This past week, I was very honored to be a part of the 90th Black Hills Roundup Rodeo as Miss Rodeo South Dakota 2009. For ninety years, the Black Hills has been celebrating our western heritage and the great sport of rodeo during our Country’s birthday and I was so proud to represent all of those fundamental endeavors once again during this special anniversary.
My busy week started with a newspaper photo session at the Tri-State Museum in Belle Fourche, where the museum hosts a special section of Miss Rodeo South Dakota memorabilia. The next day was the kick-off of the Miss Rodeo South Dakota pageant, where the contestants and I ventured to KBFS for a radio interview with Karl Grimmelmann. Later in the day I made my way to KOTA television in Rapid City where I appeared on their noon show to promote the Black Hills Roundup and the MRSD pageant. The first day concluded with the Black Hills Roundup press party, where I did a live auction. A very special thank you to all of the businesses in the Belle Fourche community that contributed to the live auction, your support will definitely help my travels this summer.
The following morning the contestants and I had the opportunity to visit several local pageant sponsors. It was so wonderful to see so many familiar faces and thank them for all of their support of our pageant. Later that night it was time to showcase all of the Miss Rodeo South Dakota and Junior Miss Rodeo South Dakota contestants at the Style Show. It was a magnificent evening filled with lots of glamour and many outstanding speeches. Horsemanship started early the next morning at the Black Hills Roundup grounds. That afternoon I enjoyed getting to know the MRSD judges and emceeing the salad luncheon hosted by the Beta Sigma Phi Sorority.
After the salad luncheon it was time to RODEO, but not before Belle Fourche was covered in rain! Thankfully a beautiful rainbow came out followed by the sun for the first performance of the Black Hills Roundup Rodeo. During the rodeo performance, McKenzie Haley of Winner, South Dakota was crowned Miss Rodeo South Dakota Lady-In-Waiting 2010! Congratulations McKenzie, you have an amazing year ahead of you!
The next day I attended a special autograph session at my host hotel, the AmericInn. Everyone was there, including announcer Chad Nicholson, Black Hills Roundup Chairman Gabby Bush, specialty act performer Jerry Wayne Olsen, and rodeo clown Dennis Halstead. It was so fun getting to visit with them all and working with them during the rodeo. The Powder River rodeo company did an exceptional job this year producing the rodeo.
During the rodeo the Black Hills Roundup Committee made a special presentation to Faye Kennedy, the queen of the 90th Black Hills Roundup Rodeo. Faye has been a long time supporter of the rodeo and the Miss Rodeo South Dakota pageant. It was a very special presentation to a woman that has done so much for the community and our western heritage. The rodeo ended with a bang as an enormous fireworks display set to music truly made me feel proud to be an American!
On the Fourth of July I rode in the Tri State Area’s largest parade and during the rodeo performance, I was so honored to carry Old Glory into the arena as an Ellsworth Air Force Base B-1 Bomber flew over the arena. It was quite a rush! I could not have asked for anything more, carrying the America flag on our nation’s birthday celebrating my favorite sport of RODEO!!! I had an excellent week in Belle Fourche, the center of the nation, thanks to the Black Hills Roundup Committee and the community of Belle Fourche. They put on an outstanding Fourth of July celebration!
The Miss Rodeo South Dakota contestants and I before our pageant sponsor visits.
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