Rodeos
COWGIRLS FROM 27 STATES TO COMPETE FOR 2008 MISS RODEO AMERICA CROWN
By
Nov 9, 2007, 11:59

For 53 years, the Miss Rodeo America Pageant has hosted hundreds of beautiful and talented cowgirls from across the country. The hopefuls converge annually for a weeklong competition to select one deserving young woman to represent and promote America’s Original Professional Sport – rodeo.

This year, the Miss Rodeo America Pageant, Inc., welcomes 27 fabulous cowgirls, ages 19-25, to Las Vegas to compete for the prestigious title of Miss Rodeo America 2008. Each year a new Miss Rodeo America serves as the official spokesperson for the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association.

The pageant will be Saturday, Dec. 1 through Saturday, Dec. 8, as a glamorous prelude to the famous Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, the PRCA’s year-end championship event also held in Las Vegas in December.

Pageant activities are held at The Orleans Hotel & Casino, official sponsor and host hotel of the 2008 Miss Rodeo America Pageant. The horsemanship competition, Monday, Dec. 3, will be held at The South Point Equestrian and Event Center.

One highlight of the pageant is the midweek fashion show, held on Tuesday, Dec. 4 in the Mardi Gras Ballroom of The Orleans Hotel & Casino. The contestants model the latest fashions from Wrangler and a western elegance dress from their personal collection. This year’s theme for the fashion show is a celebration for Wrangler’s 60th birthday.

A complete pageant schedule of events and pageant ticket information can be found online at www.missrodeoamerica.com.

Miss Rodeo America 2007 Ashley Andrews of Bowman, ND, will crown her successor during a formal coronation ceremony on Saturday, Dec. 8, 2007, in The Orleans Showroom. A media conference with the newly crowned Miss Rodeo America 2008 will follow the ceremony at The Orleans Hotel & Casino.

Andrews, has presided as Pro Rodeo’s 52nd Miss Rodeo America, she will relinquish her title and responsibilities to the 2008 Miss Rodeo America at the conclusion of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, Dec. 6 through Dec.15, 2007, at the Thomas and Mack Arena in Las Vegas.

Contestants vying for the 2008 Miss Rodeo America title include Lindsey Glaze of Montgomery, Ala.; Katie Hill of Prescott, Ariz.; Brittany Sing of Branch, Ark.; Kadee Coffman of Sanger, Calif.; Amy Jo Fields of Peyton, Colo.; Heather Mills of Live Oak, Fla.; Samantha Souza of Nakawau, Hawaii; Morgan Anselmi of Idaho Falls, Idaho; Kelsea Walker of Cisne, Ill.; Amanda Eason of Kelley, Iowa; Amy Wilson of Colby, Kan.; Kaytie Zuidema of Hopkins, Mich.; Cori Keyes of Edwards, Miss.; Melissa Houttuin of Hallsville, Mo.; Megan Hardy of Bozeman, Mont.; Erin Robbins of Burwell, Neb.; Jeanette Bye of Reno, Nev.; Ashlee Stallings of Clovis, N.M.; Lauren Holt of Pauls Valley, Okla.; Jennifer Steffen of Silverton, Ore.; Lacey Cole of Piedmont, S.D.; Ashley Beddingfield of Prospect, Tenn.; Alyssa Plackemeier of Friendswood, Texas; Jenna Whitaker of Kaysville, Utah; Jesse Budd of Uniontown, Wash.; Chelsea Strama of Medford, Wis.; and Crystal Rivers of Riverton, Wyo.

These young women are in the home stretch of their race to Las Vegas. In addition to serving their respective states during the year as spokespersons for Pro Rodeo, they have been preparing diligently for months to represent their state at the 2008 Miss Rodeo America Pageant.

Contestants are judged in the major categories of personality, appearance and horsemanship. Each contestant will demonstrate her skills in public speaking, personal interviewing, horsemanship, knowledge of rodeo and general equine science, current event awareness, photogenic qualities, visual poise and overall professionalism.

The primary role of Miss Rodeo America is to promote the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and America’s Western heritage. She is a liaison between the rodeo fans and Pro Rodeo producers, sponsors and contestants. She is an ambassador to the young rodeo fans and participants of the future.

In her role as Miss Rodeo America, the new queen will travel extensively representing rodeo via many public appearances at rodeo performances, special events, schools and civic groups.

She will take on the role of model and spokesperson in a variety of promotional events and commercial advertisements for western clothiers, publications, sponsors and other service providers to the western industry.

Over the 53-year history of the pageant, thousands of dollars have been awarded in educational scholarships to young women for their contributions to the sport of Pro Rodeo through the Miss Rodeo America Scholarship Foundation.

Today, over $30,000 in educational scholarships is dispersed to the overall and category winners of the pageant annually.

Additionally, Miss Rodeo America and her court win many prizes, made possible by the generous sponsors of the pageant.

National corporate sponsors of the Miss Rodeo America Pageant include: Wrangler Jeans and Shirts, Las Vegas Events, The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, American Quarter Horse Association, Absorbine, Montana Silversmiths, Justin Boots, Bailey Hats, Dodge Trucks, The Orleans Hotel & Casino, Landstrom’s Original Black Hills Gold Creations, Court’s Saddlery, Chambers Belts, Hobby Horse Clothing Company, Bonefrog Creative, Morris Kaye & Sons, Buck’s Bags and Stone Horses.

For more information about the Miss Rodeo America Pageant or the Miss Rodeo America Scholarship Foundation, please visit www.missrodeoamerica.com. Or, contact the Miss Rodeo America Pageant office at 27906 Cumbres in Pueblo, CO 81006 or by phone 719-948-9206.

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