A blur of exciting times

I have been going to one rodeo to the next, and the next, and the next, and suddenly it has become a blur of exciting times!

On Tuesday I traveled to southern Iowa to attend the Centerville rodeo. I had a muddy fine time! I rested on Wednesday then hit the road to travel to Lenox for the annual three day rodeo. The stands were packed full for the three very impressive rodeo performances. On Thursday night the new Miss Rodeo Lenox, Suzy Fife, from Corning, Iowa was crowned. On Friday, before the rodeo, the rodeo queens, Miss Dallas County Fair Rodeo, Hannah Hilsabeck, Miss Rodeo Iowa, Lindsey Ahrenholtz, Miss URA, Kara Telfer, Miss Rodeo Leon Princess, Jenna Kool, Miss Rodeo Lenox, Suzy Fife, and I, spent the day at the Lenox bowling alley. We enjoyed testing our bowling skills in Wranglers. On Saturday the rodeo queens and I spent our afternoon at the Leon Care Facility. We brought the rodeo to the residents and helped celebrate two resident's upcoming birthdays. We spent our afternoon line dancing and playing western games.

The Saturday rodeo performance came in with bang, literally. That is the bang of me hitting the arena sand after riding a steer! I have always dreamed of riding a steer. I took advantage of the steer riding that was held every evening before the rodeo performances. I was accompanied by Miss Rodeo Lenox, who also took the challenge of riding. There were no broken limbs or tears, only smiles.

Wet and Wild in Leon, Iowa

What an experience I had at the annual 4th of July Leon rodeo celebration! My weekend started early on Thursday, July 3rd. The Miss Leon Rodeo queen and Miss Leon Rodeo Princess pageant began with the horsemanship division. Lunch was then served and the individual interviews followed. After the interviews the Miss Leon rodeo contestants presented their speeches about rodeo and Iowa. Then both the Miss Leon rodeo and Miss Leon rodeo princess contestants modeled their beautiful western dresses and answered several impromptu questions.

The coronation was held before the rodeo performance on Thursday evening. I would like to congratulate everyone for doing a wonderful job. Congratulations to the current Miss Leon Rodeo Queen, Amanda McNess, and Miss Leon Rodeo Princess, Jenna Kool.

We had beautiful weather for the rodeo on Thursday evening. We, Miss Rodeo Iowa, Miss Dallas County Fair Rodeo, Miss Leon Rodeo Queen, Miss Leon Rodeo Princess and I, enjoyed the evening and early morning working slack till two a.m.

The next day we were give the chance to sleep in and enjoy the day in Leon. Rain was on the forecast for Friday night, but that didn't stop any cowboy or cowgirl. I determined that my hair on hide saddle seat is slick when it gets rained on, but the queens and I made it happily throughout the very damp Friday evening and early Saturday morning.

Saturday was a drier night and a wonderful 4th of July. After the rodeo performance was a spectacular fireworks display. The 4th of July weekend is known as Cowboy Christmas, because of the many different rodeos held that weekend. Miss Leon Rodeo Princess, Jenna Kool, and I discover this the hard way. We left the Leon rodeo around two in the morning on Sunday because of the many horse trailers. Getting home around four o'clock I concluded that my truck does not run on empty very long.

All in All I had a wonderful time at the Leon Rodeo and I am looking forward to my next rodeo in Centerville on July 21st.