala. Or should I say Laura watched the movie, I slept! The rodeo was great – both nights had an enthusiastic crowd and great competitors. Ruben, the production manager, saw my presentation of the American flag in Lake City last weekend and requested that I bring my uniform to this rodeo and do that same thing. The crowd responded with a standing ovation both nights! It was, again, a great honor to get to do that:

Between rodeo performances, we were staying at the Providence ranch just a little ways from town. Daryl Carter was the owner, and it just so happened that on Saturday morning he was hosting a Tough Mudder event at his ranch, the 5k Cowboy Crawl. Of course, I just had to get in on that! It was such a blast. I hadn’t ever done a mud run before so I didn’t really know what to expect – but any expectations I did come up with were surpassed! The obstacles were huge and complex, and very challenging! I broke a nail trying to go across the monkey bars that stretched the length of an entire lake (#rodeoqueenproblems). I was on a team from MVP gym, a local group that worked together in Ocala. I kept right up with them and even ran in the front, but we always waited for the whole team before we finished any obstacle. Did I mention we had to crawl through the mud under hot electric wire! That’s a little incentive to keep your head down! By the end, I was very pleased with myself for doing so well at the course and wore my mud covered shirt & shorts across the finish line with pride, ending with a jump through a ring of fire! It was so cool, I loved it!  

Catch my blog about the Mud Run here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPj4bBbk-bs

Running Time in a Car: 110h 58m

Running Mileage: 7495

Florida Gateway Pro Rodeo

 

March 15-17th:

Finally, a rodeo that I didn’t have to drive over 5 hours to get to! This weekend I traveled to Lake City, FL for the Florida Gateway Pro Rodeo. I had so much fun at this rodeo it was probably one of the best I’ve been to yet in Florida – but then again I say that almost every rodeo I go to  :) I was provided a room at the Fairfield Inn which is always nice and after work on Friday I was able to stop there for a quick shower before heading to the performance – which beats the alternative that I was planning on - changing in my car & putting in my fake hair piece (I like to call it my ‘farrett’).

At the rodeo Sierra Coward, Miss Teen Rodeo Florida, and myself were able to carry flags the entire time. This is a rare occurrence down here because usually flag teams assume that responsibility. We had a great time and I made sure to let Sierra lead the group at times and switch with her. I think she really enjoyed that!

Rider Kiesner was the specialty act that was hired at this rodeo. He is a multitalented performer, a true Wild West showman. His performances include Whip Cracking, Gun Spinning, and his specialty, Trick Roping. I originally met him in Las Vegas where he was featured for one of the performances of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. He met the entire flag team, so I don’t know if he really remembered me or not at first – but we had a great time the entire weekend and now I’m sure there’s no way he’ll forget the flag girl who is also Miss Rodeo Florida :)   

 

 

Other than the rodeo, I was able to help out with kids activities at the fair. I was in charge of the bean bag toss and also the saw horse roping! Another event that I attended was the kids rodeo where I led kids around on horses who hadn’t ever gotten the chance to ride before. This is always a rewarding experience because the kids get so excited and some are scared to death! It’s fun to share my love of horses with those who have never been around them before.

One other neat thing that I got to do was drive a maroon, 50th Anniversary Corvette Coupe! Dion, an individual who hosted Miss Teen Rodeo Florida & Miss Rodeo Florida Sweetheart at his house for the rodeo, was the owner. I couldn’t believe he let me drive it! Apparently it is a tradition for Miss Rodeo Florida to take it for a spin during the rodeo, and I wasn’t about to break tradition! I had never driven such a powerful car before in my life. It had so much torque it was incredible! I tried to keep it under the speed limit, but that didn’t last very long. We had a great time driving it around and I was sad to hand the keys back over to Mr. Dion! 

Catch my video blog about the corvette here: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Miss-Rodeo-Florida-Association-Inc/79862699396?ref=ts&fref=ts#!/photo.php?v=10200541072465104

Running Time in a Car: 98h 38m

Running Mileage: 6653

Arcadia All-Florida Championship Rodeo

March 10:

Frontier Rodeo Company was the stock contractor and they sure brought a good pen of bucking horses! Wow! The Arcadia rodeo itself was probably the best rodeo I had been to in the state of Florida as well. The bleachers were huge and they were packed! The rodeo set a single-day attendance record with an overflow crowd of about 8,000 on March 9 and also broke the overall record with more than 21,000 spectators for the three days

Cort Scheer, two-time NFR qualifier, rode Maple Leaf for 89 points to win the saddle bronc riding. Other bucking stock that was there included Full Baggage, Horse of the Year, and Delta Ship who holds the arena record at the NFR. Donny Gay was the announcer in the bull riding, where three rides scored 90 points and the win for 91. It was an impressive group.

I really had a head-ache for this performance, though, so I didn’t get to enjoy the great rodeo action as much as I should’ve. After the grand entry I just took a seat in the shade and watched, then left a little earlier than it got over with the people I was catching a ride with. I made sure to call ahead to the hotel where I had previously left my car. I asked if they had any cars towed from their parking lot over the past week, and the receptionist said she didn’t know! I then asked her where they might have the cars taken if they were towed – and she did know that information. So, I took the phone number down and called the towing company. Luckily, they didn’t have my car in their possession – so the chances of it being in Tampa at the same location I left it was looking pretty good!

Riding with a couple of bareback riders was far more entertaining than simply traveling alone. I thought I might want to sleep until Tallahassee, but there was no chance of that. Blade & Tanner kept me laughing almost the entire way. We talked about all kinds of things – but the most memorable topic of conversation came after the question was raised, “What’s the coolest thing that you’ve ever done?” My response was about flying in an F-16 and also being in the lead for the opening of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. I will never forget Tanner’s response, though. He talked about having the perfect bareback ride and how awesome it felt. He went into how much he loved the sport of rodeo and not just the bareback riding, but every aspect. Every event would be something fun to compete in, and even the job of a bullfighter or stock contractor would be an interesting job. I couldn’t help but agree with him, and have an overwhelming feeling of pride in the sport that I was lucky enough to represent.

When we finally arrived in Tallahassee, I crossed my fingers and prayed to have a car to put my things in. By this time it was about 11 at night, and I still had three hours to go and the guys I was riding with had about 7 more hours to get back up to Alabama – so we didn’t need any more delays. We pulled in and I was so relieved to see my little black Mazda sitting exactly where I had left it. What a relief! I threw my bags in, said my goodbyes and was ready to hit the road. I put the key in, turned it, and absolutely nothing happened. Not even a click. Not one single light. Great! My battery was dead.

By the time I realized what had happened the boys had already left, and since they had so far to go I just called AAA. About an hour later, I was back in commission. I guess I need a new battery, but I made it home just fine and was able to get at least a couple hours of sleep before going in to work the next day.

Running Time in a Car: 90h 36m
Running Mileage: 6121

Okeechobee Cattleman’s Spring Rodeo

March 9:

Eye surgery in San Antonio went great. I got it done on the 5^th, and normally it takes most people a full week to recover. But most people aren’t Miss Rodeo Florida ;)  I flew from TX to Tampa three days later so that I could attend the Okeechobee Rodeo. Regina, my National Director, drove to Tampa to pick me up. The weekend started out with a parade and then rodeo. I was glad to be there and be a part of it, but I did feel kind of dumb wearing sunglasses everywhere I went. Yes, even on horseback! The doctor said I was absolutely not allowed to expose my eyes to UV light and that it could do serious damage, so I did what I was told. If you see a picture of me riding around the arena doing a fly-by with shades on, now you know why! I wish I could’ve told everyone why I was wearing the glasses, I didn’t want them to think anything negative of me – but I just had to do it or I couldn’t be there at all! CarrieAnn & I tried on plenty of pairs at the western store in town before we headed to the rodeo - 

The rodeo was a great performance, and a record-breaking one at that! Biggin Gold was one of four horses that bucked in both the bareback riding and saddle bronc riding and he came through with wins in both. After the performance I was lucky to find a ride with some bareback riders, Blade Elliot & Tanner Phipps, who were headed to Arcadia and then back up to Alabama afterwards which meant they would drive through Tallahassee and would be able to drop me off at my car! I was excited to find some traveling partners. I was also a little nervous that my car wouldn’t really be in the spot where I left it, parked it at a hotel. The parking lot where I parked it said, ‘Guests only, violators will be towed.’ I figured that was just a scare tactic, because I looked at all the other cars in the parking lot to see if they had some sort of window sticker or tag somewhere and I couldn’t find one. Didn’t scare me - so I took my chances! This hotel had a shuttle to the airport where I was renting my car and I figured that would save me a lot of money if I didn’t have to park it in airport parking.

Running Time in a Car: 81h 49m
Running Mileage: 5541

RFDTV’s Best of America by Horseback

March 2-3rd:

After the rodeo in Ft. Pierce, about 9:00pm, I headed west to Tampa (which was about 3 hours out of the way). I had to get a rental car there. This is where logistics gets a bit confusing. You see, I planned to drive my rental car to Mayo and film for the TV show, and then take the rental to San Antonio, TX the next week where I was set to receive PRK Refractive Surgery. After the surgery, I wouldn’t be able to drive, so my plan was to fly from TX back down to Tampa where I would then have my actual car, go to the rodeo in Arcadia, and drive myself home. It made the most sense to me! So as I am on the road to Tampa, I’m on the phone trying to get ahold of rental companies. I’m happy to hear that almost every company at the airport was open late. I got ahold of Hertz, tried to use my reward points, and realized they were waaaaaay too expensive for a one way drop off. I called 3 or 4 other locations only to find out the same thing. When I say expensive, I mean about $800 expensive. Not worth the rental! I might as well just fly! By this time, I wished I would’ve starting making these phone calls a lot earlier, because it looks like I’m not going to be able to get a car. I just wasted 3 hours of valuable sleep because of failure to plan! At this point, I’m tired and quite upset, so I just push through and drive up to Mayo. I would figure out a new plan later. I drove until about 5:30am in the morning to find the R O Ranch where we would be staying for the filming of the show, and couldn’t have been happier to hit the pillow when I got there. What seemed like two seconds after my eyes closed, my alarm went off. 6:30 came much too early! Instead of getting up and taking a shower like I should’ve, I simply hit snooze until about 6:50. I finally got up, and was quite pleased when I looked in the mirror. I looked a lot like I did the night before at the rodeo – my makeup hadn’t moved and my hair was salvageable!  Good thing I didn’t roll around too much during the hour of sleep I got! I put on a little more makeup, put my fake hair piece in, added in some hair spray and was good to go. I couldn’t believe how easy that was!

Del Shields was the person who invited me to go on the ride. He is DJ Shields’ dad, and DJ dates my sister, Trisha. I hadn’t ever met him before, so it was nice to spend some time with him and I was so excited he thought of inviting me on the show! Tom Seay was the host of the show and I had seen him on TV before. He was very hospitable, cooked us breakfast every morning at his trailer! And he was a pretty good cook, too! He gave Del an awful lot of gruff. He didn’t let up all weekend! Friday night, before I got there, Del had gotten bucked off of a BLM mustang two separate times. Tom wasn’t about to let him forget about it!

The R.O. Ranch is a 2,500-acre equestrian park, located at the northern end of approximately 20,000 acres of public lands. The theme of the park is set in the Florida "cracker" style of the 1920s. All of the buildings and facilities are reminiscent of that era with white board siding and tin roofs. For the show, I gave an introduction to everyone. I welcomed the group to Florida before we started out on the ride. I also did some promo clips, commercial clips and did an interview of the winners of an art contest. I did really well in front of the camera. It made me nervous, but I figured it was good practice for Vegas.

One of the coolest things about the ride was meeting all different kinds of people. Everyone was so nice and a lot of them were quite interesting. There were tons of breeds I had never seen before that people were riding. I had the chance to ride a Tennessee Walking Horse, a Pasafino, and a Saddlebred. I saw a Morgan and a Kentucky Mountain Horse, too! One lady even invited me to go fox hunting with hounds like you would see in pictures! I was so excited. I had such a great weekend and I can’t wait to see it air on RFDTV, but I will have to wait until June for that to happen.

After the filming, I had to come up with a new logistics plan, I decided I’d drive to Tallahassee and rent a car there to drive to San Antonio. I found one for pretty cheap so we were in business! Now, I would just need to figure out a ride from the Tampa airport to the Okeechobee rodeo, and to the Arcadia rodeo, then back up to Tallahassee on Sunday and I’d be golden!

Running Time in a Car: 67h 30m

Running Mileage: 4552