During the first weekend of March, I was able to spend some quality time at the Tri-State Expo in Belle Fourche, South Dakota, the hometown of the Black Hills Roundup Rodeo and our Miss Rodeo South Dakota Pageant. This was a great opportunity to meet some of the amazing sponsors of our pageant and to visit with the Belle Fourche Community. Thank you to McKenzie Haley, the Black Hills Stock Show & Rodeo Queen, for helping with my booth and signing autographs on Saturday and Hayley Smith (my sister) the Newell Labor Days Rodeo Queen for all her help on Sunday during the Tri-State Expo.
The following weekend, I enjoyed spending time selling raffle tickets, signing autographs, and visiting with horse enthusiasts at the 7th annual Black Hills Horse Expo. The Expo was created as a fundraiser for the Northern Hills Area CASA Program and to bring together horse enthusiasts and the businesses who serve them. Proceeds from the event benefited the Northern Hill’s children. I was also honored to carry the American flag during the opening ceremonies of their “Night of the Horse”. This was a special moment for me because I carried the South Dakota flag nearly five years ago at this same event as Junior Miss Rodeo South Dakota. Thank you to Wayne Williams for providing a booth for myself as Miss Rodeo South Dakota and inviting me to be a part of the opening ceremonies.
I am excited to announce several of my new sponsors for my year as Miss Rodeo South Dakota. Advance Truck & Auto has graciously sponsored part of my Miss Rodeo South Dakota Dodge Durango. Shorty Engesser of Advance Truck & Auto was very helpful in finding a reliable vehicle for my year of traveling. I will be selling a limited number of advertisements that will be displayed on this official MRSD vehicle. This is a great opportunity to advertise your business for ten months at a very economical cost while also supporting rodeo and South Dakota! The vehicle will be featured in parades and rodeos all over South Dakota and will travel with me through 15 different states. There are various levels of advertising based on the placement of the ad on the vehicle. Please contact me at mrsd2009@hotmail.com if you are interested in purchasing an advertisement.
Diabetes, Incorporated has stepped forward to purchase an advertisement on my MRSD vehicle. I have volunteered for almost 7 years for their diabetes camp, Kamp for Kids and I am very proud to help promote their cause and bring awareness to the disease of diabetes. Thank you Diabetes Incorporated!
My next rodeo adventure will take me to my college town of Brookings, SD for the annual Jackrabbit Stampede, which will be held on April 3-5, 2009 at my alma mater, South Dakota State University.
God Bless,
Courtney Smith
Miss Rodeo South Dakota 2009
