Rodeo Season Begins!

Even though the weather in Bozeman the last couple of weeks has not indicated that summer is any where near, I can assure you it is! I woke up to snow this morning and I am really glad it waited until today because I had just another busy week. Memorial Day weekend is the weekend America hits the road as the weekend that summer has officially begun. I didn’t wait until the weekend to hit the road. I left early Wednesday morning to talk to the Junior High students at Lewistown Junior High School. I talked to seven different classes for an hour each! It was interesting to see how the older students responded to what I was there to speak about. I changed the message in my presentation so they would be able to relate a bit better, as opposed to the elementary school presentation. I talked to all the young adults that day about dreams and goals and the importance of having them; some were a little more eager to share than others! After a hanging out with my friends Kate Ruland and Laura Lake in Lewistown that night, I went to a day care in Lewistown and the Moore Elementary School the next day. Both of these places were so happy to have me and I enjoyed myself immensely. I was able to sign autographs and hand out the coloring books that Audrey Sholte started with “Eat Smart and Play Hard;” they were all very gracious. The elementary school in Moore only had about 30 students in the whole school but they were so eager to learn about what I do and had the most wonderful questions for me!

After I returned to Bozeman I was off again on Saturday to Helena. I was taking place in a Celebrity Team Penning with the Montana Team Penning Association. A few weeks ago I sneaked over to practice with them for a few hours so I was ready to show up with my “A game”! The team penners recruited about a dozen “celebrities” to participate in this event in order to raise money for breast cancer. Most of these celebrities were significant members of the community or people who have been personally affected by cancer. Each of the celebrities was paired with two team penners and that team was auctioned off in a Calcutta. I wish I could tell you that not only was I the most expensive celebrity but that I won the whole thing…but I would be lying. The event raised $2600 for breast cancer awareness, which was amazing considering it was not a highly advertised event; and no I didn’t win. Actually, I didn’t even come close but I gave it my all!!

Memorial Day weekend is a three day weekend so as you might expect I had another stop to make on this busy holiday. I drove to Arlee for the Memorial Day PRCA rodeo, the first of the season on the Montana Pro Rodeo Circuit! I had a really good time meeting up with some old friends that I usually only get to see at rodeos and also meeting new acquaintances that I am sure I will continue to see through out the summer. Unfortunately, the weather didn’t cooperate very well and we spent the rodeo in the rain on Sunday night and the cold on Monday afternoon. I have no idea what I was thinking leaving the house for a rodeo in Montana because I did not bring a rain jacket or even a coat; I managed though! It was a very exciting weekend of rodeo. I had the great opportunity to meet and work with the great Hadley Barrett, who was announcing, and Leon Coffee, who was the rodeo clown. What great guys they are and it truly added to the already exciting rodeo.

Special Olympics

Whew! What a big week I have had! I just returned on my “tour” of western Montana. On Wednesday morning I left for Great Falls where I was a guest at the Montana State Special Olympics. They kept me extremely busy all three days! I was first a member of the high five team at gymnastics. This required me to be nothing more than a cheerleader for all of the athletes. As they would tell me all week, they were very glad that I could be there. Next I met up with Miss Montana, Christy Hageman, where we left our hotel room together to meet and greet all 1,000 athletes and teams from all across the state. There were a lot of hand shaking and hugs! After the meet and greeting of the athletes Christy and I got to attend the opening ceremonies. This was my favorite event to attend; we got to lead the parade of athletes into the 4-seasons. It was the opening ceremonies just like you see on TV! Among the honorary talented guests was Montana’s own PBR and PRCA rodeo clown, Flint Rasmussen. He was entertaining as always. On Thursday I had a full day at the Eagle Mount Equestrian center. I was first assigned to take pictures and award medals to the athletes but was fast recruited to be the announcer. I felt right at home! It was a beautiful day to be at the arena and the athletes competing in the events had obviously worked hard to get there. The day’s events didn’t stop there. Christy and I attended a team BBQ where all the athletes were eager to tell us the day’s accomplishments; and then there was the dance! To be honest, this event was a little overwhelming. Everyone at the dance either wanted an autograph or wanted to dance with Christy and me or both. The attention we received was amazing and it was a good thing there was two of us because we certainly couldn’t have accommodated for all of the people wanting to talk to us alone! Christy and I were exhausted after our busy day but were up and at it again on Friday where we helped give away the final medals of the week at track and field. This was a humbling experience seeing how excited the athletes were to be awarded their medals. After the closing ceremonies I took a moment to reflect on what a great event I just took place in. The support Great Falls has for the Special Olympics is astronomical with almost a 1 to 1 ratio of volunteers to athletes and several dozen equally supportive sponsors. Great Falls will be the host for the state summer games one more year until it moves to Bozeman.

In between the chaos of the Olympics I got to stop downtown to visit with Mike from Hogland’s, one of my supportive sponsors. He set me up with a great pair of boots. While I was visiting with him I got stuck with a $3 parking ticket! I was the brunt of jokes the rest of the week because I thought I was innocent until Christy, Miss Montana, asked me if I paid the parking meter before I went in to the store. She thought I was crazy when I told her that I have never had to pay a parking meter in all my life, so naturally I didn’t think the meter applied to me at that time. Another lesson learned!

After the closing ceremonies at the Olympics I jumped in the pickup and drove to the Paws Up arena by Missoula. I had never been to the Paws Up so I was in for a real treat. What a beautiful resort and arena! Paws Up was host to the 2nd annual Cowgirl U event. Last year it was at a resort in Texas so it is an honor to have it here in Montana this year. Cowgirl U is hosted by the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame in Fort Worth, Texas. Basically, it is a cowgirl camp where 30 ladies from around the US apply to come and learn how to be a cowgirl, which was to include roping, trail riding, branding, etc. Well instead of regular instructors the Hall of Fame brought in five ladies who are in the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame! So I got to mingle with the honorees and other ladies for the night. The Paws Up arena had an open house where there was a marketplace set up with different vendors from around the state. I met up with Sarah Capp who helped me with my booth. There were a lot of people interested in Miss Rodeo Montana and my duties!

Sarah and I stayed at a beautiful cabin between Seely Lake and Condon that night and drove to Kalispell the next day. Here there was to be the 2nd Annual LWI, Luke Warner Invitational. It was called Broncs, Bruises, and Braggin Rights which was a bronc riding only. I carried the American Flag, greeted the audience, and signed autographs. The horse I got to ride was extremely special! If you have ever seen the movie Open Range with Kevin Costner I got to ride Coyote who was the horse Kevin rode throughout the movie! Needless to say, I had a good mount for this already special event! It was a busy week and I am glad to be back in Bozeman for a few days until I am on the road again!

Helena Middle School

Well the weather is starting to really warm up fast across the Big Sky state which is a good indicator that the rodeos will be in full swing in just a matter of days or weeks. This week I got to go to Helena on Friday morning to visit with the Helena Middle School students. I had so much fun! It was their Vigil Annie days which involved the whole school in a parade and dressing up western. Their day started off with a special treat, an assembly with several special guests including myself. Cowboy poetry was read to them by Montana’s own cowboy poet Mike Logan. I talked to them about setting goals relating to my own experiences through rodeo and Miss Rodeo Montana. Then a crew of cowboys and I explained and demonstrated all of the rodeo events to the school. Thinking I would be the one to explain the girls’ events was a big mistake. The school voted and wanted me to demonstrate the bull riding, of all events. I am competitive by nature so the last thing I was going to do in front of a whole school was fall off! I stayed on for 8 seconds and scored 90 points! I am definitely not cut out to be a bull rider; I was fairly sore in various places the next day. I guess you can say my bull riding muscles have scarcely been used! I signed autographs and talked to some very curious girls who could be Montana’s up and coming barrel racers and future Miss Rodeo Montana’s! It was a great morning.

Saturday was MSU’s graduation so there were many friends in town and in the graduating class. It was a bit of a sad day around here because one of my room mates graduated and the other moved out of the house to go back home, not to mention many of my other friends moving back home or to new jobs after graduation. On the positive side, I was lucky enough to be in town for part of the day and join in on graduation parties, meeting family, and catching up with friends. I have a big weekend ahead of me now. I will be in Great Falls, Missoula, and Kalispell in a matter of three days! Check back next week to hear about that! Best wishes!

Wolf Point School Tour

Looking back on my blog history it’s been about two weeks since I have been able to inform everyone on what I have been doing! Well it’s been so long not because I have been too busy but just the opposite! I sincerely have not had anything “blog worthy” to report on! Since my last blog I have just been spending my down time working at Murdoch’s (who has become one of my latest sponsors!) and continuing to keep up on preparation for this summer.

This past weekend was my first weekend back “on the job” since Lorissa’s Gala. I traveled the seven hours back to my home town of Wolf Point. Located in the far north eastern corner of Montana it is a full day drive to get there! I had been really looking forward to this weekend as it was my homecoming since I have been crowned. The tiny town of Wolf Point didn’t let me down. I was treated like nothing less than a celebrity. During my time home I visited the three elementary schools including the one I attended in grade school, the Faith Luthern Rest home, and was the guest of honor at a mixer for the Chamber of Commerce. Not only that, but I got to help my folks on the ranch halter breaking the first of the spring foals. It was a busy weekend!!

At the three elementary schools the principals introduced me to the entire schools during an assembly. I gave my “Real Cowboy” demonstration and everyone loved it. Wolf Point is very educated in rodeo merely because the oldest rodeo in Montana takes place there. It is truly one of Montana’s greatest small town rodeos with big town heart. The families in Wolf Point and beyond make a holiday of the Wolf Point Stampede. I was proud to announce I would be able to attend all three nights of the legendary rodeo. So when I asked questions like what are some of the events seen at a rodeo, the students were able to cover them all with out too much thought. I signed autographs at every school and every other stop along the way. I think after the weekend was over everyone in Wolf Point and the surrounding communities have an autographed picture of me! I even had a line outside my pickup window at the gas station as I attempted to fill up!

The next thing was the visit to the rest home. With each visit to assisted living homes and rest homes I become more appreciative of what the elderly have to offer. It can sometimes be difficult but the reward is far worth it. My family has been in Wolf Point for over 100 years so no matter where I go there is someone who knows my family. It was such a treat seeing old friends and hearing stories about new friends and how they are connected to my family.

My hope is to get back to Wolf Point as much as I can. With it being in such a north eastern corner of a huge state it would be almost impossible for me to live back home and be able to travel as much as I do. The people in Wolf Point are eager to help me in my quest to become the first girl from Montana to win Miss Rodeo America but they couldn’t be more proud of Miss Rodeo Montana being from their tiny one horse town.