On the Road again Just Could not Wait to Get on the Road Again

Kate Cox, Miss Rodeo Arizona, carries proudly

our state colors at the Turquoise Circuit Rodeo

Hey there folks, my name is Sparky. For those of you don't know me, I am the loyal, yellow Dodge truck of Kate Cox, Miss Rodeo Arizona 2001. Kate has been so busy over the past few months that I decided to take advantage of the down time I receive when she is flying to rodeos and let you know where her travels have taken her. The question is where do I start? How about we travel back in time to the beginning of Kate's reign and progress from there. May 13th, Mother's Day, a dream came true for Kate and she was crowned Miss Rodeo Arizona 2001. Her journey as Arizona's #1 Lady of Rodeo has been bustling ever since. She has traveled from Payson to Globe to Payson again, then Flagstaff, Springerville, North Platte (NE), Reno (NV), Prescott, and Window Rock, Nampa (ID), Ogden (UT), Cheyenne (WY), Colorado Springs (CO), Payson, Sonoita, Bremerton and Puyallup (WA), and Holbrook. Just to give you an idea of how many places she trekked to in the first four months of her reign. I think this is where I should pick up the story.

Kate's next big quest involved putting together a successful Golf Tournament Fundraiser in the wake of the September 11th tragedy. With the help of her ever-supportive MRAz, Inc. Board, Mary Tewalt, the Phoenix 500 Club, the Phoenix Golf Ball Company, Ken Kirchner and her band of friends and family, the tournament went very well. In addition to the tournament, there was an amazing table of raffle items and a 50/50 raffle. The top three teams were awarded personalized wooden golf packs (complete with tees, golf balls, sunscreen and divot tool) compliments of the Phoenix Golf Ball Company (Mesa and Payson) and beautiful trophies donated by Charlie's Trophies (Glendale) were presented to the top three teams plus the "Tough Luck Team." While the number of competitors wavered during the weeks prior to the tournament, everyone who participated made an impact on Kate's year. I know that she could not have represented Arizona so well and at so many different events without the dedication of those who supported her fundraisers.

From the Valley of the Sun, Kate and I headed Northwest to Kingman for the Andy Devine Days Celebrations. And what a celebration it was: from the open arms of the Kingsmen to the captivating smiles of Kingman's finest doing their best to become the next Andy Devine Days royalty to the over-whelming cheers that embraced her as she made her way around that rodeo arena. I knew that this rodeo would forever hold a special place in Kate's heart. As much as she did not want to leave, it came time for us to load up and head home. Early in October, Kate received a letter from the Kingsmen letting her know how great it was to have her at their rodeo and what an impact she had made during her short visit. Along with that letter, they had enclosed a check and their best wishes to help her towards her goal of becoming Miss Rodeo America. She was sincerely touched and very thankful for their generosity.

As September came to a close, our plans took us to the other end of the state for Wilcox's Rex Allen Days Celebration. After meeting up with her 2001 Miss Rodeo Arizona "roomie," Kristina Bane, eating some healthy (ha ha) fast food, and receiving schedule instructions, we headed to unload. For this particular trip, heading "home" meant heading to the house of Ellen, Marsha and Crystal Allaire. Not only did they provide Kate with a comfy bed and a roof over her head, but a beautiful steed, as well. It just wouldn't have been possible to have such a great rodeo experience in Wilcox without the Allaire family's generosity! Wilcox sure kept Kate hopping from Homecoming Football game introductions, to the Rex Allen, Jr. concert, to muttin' bustin', to the sunny rodeo performance one day and the stormy rodeo performance the next. I know Kate loves to be put to use when she is at a rodeo and Wilcox did just that. The final day of the rodeo meant saying adios to all our new friends in Wilcox, as well as a beautiful, talented representative of the sport of rodeo. Kristina Bane passed on her title of Rex Allen Days Rodeo Queen and began the next journey of her life, as Kate and I headed west into the Arizona sunset towards home.

October 13th, Kate was a guest speaker at the Miss Teen Rodeo Arizona year-end celebration. She was glad to have the opportunity to express how this contest had impacted her goals as a rodeo queen and young girl. And she was proud that the Miss Teen Rodeo Arizona Board and past titleholders received her message well and were ready to move into a different, yet still rodeo supportive, area of the rodeo queen world until further notice. Congratulations to the young ladies who represented their organization so well in 2001!

With fundraiser number one finished, it was time to prepare for fundraiser number two: the Annual Miss Rodeo Arizona Trunk Show and Fashion Show. A HUGE thanks goes out to everyone who put their heart and soul into the preparation of this massive undertaking. From numbering and labeling the silent auction items, to practicing for the opening dance number, finding a motor home for changing and transporting clothes, setting up serving tables and creating a great atmosphere or announcing the show, maintaining the auction tables, transporting auction items and keeping the many "cheifs" calm. There was much to do to

Kate, always eager to join with young Rodeo fans

prepare and carry out this fundraiser and it could not have been successful without your support! Another big thank you to the Mammoth Steak House (Apache Junction), Red and Monty for their professionalism, creativity, great food and support. Dan Reagle (East Valley RV Specialist), thank you for the use of a motor home. Ken Kirchner, thank you for all your donations and continuous support. Rowena King and System Sales of Arizona, thank you for putting together and printing the fabulous program. And another thank you to all the visiting royalty for attending, modeling and presenting your live auction items: Courtney Carr (Apache Junction Sr. Teen), Heather Freeman (Cave Creek Queen), Carri Dixon (Cave Creek Attn.), Ashley Shudde, Lindsey Burleson, Lauren Burleson, Ally Burleson (Copper State Rodeo Royalty), Lacey Kesterson (Flagstaff Queen), Brandyce Engler (Payson Queen), Kenni Decker (Prescott Queen), Katie Hill (Prescott Court), Cassie Jo Moore (Rex Allen Days Queen), Tamara Clause (Sonoita Queen), and Jessica Listiak (Miss Turquoise Circuit 2001). Personally, I know the stress that comes with any large fundraiser and I understand the pressure that one can be under to pull off a captivating presentation. So, congratulations to the volunteers of the 2001 Miss Rodeo Arizona Trunk Show and Fashion Show for an incredible show!

The Trunk Show was held November 3rd and after spending the month of November packing, reviewing and organizing, Kate, Marilyn (her mom) and I spent Kate's 21st birthday traveling to the city of lights, Las Vegas. With years of preparation under her belt Kate was ready to take on her ultimate goal: Miss Rodeo America. I know that there are many things she wants to tell you about this contest in her next newsletter, so I will sum up with this: Las Vegas couldn't have been so much fun or so thrilling without the Arizona contingent that hooped and hollered at horsemanship, oohed and ahhed during the fashion show and felt their Arizona pride overtake them when Kate was named Miss Rodeo America 3rd runner up for 2002. Thank you to everyone who took the opportunity to support Kate at the Miss Rodeo America pageant, whether you were in Las Vegas, at home, at work or in the hospital, she felt your presence. Thank you.

After a successful national pageant, it was time to celebrate the holidays with friends and family, catch up on laundry and get back to work representing the greatest sport on earth. In January, Kate made her way up to Bullhead City/Laughlin for the 2001 Turquoise Circuit Finals Rodeo and Miss Turquoise Circuit Contest. Since she represented the Turquoise Circuit as Miss Turquoise Circuit 2000 and at the Miss Rodeo Arizona 2001 Pageant, this was a trip "home." Kate always tells me (or tells others and I just happen to be listening) how much the cowboys, cowgirls and contract personnel of the Turquoise Circuit mean to her. They have truly become her family on the road and she couldn't ask for a more dedicated motivated group of friends that love the western way of life like she does. To this family, thank you for changing a tire, for offering to share a home cooked meal, for being a friend, for saying "job well done" or for just saying hello and giving a smile to a rodeo queen.

After the Turquoise Circuit Finals, it was off to Denver for the National Western Stock Show and Rodeo. Kate had the honor of escorting America's future cowboys and cowgirls back to safety after their Muttin' Bustin' ride. After every child had completed a ride, the group was called out to the center where the top score winner was announced, the tough luck winner was announced and each Muttin' Buster was awarded a trophy as tall as they were. After these trophies were awarded (by champion cowboys, Miss Rodeo Colorado 2001, 2002 and Kate) the cowboys all lifted their Muttin' Buster up for the crowd to see. The first night, Kate found herself standing with the tallest cowboy of the bunch, but she wanted him top have champion treatment, too. So, she attempted the "Champion Lift." Even though she has been lifting weights in her spare time (HA HA), it was hard for her to lift him up very high, but she did her absolute best. Needless to say, when they lined up the to hand out trophies for the rest of the performances, the cowboys made sure Kate was standing behind the smallest cowboy of the group because they knew that she would make sure he got lifted up for the crowd to see. Kate mingled with buyers during the pre-auction mixer, handed out auction programs and was even introduced as a special guest. She signed autographs for children in the Stock Show's Equine learning area, Pony Trails, and had the golden opportunity to be announced in the National Western's glorious Equestrian Center when she handed out ribbons. Kate was awarded the opportunity of a presentation run during the National Western's pre-show introductions. Once again, it was great to have a rodeo put her to work. What an incredible visit to an unbelievable rodeo!

The journey home found Kate in a new month: February. And what a month it is! As Kate still works for the Gilbert Public School District as the Agricultural Specialist, she has full days of Agricultural Recruitment at the junior high schools, plus continuing her P.A.L.S. (Partners in Active Learning Support) visits to the local elementary schools. On top of that, she is still enrolled full time (15 credits) at Arizona State University, majoring in Agribusiness and Marketing. And February is full of rodeo travels. Kate began her busiest month with the Parada del Sol Parade in downtown Scottsdale. After tacking, waiting, doing a few television interviews, completing the packed parade route in chilly weather with a full blown cold, running out of gas and loading up her horse, Kate headed home to change, grab her suitcase and fly to El Paso, Texas for the South Western International Livestock Show and Rodeo. In El Paso she was greeted by one of her mentor's old friends, Juanita Warden, and driven, through the rain, directly to the rodeo grounds for the Saturday night performance. After pushing cattle all night, they headed "home" for some rest. (By this time, her cold has developed into upper bronchial "stuff.") The next morning, video taped the swine show, made media contacts and headed back to the rodeo for another full day of pushing cattle, television and newspaper interviews. Monday morning Kate was talking to classes at the local junior high, visiting the sponsoring radio stations, taping shows for the local news and appearing live with the Channel 4 weather man. After all, El Paso was getting some much needed rain and everywhere Kate traveled this year she brought some amount of rain with her. A huge thank you to Paul, Becky, Juanita, the Volds and the Stock Show staff for making Kate feel so welcome. She felt it was a pleasure and an honor to be able to help out. Kate returned home to a comfortable bed and another hectic week. The few days before Parada del Sol, she traveled throughout the Scottsdale schools for the Parada del Sol annual rodeo visits. Kate was glad to have a group of "Champions" to travel with: Wayne Brooks, Dwayne Hargo, Matt Lucking and Bert Davis, "The Coppertown Clown." Friday brought the first two of Parada's five performances and after a short night's sleep, Kate headed back to Scottsdale for a morning television interview for Channel 3. Saturday, Kate, Marilyn and I buckled up and drove south for the Saturday afternoon performance of the Yuma Jaycees Silver Spur Rodeo. Arriving a bit earlier than expected, Kate had time for some autographs and to help boot up the Honeycutt horses before the rodeo started. Then it was back to Scottsdale for the big Saturday night opening patriotic tribute, the final performance of the 2002 Parada del Sol and the Scottsdale Jaycees Break Down (& Thank You) Celebration. I can not even begin to tell you how much Kate enjoyed working with the Scottsdale Jaycees again. She was their Teen Queen back in 1997 and was thrilled to have the opportunity to not only help with their school visits and opening ceremonies, but work with a great group of people. Thank you to Dennis Larson, Jeff Cottingham, Mr. Wayne Vold, the flag crew, Sandy John and my school "groupies": Wayne, Dwayne, Matt, and Bert. Thank you for being such great friends and for being so fun to work with.

Well, loyal readers, this pretty much catches you up to speed, Dodge speed that is. But don't you worry; Kate will have plenty to write about next month because February is only half over. This has been a documentary by Sparky, yellow Dodge truck and rodeo traveler extraordinaire. Until next time, buckle up and point your Dodge truck west, where the cactus are green, the ground is rugged, the cattle are quick and the people love a good story about the wild days.

Kate Cox