Miss Rodeo America Visits Congress
The All American Quarter Horse Congress is full of traditions and history. From the cinnamon rolls at the Sweet Shop, to the winner’s jackets at Schneider’s Saddlery, there are so many little things that people look forward to each year, including seeing the All American Quarter Horse Congress Queen.
Decked out in a full length skirt, cowboy hat tiara and a glitzy show shirt, the 2010 Congress Queen Brittany Barker has been busy speaking with visitors and passing out awards since the show began on October 7th.
This year, however, spectators and participants alike got the chance to see two reigning Queens, when Miss Rodeo America 2011 McKenzie Haley visited the All American Quarter Horse Congress, October 14-17.
“I don’t get to visit many horse shows,” Haley said. “So I’m very excited to be here.”
So far, Haley has visited several vendors in Congress Hall, such as Rod’s Western Palace, Montana Silversmiths and Cashman’s Equipment. She walked through Puppy Alley and handed out awards during the Congress Cutting Event.
“So far my favorite thing has been watching the Cinch Freestyle Reining,” Haley said. “For the Miss Rodeo America Pageant we do a pattern like reining, but obviously it’s nothing like this.”
Haley was crowned Miss Rodeo America 2011 on December 4, 2010 at the conclusion of the week-long pageant held in Las Vegas, Nevada in conjunction with the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. During her reign, she will travel more than 100,000 visiting sponsors and rodeos across the country.
Haley, of Winner, South Dakota, entered her first rodeo queen contest at the age of 10. She competed throughout high school in Barrel Racing, Pole Bending and Goat Tying. To prepare for the Miss Rodeo America pageant Haley took a year off from her studies at Black Hills State University and went over everything, from her wardrobe, to current events, to happenings in the rodeo world.
Now that her reign is coming to an end, Haley has had some time to reflect about some of her travels.
“My favorite rodeo is in Deadwood, South Dakota,” Haley said. “It’s like an old west mini-Vegas, with casinos, bars and hotels on the main street. Everything has a western flare, and of course it’s great to be in my home state with family and friends.”
Her second favorite rodeo was in Bremerton, Washington. The combination of great people and fabulous seafood, made the rodeo a really fun experience, Haley said.
“One night we went to a crab feed and another night we ate oysters,” Haley said. “In South Dakota we don’t get a lot of seafood, especially fresh seafood, so it was a real treat.”
Haley will attend a few more events before she travels to Las Vegas for the 2011 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, where she will hand over her crown to Miss Rodeo America 2012 on December 10th.
Submit a Comment