Rich in history and western tradition, the Miss Rodeo America organization relies on its volunteer membership, enriched with talent and determination, to maintain the integrity and continued success of Miss Rodeo America.
The Miss Rodeo America competition exists for the purpose of selecting a young lady to serve as an official spokesperson for the sport of professional rodeo, educating the public and creating awareness about the sport, its sponsors and its opportunities.
In addition to conducting the annual pageant competition, the organization administers the scholarship program. Providing educational opportunities to young ladies competing in the Miss Rodeo America Pageant is a major focus of the organization. We have a rich tradition and a distinguished alumni of past Miss Rodeo Americas, many who continue to contribute to the organization, the sport of professional rodeo and our western lifestyle, long after their reign.
The
History of Miss Rodeo America
1955—The
concept of Miss Rodeo America is developed by a group of gentlemen,
organized under the name of International Rodeo Management (IRM). The
first pageant is held in Casper, Wyoming.
1956—The
Pageant moved from Casper, Wyoming to Chicago, Illinois and is held
in conjunction with the International Dairy Show.
1957—The
pageant is held at the Cow Palace in San Francisco, California.
1958—The
Pageant is relocated again, this time to Las Vegas, Nevada.
1974—The
pageant moves to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, where the National Finals
Rodeo also moves. Miss Rodeo America is crowned at
the Cowboy Hall of Fame.
1975—Miss
Rodeo America celebrates her victory at the Myriad in Oklahoma City,
Oklahoma.
1976—The
first of ten Miss Rodeo Americas is crowned in the Jim Norick Coliseum
at the Oklahoma City State Fairgrounds.
1980—"Beauty & The
Beast" Wrangler Bullfight concept first originates with the
Miss Rodeo America Pageant in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
1985—The
pageant follows the National Finals Rodeo (NFR) and moves back to
Las Vegas, Nevada.
1989—The
National Finals Steer Roping at the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Oklahoma,
is the site for selecting Miss Rodeo America.
The pageant is produced for television and aires on the National Network.
A business manager is hired to manage the affairs of the organization and the business operation is relocated from Springdale, Arkansas to Pueblo, Colorado.
1990—The
Miss Rodeo America Pageant returnes to the "City of Lights",
Las Vegas, Nevada.
1992—The
business operation is re-incorporated in the State of Colorado as
Miss Rodeo America, Inc., and officially recognized by the Professional
Rodeo Cowboys Association as the sole entity to select Miss Rodeo
America each year.
Wrangler presentes the Miss Rodeo America Pageant with a check in the amount of $30,000 for educational scholarships. These funds are the beginning of the Miss Rodeo America Pageant Scholarship Program, which Wrangler continues to support.
1995—Miss
Rodeo America and Miss Rodeo America Pageant contestants were featured
in the opening ceremony of the 1995 National Finals Rodeo at the
Thomas & Mack Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The Pageant celebrates its 40th Anniversary.
The American Quarter Horse, Docs Keepin Time, star of the movie "Black Beauty" and trainer Rex Peterson make an appearance at the Miss Rodeo America Pageant.
1997—Miss
Rodeo America is included on the web site of the Professional
Rodeo Cowboys Association.
1998—Miss
Rodeo America, Inc., goes online with website (www.missrodeo.com).
1999—PRCA
Contract Act Of The Year - Entertainer, Mr. Jerry Diaz and his American
Quarter Horse, Grano de Oro, perform during the Miss Rodeo America
Pageant Fashion Show & Dinner, at the Flamingo Hilton Hotel,
Las Vegas, Nevada.
The Miss Rodeo America Scholarship Foundation receives its 501 (c)(3) status from the IRS.
2000—Brandy
DeJongh, Miss Rodeo America 2000, traveles to Paris to
promote professional rodeo, America, Miss Rodeo America sponsors,
the Western way of life, and a photography book by Lisa Eisner
entitled Rodeo Girl.
2001—Tara
Graham, Miss Rodeo America 2001, rides in the Presidential Inaugural
Parade, riding with Senator Conrad Burns'
entourage
from
Montana.
Tara participates on NBC's "Weakest Link" game show in November.
As the guest of Wrangler, Tara is the first Miss Rodeo America to attend the Country Music Awards in Nashville, TN.
2003—Pageant
activity headquarters moves to the Orleans
Hotel and Casino, in Las Vegas, Nev.
2005—The
Pageant celebrates its 50th Anniversary and crowns Selena
Ulch as
the 50th Miss Rodeo America.
A major rebuild of the Miss Rodeo America website is completed in the fall.
2006—Arizona
cowgirl, Amanda
Jenkins, stepped into the saddle and immediately
won the hearts of everyone as she completed the year as Miss Rodeo
America 2006. Amanda replaced Tressie Knowlton from Colorado who
was released of the prestigious title in July of 2006 by the Miss
Rodeo America, Inc., Executive Board of Directors. Las
Vegas Events, Inc., made a one time contribution to the Miss Rodeo America Scholarship Foundation in the amount of $10,000.00 to be presented, under the guidelines of the Foundation, to Amanda Jenkins, Miss Rodeo America 2006.
JOIN
THE ORGANIZATION
OFFICERS
AND STAFF
STATE
ORGANIZATIONS
ANNUAL
PAGEANT
Miss
Rodeo America, Inc.
27906 Cumbres,
Pueblo, Colorado 81006
Phone:
(719) 948-9206
Fax: (719) 948-4760
E-Mail:
mra@missrodeo.com
Past
Presidents
Ray Peterson, Sr.
Nevada—1954
Fran
Blomquist
Idaho—1955-1957;
1960-1963
Jack
Stangier
Oregon—1958-1959
Ralph
M. Billings
Oklahoma—1964, 1965
Bill Schuft
South Dakota—1966-1970
Joe
Golden
Arizona—1971-1972
Ken
Cross
Utah—1973-1974
George
Solari
Nevada—1975-1976
Jim
Roush
Wyoming—1977-1978
Sandy
Boone
Arkansas— 1979-1981
Larry
Walthers
Nebraska—1982-1983
Tom
Shouse
Idaho—1984
Jim
Jennings
Texas—1985-1987
Bob Peterson
Nevada—1988-1990
Judy Gremillion Gill Louisiana—1991-1992
Ruth
Davis Durr
Kansas—1993-1994
Jim
Sutton
South Dakota—1995-1996
Arlene Kensinger Wyoming - 1997-1998
Sharon
Halligan
Nebraska—1999-2000
Marjorie
Murphy
Texas—2001-2002
Bronc
Rumford
Kansas—2003-2004
Kiki
Shumway
Washington—2005-2006