2010 Miss Rodeo America Pageant

My journey as Miss Rodeo South Dakota concluded with my trip to the Miss Rodeo America Pageant in Las Vegas. My family and I drove down to Las Vegas on Thanksgiving Day with a loaded trailer of 4 dresses, 19 pairs of Justin boots, and about 20 other colorful rodeo queen outfits. The Miss Rodeo America Pageant was a whirlwind week full of interviews, horsemanship patterns, modeling, speeches, rodeos, dancing, and lots of FUN! It was such a wonderful experience to spend the week with 27 other cowgirls who share the same passion for the sport of rodeo that I hold dear to my heart. Another highlight of the week was attending the opening performance of the 51^st Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.

I was so proud to come home to South Dakota with the title of 2^nd runner-up, the Miss Rodeo America Chap Award, and 2^nd place in the Scrapbook Competition. There are so many people that have helped me this past year and it would take a long book to thank each and every one! But first and foremost, I would like to thank my family for always supporting me and helping me live my dreams, my friends for standing by my side and always encouraging me and my sponsors for making my year as Miss Rodeo South Dakota the best it could be. It has been such a privilege representing the people of South Dakota and our official sport of rodeo. I know that I will not always wear the Miss Rodeo South Dakota crown on my hat, but the memories and lessons of this amazing year will last forever. Thank you for the ride of a lifetime!

The journey continues for our Miss Rodeo South Dakota crown, as I will have the honor of crowning McKenzie Haley at her Miss Rodeo South Dakota 2010 coronation in Winner, SD on Saturday, January 16, 2010. The event will be held at St. Mary’s Hall with a social hour at 5 PM and dinner following at 6 PM. There will be a live and silent auction with a dance following, with music provided by Left Lane Rodeo Productions. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. For more information please contact McKenzie at mrsd2010@hotmail.com. Please join me in wishing McKenzie a successful year as our Miss Rodeo South Dakota 2010!

God Bless,

Courtney Smith

Miss Rodeo South Dakota 2009

Riley and I dropping off the prize winning scrapbook

Miss Rodeo America Horsemanship

Miss Rodeo WA, NE, OR and I at the Get Acquainted Party

My family and I at the Get Acquainted Party

Cindy Wilk, my South Dakota state delegate

and I at the Get Acquainted Party.

McKenzie Haley, MRSD 2010 and I at the Get Acquainted Party

Miss Rodeo America Get Acquainted Party

My family and I after the Miss Rodeo America Fashion Show

Opening performance of the 51st National Finals Rodeo!

My parents and I at Cowboy Christmas

My sisters and I after the Miss Rodeo America

Scholarship Foundation Cowboy Christmas auction

Miss Rodeo America Coronation

Christmas in the Valley and NFR Send-Off

In November, I had the opportunity to showcase my Miss Rodeo America state speech at the annual Christmas in the Valley event, which is held at Stagestop Receptions in Black Hawk. I enjoyed visiting with vendors and giving my prepared two-minute state speech before the Ray’s Western Wear Fashion Show. The following weekend, I ventured to Belle Fourche, for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo Send-off Party at the Branding Iron. It was so great to see a few of the fabulous rodeo committees that I’ve had the opportunity to spend my year with. The Black Hills Roundup Rodeo Committee, who hosts the event, has had such a monumental impact on the Miss Rodeo South Dakota pageant and I cannot thank them enough for everything that they do for our association. I spent the evening signing many autographs, socializing with the NFR qualifiers and visiting with my rodeo family.

Christmas in the Valley event

Visiting Royalty and I at the NFR Send-off

NFR Send-off Radio Interview

South Dakota NFR qualifier Jesse Bail and I at the NFR Send-off

South Dakota Rodeo Association Finals

Family has always been a longstanding tradition within the roots of rodeo and that family spirit was very evident at this year’s South Dakota Rodeo Association Finals in Rapid City. The SDRA is an outstanding association because all members of the family can compete. At this year’s finals we saw brothers, sisters, mothers and fathers all competing in the same arena. My family was also on hand to help with my final fundraising efforts before my trip to Las Vegas for the Miss Rodeo American Pageant. We held a small silent auction and the visiting queens were on hand to help sell 50/50 tickets. This year’s Cowboy Christmas during the Finals was a great success and I owe a huge thank you to Deb McPherson, Lonnie Harrowa, and the entire SDRA Board of Directors for including me in their special events at the SDRA Finals Rodeo.

New to the SDRA Finals this year was the South Dakota High School Rodeo Extravaganza, where each of South Dakota’s region’s top contestants competed for the Extravaganza title. During the weekend, I was honored to carry the American flag and help with the clearing of the arena for all the roping events. We also had the opportunity to ride in the wagon parade during the final performance. During the final performance I was honored to meet the first Miss Rodeo America, Marilyn Scott Freimark who was attending the rodeo watching her grandchildren.

I was proud to be with our rodeo family in my hometown for the SDRA Finals Rodeo as this marks my last rodeo appearance for the year before heading to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. All the words of encouragement and well wishes received from so many people will remain with me as I compete for the title of Miss Rodeo America and will empower me to make our South Dakota rodeo family proud.

Announcer Dale Christensen and I

at the start of the SDRA Finals

McKenzie Haley, MRSD LIW, Kristina Maddocks,

S.D. 4-H Rodeo Ambassador and I at the SDRA Finals Cowboy Christmas

My sister Hayley and I after she won 2nd place in the Pole Bending

at the High School Rodeo Extravaganza

Visiting rodeo queens and I riding the wagons

Kristina Maddocks, the S.D. 4-H Rodeo

Ambassador and I ready to help at the rodeo!

The first Miss Rodeo America, Marilyn Scott

Freimark and I at the SDRA Finals Rodeo

(L to R) Kourtney Hauge, S.D. High School Rodeo Queen, Jessica Johnson, Jr. Miss Rodeo S.D., McKenzie Haley, MRSD 2010 Lady-In-Waiting, myself, Kristina Maddocks, S.D. 4-H Rodeo Ambassador and my sister Hayley Smith.

Presenting a Miss Rodeo South Dakota sponsor appreciation

plaque to EquiMedic USA's Kelsey Baker

Badlands Circuit Finals and the Miss Rodeo North Dakota Pageant

North Dakota’s reputation as a very COLD state held true this weekend as I ventured north for the Miss Rodeo North Dakota pageant and the Badlands Circuit Finals in Minot, North Dakota. The Minot Y’s Men’s Committee did an outstanding job producing this standout rodeo. During the weekend I enjoyed participating in the Wild West Special Rodeo, carrying many sponsor flags, and presenting the South Dakota flag each performance. At the rodeo I also had the opportunity to meet 8-time PRCA Announcer of the Year, Bob Tallman and 5-time PRCA Comedy Act of the Year, Troy Lerwill. The Badlands Circuit Finals rodeo was truly an amazing arena brimming with champion talent. After all of the go-arounds several South Dakota cowboys and cowgirls came out on top in the Circuit Finals standings and will travel on the Dodge National Circuit Finals Rodeo in Pocatello, Idaho next April.

The circuit finals are also the host home to the Miss Rodeo North Dakota pageant. Special thanks to the Miss Rodeo North Dakota board for including me in their breakfasts, luncheons, and for allowing me to show off my modeling skills. In the end, Tiffany Kuntz came out on top as Miss Rodeo North Dakota 2010. It was a long, snowy trip back home to Rapid City but I was very thankful to have my reliable Dodge Durango to get me through the snow and ice. Thank you again to all of my wonderful sponsors helped me utilize this wonderful vehicle!

My buddy Sterling and I at the Wild West Special Rodeo

Jessinta and I at the Miss Rodeo North Dakota breakfast

Miss Rodeo North Dakota contestant, Sadie Warner and I

Jessinta Hammer, MRND, and I trying to stay warm during the

Badlands Circuit Finals. Can you see the snow in the background?

Proud to carry the South Dakota flag!

Western South Dakota Fur Trapper's Convention

In September I also had the opportunity to attend the Western South Dakota Fur Trapper’s convention in Hermosa, SD. It was so wonderful to catch up with the Miss Rodeo South Dakota fur coat sponsor, Jerry Westphal. Kristina Maddocks, the South Dakota 4-H Rodeo Ambassador joined me during the convention and we both enjoyed selling raffle tickets for Jerry and visiting with the avid trapping enthusiasts. I also had the opportunity to show off my gorgeous black mink fur coat during the convention. Special thanks to the Western South Dakota Fur Trappers for supporting the Miss Rodeo South Dakota organization!

Kristina Maddocks, the S.D. 4-H Rodeo Ambassador, Jerry Westphal

and I at the Western S.D. Fur Trappers Convention.

Newell Labor Day Rodeo Queen Contest

I kicked off September with the Newell Labor Day Rodeo Queen contest in Newell, SD. At the pageant I helped with the pageant activities, judged the horsemanship, and I emceed the speeches and modeling with my sister Hayley, the reigning Newell Labor Day Rodeo Queen. Special congratulations to the Newell Labor Day Rodeo Queen, Samantha Lee, Dana Youngberg, the Newell Labor Day Rodeo Princess and Jenna Kari, the Jr. Newell Labor Day Rodeo Queen.

My sister Hayley, the 2008 Newell Labor Day Rodeo Queen and I

The contestants and I at the Speeches and Modeling

Range Days Rodeo

I was ecstatic to spend time at my second hometown rodeo in Rapid City at the Range Days Rodeo. I had the opportunity to attend the Miss and Jr. Miss Range Days Rodeo Queen pageant during the week where I assisted with the horsemanship and emceed the speeches and modeling portion of the contest. It was wonderful to be back home because it enabled me to visit a few of my very generous Miss Rodeo South Dakota sponsors as well.

During the rodeo, I carried the American flag and did several fundraisers. My fundraising was very successful thanks to the Range Days Queen contestants and rodeo queens, Miss Range Days Rodeo Queen, Jenna Smeenk, Jr. Miss Range Days, Bailey Blane, Miss Rodeo South Dakota Lady-In-Waiting, McKenzie Haley, and South Dakota 4-H Rodeo Queen, Kristina Maddocks as well as my entire family. Special thanks to the entire Range Days Rodeo committee for all your wonderful hospitality, Ron Jeffries, Central States Fair General Manager, and Torey Berdan, for her help and support during the rodeo.

Star of the West hat-maker Brad Montague and I

Donna Barck of Copy Country and I, Copy Country

donated a portion of my autograph sheets for the year.

Pictured with Chad Wojtalewicz from the Sewing Center.

The Sewing Center donated a sewing machine

for me to raffle off during my year as Miss Rodeo South Dakota.

Carrying the American flag

McKenzie and I with Jenna Smeenk, the new

2009 Miss Range Days Rodeo Queen