Being involved with the Reno Rodeo also means I’m very involved in Team 355. Team 355 is part of the Reno Rodeo Foundation which is the charitable arm of the Reno Rodeo. It is made up of volunteers that have given over 5,000 of hours back to the Northern Nevada community since inception. One of the August Team 355 events was a “Roping Dummy Show” at the 4-H camp in Lake Tahoe for the Muscular Dystrophy Camp. Miss Reno Rodeo, Kayla Roundy and I had a great time making bandanas with the kids and signing autographs. We met some really neat kids including one young lady named Kaos (pronounced Chaos). This young gal was a huge fan of Taylor Swift and was sweet enough to give us a show while we were there! Not only can this girl sing but she is a true performer who knew how to work an audience. Kayla and I had an awesome time meeting these kids who are from all over Nevada. Unfortunately it was over too quickly but nonetheless, it was a great afternoon spent with some special kids!

Kayla, my new friend Kaos, her best friend and myself.

Miss Rodeo America Clinic with Mr. Bill Althoff

Right after the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo, the Miss Rodeo America Clinic kicked off. I had great time learning from some of the best clinicians around, including Kelli Jackson Miss Rodeo America 2010 and Amy Wilson Miss Rodeo America 2008. I met many of the Miss Rodeo America Inc. Board Members with whom I will be spending a lot of time in Las Vegas during the pageant. I also enjoyed bonding with many of the other state queens as we were put through our paces while we covered topics such as modeling, impromptu speaking, prepared speeches, horsemanship, appearance, personality and most importantly, knowledge! I was surprised but excited to learn that I had the highest score on the test we took. All in all, it was a great affirmation of the work I’ve done to prepare so far and an invigorating challenge to keep up my momentum! Thank you to everyone who worked so hard to make that clinic as beneficial as it was!
 

With the newly crowned Miss Rodeo Utah. Congratulations Jamie Udell!

Right after the clinic, I departed Colorado for Ogden, UT to watch the Miss Rodeo Utah contest with Audrey Hall Miss Rodeo Arizona. Having been to the Utah Boot Camp Clinic several times, I knew several of the girls competing so it was really fun to cheer them all on! One of the highlights of the pageant was the Fashion Show production the Miss Rodeo Utah Board puts on. I will be participating in a similar production in Las Vegas so it was neat to see how they did their show. I also got to meet Gabe Garcia who judged the pageant. Gabe was on Nashville Star and just signed a record deal with John Rich’s label. We were blessed to enjoy his musical talents all week. Throughout the pageant all of the girls did a phenomenal job, but in the end Jamie Udell took home the coveted title. Congratulations Jamie!  
 

Horseback with Audrey Hall Miss Rodeo Arizona at the Ogden Pioneer Days Rodeo.

When we weren’t watching the pageant, Audrey and I enjoyed riding in the grand entry every evening and watching a top notch rodeo right after! We also toured downtown Ogden with Kristi Sampson and her husband Big D. We were hosted by the Burton family and got to enjoy a nice sit down dinner with their family. Thank you to Stace Smith for providing me a horse to use during Grand Entry. Also, thank you to the Burton Family for being such generous hosts. Last but not least thank you to the Miss Rodeo Utah committee but especially Jeff, Chris and the outgoing queen Martina.

After the pageant I headed up North a bit to Preston, ID to spend a few days riding with the Christensen family in Preston. 2 days did not seem like much time at all, but just as soon as I arrived it seemed like it was time to leave for the last stop on my trip, Cheyenne!

Pancake Batter Mixing Truck

Although I was only in Cheyenne for 3 full days, the time I did spend there was packed full of activities for all of the visiting royalty. The first morning I was there, started early with the pancake breakfast in downtown Cheyenne. These breakfasts are sponsored by the Kiwanis Club, with the help of the Cheyenne Boys and Girl Scouts and have been known to feed upwards of 10,000.00 people!  Needless to say, they needed help cooking so I donned an apron and got behind the range. They had me flipping pancakes and later catching them on trays. Now my hand eye coordination is not that great, but luckily they paired me with expert catchers and flippers. I’m proud to say I only dropped one pancake! They also had other celebrity chefs there like Wyoming Governor Matt Mead and First Lady Carol Mead.

With Samson, my horse for the week, at the Saturday Parade

After breakfast we got busy signing autographs which we did until the rodeo started.  Every day that I was there, I was introduced horseback with an infamous flyby during the rodeo. Harry Vold is the stock contractor for the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo and generously loans some of his horses to the queens for a quick introduction down the track. And when I say quick, I mean you blink and your run is done. They have you start facing away from the track because Harry’s horses are all very experienced and know what is coming next! Before you know it you are past the grandstands and slowing up at the end. It was an incredible adrenaline rush and probably one of the most fun things I’ve done so far! After flybys, the queens were ushered to the media box for radio interviews and behind the chutes tours. Then we had a quick break before signing more autographs. During one of my breaks I happened to bump into Craig Keough from Star Nursery. Star Nursery is one of Miss Rodeo Nevada’s biggest sponsors so it was my pleasure to meet him and introduce myself. You just never know who you might see along the rodeo trail.

With Miss Frontier 2011 Amy Berry and her Lady in Waiting Sami Jo Heitsch

Besides the rodeo, we also rode in the last parade of the week on Saturday. Despite the heat, there was a great turnout and it was neat getting to meet the Cheyenne Frontier Days committee after we were done riding. The Cheyenne committee was incredibly welcoming and so fun to work with!

One of our chaperones for this trip was Arlene Kensinger. Arlene is responsible for touching the lives of so many people but particularly rodeo queens. All of us queens got a tour of her house which is a living museum. She had some incredible artifacts including signed photos from Cheyenne Frontier Days Performer’s, Retro Queen Outfits, and of course tons of memorabilia photos. She is an amazing woman and role model so it was such an honor to meet her. 

Visiting Royalty with the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo Committee

My trip to Cheyenne was incredibly memorable, not only because of the top notch rodeo, but also thanks to the people who made my trip so special. Thank you to Arlene and Ester for chaperoning our trip and keeping us queens on time and in the right spot! Thank you to Fran Fox and her family for hosting me in their home during my Wyoming stay. I put over 3,000 miles on my car with my travels this last month and I loved every minute of it! Now I’m headed home for a few weeks before I head over to Payson, AZ!

Until Next Time,
Ann

It literally rained on our parade.

The first event at the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo was the parade Tuesday evening. I have family in Colorado and they warned me it might rain… Boy they weren’t kidding! Luckily we were about halfway through the parade before a downpour started. As you can see in the photos, the queens were completely soaked by the time the parade was said and done. Afterwards I was so impressed by the amount of people that stuck it out and busted out the umbrella and rain slickers to watch the remaining parade entrants! No one can say Coloradans aren’t tough!

I can't imagine a more picturesque setting for a rodeo!

Wednesday started the rodeo and our busy appearance schedule! I really enjoyed the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo for three reasons. First the rodeo committee was incredibly welcoming and hospitable. Everyone thanked us queens for the coming and helping, and all I could think about it is how lucky the rodeo is to have such dedicated volunteers (meaning the committee). The second reason I loved the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo is because they have this AWESOME reenactment of a horseback battle that took place in the Middle East just a few years ago involving the United State Calvary. What a cool way to educate the rodeo community about the role that horses play in the military today. The third reason I loved the Pikes Peak or Bust rodeo is that all of their revenue is dispersed back into the local Colorado Springs, CO community to military charities. Our military do so much for our nation and nothing makes me happier than knowing that the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo is raising moneyfor such a great cause!   

Pikes Peak

In between rodeo appearances, the Pikes Peak or Bust crew took us up to the top of Pikes Peak on the Cog Railway and also to the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. When we arrived at the Academy we were treated to a great tour that was guided by Tommy Taylor. Not only is this gentlemen training to become an officer in the United States Air Force, he also rides broncs on the United States  Air Force Academy Rodeo Team!

United States Air Force Academy Tour

On Saturday morning I had the honor of attending the 2011 PRCA Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame. Before the ceremony started, we toured the Hall and got some great rodeo history lessons! I had to of course stop in front of the Reno Rodeo’s wall to get a picture. Just like the Pikes Peak Rodeo, the Reno Rodeo and Team 355 do so much for the Northern Nevada community and I couldn’t be prouder to call them my hometown rodeo!

Hallof Fame Inductions 2011

I would not be where I am today if it weren’t for them! The ceremony was particularly touching, especially when they played a video for Keith Martin in which his mother, who couldn’t attend the ceremony, extended her congratulatory remarks. Congratulations to all of the inductees in this year’s class: PRCA Chairman of the Board Keith Martin, War Paint the famous saddle bronc horse, three-time world champion Burel Mulkey, two-time World Champion Bareback Rider Lan LaJeunesse, trick rider/roper J.W. Stoker, and the Deadwood (S.D.) Days of ’76 Rodeo Committee. It was an honor to be included in such a special day.

In front of the Pro Rodeo Hall of fame.

Thank you so much to Becky and Rochelle Littrell for coordinating our schedule while in Colorado Springs, Tom for keeping all of us queen hydrated, Bob for driving us around, Tommy for taking us around the Air Force Academy and last but not least, the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo Committee. What a memorable trip that I will forever cherish!  In the days I have remaining in Colorado, I will be attending the Miss Rodeo America Clinic before I head over to Utah for the Ogden Pioneer Days and Miss Rodeo Utah contest.

Until Next Time,
Ann

Miss Rodeo Oregon Mackenzie Carr, Miss Rodeo Nevada Ann Clemmitt, Miss Rodeo Washington Amanda Emerson in Molalla, OR

Straight from Arizona I flew into Portland, OR to make my way down to the St. Paul Rodeo which is a gold tour stop on the Wrangler Million Dollar Tour. Debbie Brownell who is the Junior/Teen Coordinator for Miss Rodeo Oregon picked me up from the airport and drove me down to the town of St. Paul. I enjoyed visiting with Debbie and learning more about how different associations run their queen programs. Once I arrived at the fairgrounds I was immediately put to work because my horse for the weekend showed up! Thank you to Amber Riesterer for letting me use Cinco the two days I was there.

Shopping with Miss Rodeo Washington Amanda Emerson

The first night I was in Oregon I had the pleasure of riding in the grand entry at St. Paul. They were also hospitable enough to introduce me with a hot lap. What a phenomenal committee who puts on a heck of a rodeo! They had an event I had never heard of before called the Pig N Fords race. If you’ve never seen it, I suggest you YouTube it because it was a riot!

                The following day started with a shopping trip where of course I had to buy some new clothes. That afternoon found Mackenzie Carr Miss Rodeo Oregon 2011 and me at the Molalla Buckaroo Days in Molalla, OR. At the Molalla rodeo I had the pleasure of being introduced horseback during the Grand Entry. After the grand entry, Miss Rodeo Washington Amanda Emerson and I had more fun shopping!  Sadly the next day I was off on my way home to pack and re-pack so I could head out to Winnemucca for the Silver State International Rodeo (SSIR) Queen Contest.

                Once in Winnemucca I was honored to be one of 7 judges for the SSIR queen contest. For those of you who are not familiar with high school rodeo, the SSIR rodeo is held for the contests that didn’t qualify for nationals but were in the top 10 of their event. The queens are eligible if they were the first runner up to their state high school queen.  All 9 girls did an amazing job and I had a great time sitting on the other side of the table. For me it was valuable because it reconfirmed how I wanted to present myself at Miss Rodeo America.  As rodeo queens we are held to such high standards, and it was neat to see the effort that goes into the high school level contests. Judging that contest gives me great faith in our future rodeo generations.  I also got to enjoy spending time with the outgoing SSIR queen Darcy Malotte, who is also representing the Silver State at nationals in a few weeks as Miss High School Rodeo Nevada. Darcy and I were mentored by the same lady, Cari Carlson, so I’ve truly enjoyed watching her grow and mature into such a wonderful young lady. Best of luck to you Darcy at Nationals! I know you will do great!

Miss Reno Rodeo 2012 Kayla Roundy and I watching the SSIR rodeo

After the queen  contest I was on my way to Elko, NV for the Elko Silver State Stampede with Miss Reno Rodeo 2012 Kayla Roundy. We had a great two days in Elko and enjoyed a great rodeo put on by the Bar T Rodeo Company from Utah. We ran scores for the secretaries and judges both nights and had a great time behind the chutes seeing all the action first hand! Now I’m headed home to pack and re-pack so I can hit the road again. Next you will find me in Colorado Springs, CO for the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo and the Miss Rodeo America Clinic.

              Thank you to Mackenzie and her mom Barb for letting me stay with them in Oregon. Also, thank you again to Amber and Debbie. Your hospitality made my trip to Oregon very memorable! Thank you to Michelle Pasquale in Winnemucca for inviting me to judge the SSIR Queen Contest. And last but not least, thank you to Dani Greenland in Elko for coordinating my stay! I hope you are all having as much fun this summer as I am!

Until Next Time,

Ann

The 2012 Miss Reno Rodeo Contestants with Miss Rodeo Nevada Teen Brooke Munson

The Reno Rodeo got started early with the Miss Reno Rodeo Pageant. I had the opportunity to cheer on Danielle Davis, Ashley Carrington, Kayla Roundy, Miranda Estes, and Kendra Amidon as they all vied for the title of Miss Reno Rodeo 2012. I enjoyed watching their freestyle rounds of horsemanship, then identifying different pieces of rodeo tack, and finally, answering some tough impromptu questions. All of the ladies did a wonderful job but in the end, Kayla Roundy took home the top honor. I’m so excited for her because I know she is going to have an awesome year! The Reno Rodeo Association treats their own as family and that is one of the many ingredients that makes their association so successful.

Signing autographs for two of the best dressed fans!

 A few days after the pageant, it was time for the rodeo. I was lucky enough to ride in the Grand Entry every evening and to help the 2011 Miss Reno Rodeo, Melinda Cowan, push cattle during the steer wrestling and tie-down roping events. What an honor it was to be introduced in my hometown! That is going to be a hard memory to top!  Besides the rodeo every evening, I signed autographs at Shepler’s, Roger’s Cowboy Supply, Boot Barn, and D-M with the other visiting queens. I really enjoyed getting to meet so many lovely ladies and saying thank you to some great sponsors.

Melinda, Miss Rodeo Nevada Teen Brooke and I had the honor of riding in the Priefert Hitch with Texas Thunder during one of the performances. Talk about the ride of a lifetime! Those Percherons are incredible, and I have so much respect for the Priefert team. They take such great care of their livestock and have super reliable ranch equipment to boot. I also helped out with Special Kid’s Rodeo where I got to enjoy listening to a weiner dog sing the national anthem with Miss Rodeo Nevada 2010, Lauren Neil. What a talented young lady! Nevada sure has been represented well!

The visiting queens at the Reno Rodeo parade

During our downtime, Miss Rodeo Idaho, Miss Teen Rodeo Nevada and I enjoyed a lazy afternoon at Wild Waters. I haven’t been to a water park in ages and it was nice to let our hair down and go on some wild and crazy rides! I also enjoyed a visit to Virginia City with many of the other state queens. I feel so lucky to live in a state with such a rich history. We toured a mine that was once a part of the Comstock Lode and got to experience what it was like to be a miner (if only for a few minutes). I have so much respect for the people that mined our state back then and who still mine our state today.  

Besides being introduced every night, one of the best parts of the week was the Reno Rodeo Parade. Thanks to Cowboy Tom, Miss Maggie, Ryan and the Bonanza Casino for letting Miss Teen Rodeo Nevada Brooke Munson and I ride in the Bonanza’s vintage Cadillac. We had such a blast! Be sure to check out our facebook page “MissRodeo Nevada” for more pictures.

 June has flown by and I can’t believe I’m already a third of the way through my reign. My schedule is jam packed in July and before we know it, December and the Miss Rodeo America Pageant will be here. The one thing that has been consistent so far is the overwhelming support of the amazing people that help to make Miss Rodeo Nevada successful, not just during the Reno Rodeo but all year!

With Miss Reno Rodeo 2011 Melinda Cowan and Miss Reno Rodeo 2012 Kayla Roundy

 Thank you to Patsy Ulch and the Miss Reno Rodeo Committee for keeping me busy, Wendi Simmons for arraigning a ride in the Priefert Hitch with Texas Thunder, my mom for shuttling me around all week, the Reno Rodeo Association for being so hospitable and welcoming, Cyndie Heinrich for being my shopping partner, and last but not least, my director Buttons Warburton.  I hate to brag but I truly think Nevada has one of the most supportive committees out there. I could NOT do it without their never ending support and encouragement.

 Next I’m off to Prescott, AZ and St. Paul, OR. I hope you’ve been enjoying the journey with me and remember if there is something in particular you would like me to write about you can reach me at MRN@missrodeonevada.com.

Until Next Time,

Ann

Audrey Hall - Miss Rodeo Arizona 2011, Chantel Miles – Miss Gilbert Days Legacy Rodeo Queen 2011, Miss Rodeo Nevada

My Cowboy Christmas got kicked off in style with a 3 day visit to the World’s Oldest Rodeo in Prescott, Arizona. Having worked for US Airways for a number of years, I’ve travelled through Phoenix quite a bit but never ventured much further. Boy was I in for a treat! Prescott is about a two hour drive West of Phoenix and once we got out of the city the landscape was breath taking! We passed through the desert to mountains in a very short time span. It reminded me a lot of the drive between Fallon and Lake Tahoe. Once we were up in the mountains, the scenery was absolutely stunning. It didn’t hurt that I stayed with the Miles family who have a cabin nestled among the trees on a hilltop west of the fairgrounds.

The World’s Oldest Rodeo first started in 1888

The Miles family was so much fun to stay with and they kept me busy during my stay! In between rodeo activities we toured downtown Prescott where I did my fair share of stimulating their local economy. I bought something in almost every store we went into! Kay Miles, her daughter Chantel Miles Miss Gilbert Days Legacy Rodeo Queen 2011, Ashley Mentzer Miss Roots N Boots Queen Cave Creek 2011 and I enjoyed lunch at the Palace Saloon which had a quite a history. Apparently the town had burned down many years before and there were some loyal bar patrons who actually carried the bar out to the street while the rest of the Saloon burned down. The bar is still original in the old Palace and it is sure a thing of beauty.  The town also has a neat timeline which they painted in their downtown square. The weather during the day was hot but luckily, it cooled off to a comfortable temperature just in time for the rodeo.

Ann with Kay and Chantel Miles

I had the honor of riding in the Grand Entry 2 of the nights I was there. I was also introduced by doing a “hot lap” around the arena. I had never heard of a hot lap before but I quickly learned that is a presentation ride at top speed! I had a blast doing it with a number of other queens visiting from all over the state of Arizona. On Wednesday, the World’s Oldest Rodeo celebrated Tough Enough to Wear Pink Night, and I had the honor of carrying their sponsors flag throughout the evening’s performance.  Thank you to Todd, Patti, Savannah, Hannah, and Sabrina Flick for letting me borrow Kid on Tuesday and Cal on Wednesday. Both horses were great to ride and I appreciated them letting me use them for the evening.

Fun Hats!

Other Visiting Royalty

Also thank you to the Miles for being such wonderful hosts! I enjoyed my time with them and getting to know them so much that I almost didn’t want to leave Arizona. However I hear Oregon calling my name so it is once again time to hit the road.
Until Next Time,
Ann

Wendell P. Williams 2nd Grade Elementary Class

For my first trip, I was off to Las Vegas to celebrate the Helldorado Days Rodeo. Helldorado is a unique rodeo because it first started in 1935, and back in the day it was the largest rodeo in the state. However in 1997 the event, rodeo and all, was canceled. Thanks to the efforts of many dedicated individuals, Helldorado Days started once more in 2005. The rodeo returned in 2009 and has grown steadily each year. The rodeo was held at an arena that had been constructed on a dirt lot the week before the event. Picture a rodeo arena, grandstands, and a fair complete with Farris Wheel smack in the middle of Las Vegas. It was quite a sight to see.

On Thursday I attended the Locals Day at the Rodeo. It had three main events: Bull Riding, Barrel Racing, and my favorite, Mutton Busting! Since it was Cowboy Up for a Cure night myself; Shyla Marshall, Miss Rodeo Helldorado Days 2010; Carly Alexander, Miss Clark County Rodeo; and Brianna Davis, Miss Western Heritage were able to raise $318.00 dollars by “passing the bag” for the Susan G. Komen Foundation. We also had the opportunity to help grant a young man’s greatest wish. Brody has always wanted to be a Cowboy and the Make-A-Wish foundation, along with several others, helped make that dream come true. I was honored to present Brody with an official declaration from the Helldorado Day’s Rodeo Committee declaring that both he and his brother Dakota were official Cowboys. Some of the bull riders then gave the boys hats that all the contestants and queens had signed. It was a very special moment that I will cherish the rest of my life!

With Brody and Dakota from Make A Wish

Friday was a busy day that started off with a visit to Wendell P. Williams Elementary School in Las Vegas. I had the privilege of reading to a second grade and kindergarten class. They were a delightful group of kids who had plenty of hugs for me! The next stop was the Whiskerino Contest. Shyla, Carly and I were three of the four judges. It was a tough competition to judge because it was obvious everyone had worked so hard to grow their beards, moustaches, or goatees. It was certainly a unique experience that I will remember for the rest of my life.  The rodeo started with a grand entry in which Oscar Goodman, the luckiest mayor in the world, was honored for his efforts to bring Helldorado Days back after its hiatus. It was great working with Cotton and Reno Rosser of the Flying U Rodeo Company. They put on such a good show and have some of the best livestock to boot! It was a fun night of watching the greatest show on dirt!

Buttons the NV State Director to Miss Rodeo America

There are so many people who made my stay in Las Vegas truly memorable. First, thank you to Buttons for allowing me to stay with her! She is such a neat lady and I’m thrilled to be working with her over the next year. Thank you to the Helldorado Days Rodeo Committee for being such great hosts! Thank you to Mandee Davis for graciously coordinating the use of a horse for me during the grand entry. Thank you to Chris Lemke who arranged the school visit and to all the classes of Williams Elementary that I visited while I was there. It was a great first rodeo to attend and now I’m looking forward to my hometown rodeo, the Reno Rodeo. It will kick off on June 17th and run through the 25th. I hope to see you there!

Until Next Time,

Ann Clemmitt

Welcome to the first ever Miss Rodeo Nevada Blog! I’m so excited to share my year with you! I will post as often as I can about my travel and appearances. If you have any comments, suggestions, or topics you would like me to write about, please email me at MRN [at] missrodeonevada.com. Let me start by saying I’m humbled to be representing the great Silver State this year. On my journey to become Miss Rodeo Nevada, I’ve met some truly amazing individuals, and this year I look forward to continuing that trend as I travel across our state and beyond. Everyone’s support and encouragement has been overwhelming and I thank you all. Now to give you an update on what I’ve been up to the first month of my reign…

I’ve been volunteering as a speaker for the Black Stallion Literacy Project through the Reno Rodeo Foundation for 4 years, and I didn’t waste any time in jumping in to help as the newly crowned Miss Rodeo Nevada! One week after I was home from Las Vegas I attended my first assembly. The program places an emphasis on the 3 R’s: Reading, Rodeo, and Responsibility. This program holds a special place in my heart because I’ve always been an avid reader. To be able to share two of my greatest passions, reading and rodeo, with at risk 1st Graders in Washoe County is a great outreach opportunity.

On Mother’s Day there was an annual event held in Reno called Mom’s On the Run. It is a Breast Cancer Awareness fundraiser which donates proceeds to local woman battling the disease. I ran in the 5K race and finished in 30:52. After the run, I helped Miss Reno Rodeo 2011 Melinda Cowan and the Miss Reno Rodeo Contestants hand out stickers for the Reno Rodeo.  It was a great race and a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the lives of 4 women who I know that have battled this terrible disease. I hope you all had a wonderful day and to all you mothers reading this…Happy belated Mother’s Day!

Until Next Time,

Ann