I have been working diligently to finish my official Miss Rodeo South Dakota vehicle so that I can begin my travels across the great state of South Dakota and our country representing our official state sport of RODEO! The vehicle will be featured in parades and rodeos all over South Dakota and I have many special businesses to thank in preparing this vehicle for the rodeo trail.
First and foremost, Conrad’s Big "C" Signs of Rapid City did an outstanding job on all of the vehicle graphics. A very special thank you to Ron Conrad for partially donating the beautiful sign work for the vehicle and Linda Smith and Jeri Kalvin for doing such an amazing design job. I cannot wait to show it off this summer, I know it will definitely turn heads!
The many logos you see on the car are also very near and dear to my heart, because they each represent a business that is helping me to continue my dream of representing our western values and heritage. Bryce Nelson of Bryce Nelson Real Estate has always supported me in my rodeo endeavors and I cannot begin to thank him enough for his continued support and how proud I am to have him and his business as part of my travels.
Newcastle Motors has graciously sponsored part of my Miss Rodeo South Dakota Dodge Durango. Shorty Engesser of Newcastle Motors is another strong supporter of rodeo and was very helpful in finding a reliable vehicle for my year of traveling. I know this vehicle will accompany me on many miles and I am happy to be doing my traveling in a reliable Dodge, an official sponsor of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and the Miss Rodeo America Association. Another special thanks to my Dad's business American Values Appraisals for the partial sponsorship of the vehicle, I couldn't do this all without you Dad!
Diabetes, Incorporated is another association that I am proud to showcase on my 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!
Kensington Protective Products graciously donated many wonderful equine products, such as horse blankets, fly masks, and protective travel gear for my reign. I know my horses are very happy to have new fly blankets and I am excited to use my new travel gear throughout the upcoming months.
Finally, the Casey Tibbs Rodeo Center advertisement on my vehicle will be promoting the grand opening of the Casey Tibbs Rodeo Center, which will be held August 14-16, 2009 in Ft. Pierre, SD. The Casey Tibbs South Dakota Rodeo Center is a historical museum devoted to the sport of South Dakota rodeo, it’s history and it’s heroes. I feel so honored to be a part of the monumental grand opening. My first rodeo of the summer will be the Casey Tibbs Match of Champions, where the world’s top saddle bronc riders compete on the nation’s top rodeo horses. This is truly a very special event because South Dakota hosts a large number of accomplished saddle bronc riders as well as some of the best bucking stock around.
At the end of May, the Miss Rodeo South Dakota Board took time out to honor a very special woman in our association. I have been blessed to work with Zona Vig, not only as my South Dakota National Director for the past six months, but also as my Junior Miss Rodeo South Dakota coordinator in 2003. She is truly a warm and generous woman and I am so happy that she was recently honored by the re-naming of the scrapbook awards for the Miss Rodeo America Pageant to the Zona Vig Scrapbook Awards. I was privileged to spend my first six months with Zona and I look forward to working with Cindy Wilk, the new South Dakota National Director in the coming months. I have known Cindy for many years and I could not have picked a better choice to fill the boots of Zona. Cindy will do a remarkable job in this position.
I do still have a few more available spaces on the vehicle for your business. Any interested parties please feel free to contact me at mrsd2009@hotmail.com or 605-390-4728. This offer is truly a great opportunity to promote your business while supporting the great sport of rodeo and South Dakota. I am so excited to get on the road and I hope to see everyone on my rodeo trail!
God Bless,
Courtney Smith
Miss Rodeo South Dakota 2009
