The History of the Rodeo Queens
Rodeo is an activity best described as energetic above all else. A few things are an integral part of the rodeo experience, like watching the cowboys ride bulls, bucking broncos and rodeo clowns. Let us not forget eating the definitelynot-optional fried Oreos and kettle corn added on top of local favorite, meeting the beautiful rodeo queens who visit the ND Winter Show yearly.
These beautiful cowgirls decked out in sparkle and satin sashes are usually rodeo royalty or competing to be so, if they win their competition.
But we’re getting ahead of ourselves.
What is the competition for rodeo queens? Is it a beauty competition, or do they just enjoy dressing to the nines and looking their best?
In the beginning rodeo queen winners were women who were not known as competitors, but instead as women who could embody the town’s morals and western heritage.
Closely following those years the rodeo queen and her court began to make their presence more known in the rodeo itself. They introduced the rodeo by riding the flags into the arena before the event started as well as rounding up the calfs during calf roping and other such duties.
Throughout the years, rodeo queens took larger and larger parts of the rodeo competition into the identity of the rodeo queen. Horsemanship competitions became the norm, and once rodeo queens became queen of a certain rodeo, they would often travel to promote ‘their’ rodeo and drum up excitement to inspire more attendees to add it to their agenda.
In 1955, the game changed again. Not rodeo itself - that’s fairly cut-and-dried - but the competition of becoming a rodeo queen.
With the creation of the Miss Rodeo America (MRA) competition, the International Rodeo Association made it possible for there to be a hierarchy of rodeo queens in America. The winner of the MRA became the official spokesperson for all American rodeo and also mentor for all the little cowgirls who wanted to be them when they grew up.
Throughout the sixtyodd years since then, various rules have been made and broken, locations for the MRA have been chosen and rejected, and the number of competitors differed greatly, although a change in 1985 became legendary: the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo and the Miss Rodeo America pageant became synonymous, and the location
for both was hammered down to Las Vegas, Nevada, where it remains today. December 2nd11th will see the 2021 National Finals Rodeo, which is set to take place at the Thomas and Mack Center.
Be sure to keep an eye out here a home during the 84th annual NDWS, March 10th-14th, as I have heard talk that there will be some royalty visiting us for the show. Want to learn more about Miss Rodeo America? Visit www.missrodeoamerica.com/
Former Miss Rodeo America Queens:
Jordan Tierney
2020 Miss Rodeo America (South Dakota)
Taylor McNair
2019 Miss Rodeo America (Mississippi)
Keri Sheffield
2018 Miss Rodeo America (Florida)
Lisa Lageschaar
2017 Miss Rodeo America (Texas)
Katherine Merck
2016 Miss Rodeo America (Washington)
Lauren Heaton
2015 Miss Rodeo America (Oklahoma)
Paige Nicholson
2014 Miss Rodeo America (Mississippi)
Chenae (Shiner) Vest
2013 Miss Rodeo America (Utah)
Mackenzie (Carr) Ivie
2012 Miss Rodeo America (Oregon)
McKenzie (Haley) Vice
2011 Miss Rodeo America (South Dakota)
Kelli (Jackson) Russell
2010 Miss Rodeo America (Mississippi)
Maegan (Ridley) Hollander
2009 Miss Rodeo America (California)
Amy Wilson
2008 Miss Rodeo America (Kansas)
Ashley (Andrews) Alderson
2007 Miss Rodeo America (North Dakota)
Amanda (Jenkins) Legge
2006 Miss Rodeo America (Arizona)
Selena (Ulch) Pope
2005 Miss Rodeo America (Nevada)
Darci Robertson
2004 Miss Rodeo America (California)
Lori (Bortner) Harding
2003 Miss Rodeo America (Nebraska)
Kara (Brown) Gillit
2002 Miss Rodeo America (Texas)
Tara (Graham) Rowe
2001 Miss Rodeo America (Colorado)
Brandy (DeJongh) Whitlow
2000 Miss Rodeo America (California)
Shelly Williams
1999 Miss Rodeo America (Idaho)
Mary (Shaw) Drake
1998 Miss Rodeo America (Utah)
MiQuel (Holyoak) McRae
1997 Miss Rodeo America (Arizona)
Tanya (McKinnon)
Bartlett
1996 Miss Rodeo America (Utah)
Jennifer (Douglas) Smith
1995 Miss Rodeo America (Texas)
Michele (Green) Mackey
1994 Miss Rodeo America (Wyoming)
Sheri (Hannigan) Klopp
1993 Miss Rodeo America (California)
Stacey (Talbott) Sinclair
1992 Miss Rodeo America (Wyoming)
Lisa (Poese) Jamison
1991 Miss Rodeo America (Nebraska)
Joni (James) Smith
1990 Miss Rodeo America (Idaho)
Chrissy (Sparling) Allen
1989 Miss Rodeo America (California)
Kellie (Dilka) Lambert
1988 Miss Rodeo America (Colorado)
Suzy (Gillard) Trahan
1987 Miss Rodeo America (Louisiana)
Vicki (Vest) Woodard
1986 Miss Rodeo America (Utah)
Leslie (Patten) White
1985 Miss Rodeo America (South Dakota)
Sandy (Meyer) Brazile
1984 Miss Rodeo America (Wyoming)
Brenda Lee (Bonogofsky) Pickett
1983 Miss Rodeo America (North Dakota)
Donna Keffeler
1982 Miss Rodeo America (South Dakota)
Kathy (Martin) Colletti
1981 Miss Rodeo America (Colorado)
Diana (Putnam) Friend
1980 Miss Rodeo America (Kansas)
Debbie (Johnston) Garrison
1979 Miss Rodeo America (Texas)
Almabeth (Carroll) Kaess
1978 Miss Rodeo America (Colorado)
Terry Ann (Edington)
Dukes
1977 Miss Rodeo America (Texas)
Betty (Schnell) Freeman
1976 Miss Rodeo America (Idaho)
Connie (Della Lucia) Robinson
1975 Miss Rodeo America (Utah)
Donna (Howsley) Bullard
1974 Miss Rodeo America (Texas)
Pam (Martin) Minick
1973 Miss Rodeo America (Nevada)
Susan (Merrill) Agricola
1972 Miss Rodeo America (Utah)
Lana (Brackenbury) Parker
1971 Miss Rodeo America (Idaho)
Christine (Vincent) Williams
1970 Miss Rodeo America (California)
Patricia Eaves
1969 Miss Rodeo America (New Mexico)
Sherrie (Vincent) Scott
1968 Miss Rodeo America (Arizona)
Nancy Ann (Simmons)
Brannon
1967 Miss Rodeo America (Nebraska)
Carolynn (Seay) Vietor
1966 Miss Rodeo America (Texas)
Pat (Koren) Sanmartin
1965 Miss Rodeo America (South Dakota)
Sandi (Prati) Cardwell
1964 Miss Rodeo America (Texas)
Joyce (Shelley) LoomisKernek
1963 Miss Rodeo America (New Mexico)
Karen (Lavens) James
1962 Miss Rodeo America (Idaho)
Marie (Mass) Gatlin
1961 Miss Rodeo America (Colorado)
Martha (Lehmann) Robertson
1960 Miss Rodeo America (Arizona)
Susan (Cox) Stauffer
1959 Miss Rodeo America (Idaho)
Jan (Porath) Thompson
1958 Miss Rodeo America (Michigan)
Dallas (Hunt) George
1957 Miss Rodeo America (Nebraska)
Marilyn (Scott) Freimark
1956 Miss Rodeo America (Wyoming)