Nevada, Iowa Lincoln Highway Days

After a busy week in Ames doing recruitment for my sorority, Pi Beta Phi, I made the short trek to Nevada for their annual Lincoln Highway Days and rodeo. Heartland Rodeo Company was the stock contractor. Dad drove Tankers down and I met them there. With perfect weather, John and Jeep put on a great show, with tons of contestants. My highlight of the weekend happened on Saturday night however...I got to ride on a stage coach! Not once, not twice, but for several short trips! I was even on when there was four horses! Both nights of rodeo I got to chase back cattle with one of the pick-up men, Glen. Tank even walked away this weekend with a brand new bronc halter, but of course it has some pink rhinestones on it. I was very excited to have some of my Iowa State friends come to watch Saturday too. Thank you to everyone who made my Nevada trip so fun! A HUGE thanks to my dad for bringing my horse up and helping get him ready.

Headed to Missouri

I moved back to Ames the week of the 11th, so dad came through to pick me up on our way to Downing, Missouri. Once we got there we walked around and set up. Once I was all ready to go I headed up on Tank to warm him up. I was so honored to get to be so involved: carrying the American Flag, leading grand entry, chasing out, helping with the kids event, and doing the closing ceremonies. The Downing Rodeo Committe was so great, and so welcoming! If you ever have a chance to visit their rodeo, go for it. During the day Saturday, dad and I had a chance to catch up on all of the olympic events, clean a saddle, catch up on quite a bit of scrap booking, and even sneak in a little nap! Time just flew by, because soon enough I was back up to the arena warming up. There was two awesome nights for rodeo again this weekend. The weather was gorgeous, the crowd was fantastic, and the livestock were intense. Thank you to the Heartland Rodeo Company for letting me be such a big part of their rodeo, and the Downing Rodeo Committee for being so kind! I hope to come back and visit that rodeo.

State Fair - Cowgirl Queen and Steer Show

I can't believe August is already here and it is State Fair time! On the 8th, we headed down in the morning for the Cowgirl Queen contest. I had the day to walk around, see the fair, and meet my steer for the Governor's Celebrity Steer Show. Soon enough, it was time for me to start getting ready for the Cowgirl Queen contest. Aleigh rode Tank in for the National Anthem, then I jumped on to warm him up. I happened to be in the third go of the senior division, so I had a while to wait. I had a chance to visit with a lot of the crowd sitting out side watching all of the gorgeous girls warming up their horses. They helped pass my time! Once we got to go in, Tank did an amazing job! I couldn't been more proud of him, we picked up the correct leads, had a pretty and slow trot, and had a decent head set! I didn't make the cut, but there were tons of great girls, and great riders. After that was all over, I went and stayed with my sister in West Des Moines. Saturday I got up bright and early to head back to the fairgrounds. I walked around for awhile, met the family I was showing the steer for, and headed to the Iowa Horse Council booth to sign autographs and visit with people. After I changed into what I was wearing to show, we went and visited with everyone around the biggest bull and celebrity steers. I even got to help 'fit' the steer, O'Malley. Next thing I know we were walking into the pavillion, with just me holding a 1400 pound steer in one arm and a pink show stick in the other! O'Malley did awesome! Everyone was surprised I have never shown a steer, let alone led one before! I was so confident in my showing skills, and it paid off when I was announced Showmanship winner. That was my proudest moment this summer! I couldn't wipe the smile off my face even once I was out of the show arena. Congrats to all of the other celebrities showing! I am glad to report that the sale, benefiting the Ronald McDonald House foundations, did so well! It was such an awseome experience!

Sidney and Carson PRCA Rodeos

On July 29th, I made the 2 hour trek to Sidney for the Sidney Rodeo and Miss Sidney Iowa Rodeo queen contest. Before I went and met up with everyone, I backed my own trailer in! Then I was picked up and headed to downtown Sidney. Then Holly Soucie, Lindsey Arenholtz, Aleigh Beahm, and I headed to the rodeo grounds for a radio interview, and then back to the Miss Sidney Iowa Rodeo competition. The girls gave some great speeches and did such a great job modeling. I am glad I wasn't a judge! It was great to see so many past Miss Rodeo Sidneys there as well! After that portion of the pageant we walked up the street to the museum and the drug store. It was so neat to see all of the history of Sidney, Iowa. There must be something with me and rain, because about parade time it started raining. All of the contestants, Lindsey Arenholtz (Miss Rodeo Aksarben), Aleigh Beahm (Miss Rodeo Iowa), Rachel Bergen (Miss Rodeo ISU), and myself tried covering our hats and outfits, but soon discovered it was just as fun in the rain. Thank goodness for Rachel Bergen, who rode beside me during most of the parade, because good old Tankers decided he wanted to put on a show! Next it was the much anticipated coronation, congrats to Morgan for winning Miss Sidney Iowa Rodeo 2009. Before we knew it, it was rodeo time. I was honored to get to chase out with Morgan and be in the arena! We also helped with mutton busting and then had a chance to sit back and enjoy the best sport on dirt. On Wednesday I helped Morgan get ready for her pictures, went with them for that and then ate lunch with her and Kim Skillet. Tankers and I spent some quality time together too, since he had some time off in early July! Then it was rodeo time, where I chased out, helped with the mutton busting, and kicked back and enjoyed the rodeo. Thursday, I had a little time before I needed to head to Carson. It was great to catch up with her and talk about some of our awesome summer adventures. I also got the call about the Governor's Charity Steer Show here too! After Aleigh and I had lunch it was off to Carson for me. Once in Carson, Dave, was nice enough to back my trailer in for me, because there wasn't quite as much room as in Sidney. I got all settled in and ready for the rodeo. Before the rodeo started I took time to visit the hospitality tent which was awesome!! For the grand entry I was a post, riding one of the stock contractors beautiful black and white paint horses. Then it was back to Tankers for a queens run. The rest of the night I chased out and helped with the many mutton busters! I even got to carry event sponsor flags! Tank got a work out but we loved every minute of it. The next two nights I was joined by Lindsey Arenholtz and we shared the duties! Friday night, Amanda Eason came and stayed with me to be my chaperone! We hung out in the trailer and watched a movie...until Amanda fell asleep!! Saturday they had a parade, in which Lindsey and I rode in. It was so neat, because you ride up one side of main street and down the other! Then it was rodeo time! I was honored to get to carry the American flag during the National Anthem. With more chasing out and mutton busting it made for a very full week! A huge thank you to the Carson Rodeo committee! Also to the judges who made my weekend so much fun! I even learned the story behind of their nicknames, "Chillidog"! This was for sure one of my most memorable weeks!

Lenox, Iowa Rodeo

Right from Centerville, we headed to Lenox...in a tropical storm! It was pouring rain when we stopped in Creston for a radio interview, where I met Katie Stark, the reigning Miss Rodeo Lenox. From the radio station we continued in the heavy rain to Lenox, where it looked as if the Miss Rodeo Lenox contestants for 2009, we going to get soaked in horsemanship. Their schedule was changed a bit, in hopes the rain would at least slow down. I was honored to be at there luncheon, get to model, and even tell a little bit about my year. Once the rain slowed down they hurried to get horsemanship done. The four wonderful contestants for Miss Rodeo Lenox 2009 were: Courtney Stark, Suzzette Walker, Lakoda Kelber, and Kara Telfer. Congrats to Courtney Stark, you will represent them well. A huge thank you to Heather Beck and the rest of the Lenox Rodeo Committee for everything, especially the showers at the high school! It is no wonder that they have been named Rodeo of the Year so many times!

Heartland Rodeo - Centerville, Iowa

Without wasting another minute being ill, my dad and I headed to Centerville Iowa. During the Appanoose County Fair, Hearland Rodeo Company puts on a rodeo. With time during the day, it is great to check out their county fair and view all of their exhibits. Little did I know during their cattle show, that it would be the last chance I had to watch cattle be shown before I headed to State Fair for the Governor's Celebrity Steer Show! My favorite part of this rodeo, however, was the trick riders! For some reason it inspired me to want to trick ride. All I want for Christmas, at least right now, is a trick riding saddle. Mom, however, is not sold on the idea....yet! John and Jeep did a great job, and they drew an awesome crowd. They put on a spectacular performance both nights!

Extreme Bulls - Red Oak and Bedford, Iowa

Wow, I finally have time to catch you all up on how the rest of my summer is going! After my stay in the hospital, it took no time at all for me to be back on my feet and in my cowboy boots. July 18th (my dad's birthday), we headed to Red Oak, Iowa for one of the Extreme Bull Tour stops. The show, put on my Todd Crase and his crew, was awesome as usual. Another great thing about them is, they put on a 50/50 raffle with all the proceds going to breast cancer awarness. Last year they raised well over $4,000 dollars! I was lucky to be joined by the Montgomery County Fair royalty as well. The next night we traveled to Bedford, Iowa, where again I was surrounded by the Taylor County Fair royalty. I helped sell raffle tickets, and between the two nights we raised over $600! A HUGE thank you to Todd Crase for letting me come to his events, they are such a blast, and if you ever have the chance I would recommend you go and watch!