The Oregon Queen — All the News of June 2023

2023 Miss Rodeo Oregon Zoe Brooks!!

The month of June flew by in a blink of an eye! I started off the month with a family trip to the coast. It was so nice to spend some much-needed time with family and relax by the ocean before the summer rodeo run started! From my coast trip I made it back home in time to have a photoshoot with my hometown photographer Shelby Snow! Shelby has graciously donated her time and photos to me since I began my rodeo queening journey. She also took my senior photos back in 2018! After my photoshoot I started my trek to a very long weekend.

First, I drove up to Union, Oregon for the Eastern Oregon Livestock show where I participated in a queen’s luncheon, a grand parade and their fabulous rodeo performance! Thank you to the EOLS for being so welcoming and making my first time at EOLS so memorable. While I was there, I got to use a wonderful horse named Gus! I want to thank Courtney and her mom for allowing me to ride their horse and for their wonderful hospitality.

As soon as the Friday EOLS rodeo performance wrapped up, I made the 7.5 hour drive home to make it to my younger brother’s high school graduation. I was so happy to be able to be there for my younger brother and cheer him on during such a big accomplishment. Right after graduation, I loaded up the truck and trailer and headed back to Central Oregon for the biggest little show in the world, the Sisters Rodeo! This was my first time at the Sisters Rodeo and boy, it did not disappoint. Their hospitality and kindness was so very much appreciated. Thank you to Sisters Rodeo for making me feel so important.

After Sisters Rodeo, I was able to spend 4 days home where I got to celebrate my 23rd birthday! It was so nice to be home and be with my family. From there I traveled south to the wildest richest rodeo in the west, the Reno Rodeo! This was an event I have been looking forward to all year. We were treated like royalty the whole week. From getting our very own Reno Rodeo PRCA sweatshirts, wonderful food and great hospitality, it was a week I will never forget. The highlight from my Reno Rodeo trip was experiencing the grand entry from the Reno Rodeo Stagecoach. Let’s just say I brought home some souvenirs of arena dirt.

The final weekend of June took me to Prineville, Oregon for the Crooked River Roundup! I cannot thank the Crooked River Roundup enough for welcoming me with open arms and treating me like I was part of the family! I was able to spend a lot of time with the Crooked River Round-up Queen, Mayzee, and Miss Rodeo America, Kennadee. My favorite parts of the Crooked River Round up were participating in the famous cattle drive down the streets of downtown Prineville and leading the Thursday night serpentine with Old Glory during the grand entry.

June was a month I will never forget! I am so incredibly thankful for this journey of being Miss Rodeo Oregon 2023! I can’t wait to share where I am headed in the month of July. See you then!

With Thanks,

Zoe Brooks

Miss Rodeo Oregon 2023

How fun is this photo! We have 2016 MRO Katie Shrock and 2018 MRO Jessi Jackson! Both ladies I have looked up to for years!

My four best friends treated me to a birthday dinner!

Meeting Amy Wilson in Reno was so special!

In the Virginia City Jail!

Miss Rodeo Mississippi and I got to interview all of the round winners 2 nights during Reno Rodeo!

Praying before the first Crooked River Round up Performance! Look at those Stringfellow Tailored Chaps!

Us gals got to climb on the top of a fire engine at the children’s rodeo in Reno!

2023 Miss Teen Rodeo Oregon Morgan Brownell!!

As May ended and June started, you could find me all the way across the country in the sunshine state of Florida! Although I was a little nervous to travel across the country and stay without my friends or family in a home with people I had just met, it turned out so much better than I could have ever hoped for! My host home Kalla made sure I was happy and comfortable my whole week’s stay. I was roomed with our neighboring state Miss Teen Rodeo Idaho Ariana Long who was so much fun to be with!

I flew into Florida on Tuesday and relaxed till we had an early wake up to do a Rodeo presentation at the local retirement home where we got to tell them a bit about rodeo queens and the sport of rodeo! We demonstrated 3 rodeo events which included team roping, bull riding and my group’s event, barrel racing! We then headed to the Silver Spurs Rodeo Arena to watch the horsemanship portion of the Miss Silver Spurs Rodeo pageant. The following day, we made our way to Melbourne Beach and I can now say I have been to both the east coast and the west coast!

Shortly after we got home from the beach, we were off to the Miss Silver Spurs pageant where we got introduced on stage along with being able to watch speeches and the crowning of the 2023 Miss Silver Spurs court! Congratulations to all the amazing girls that tried out!

Friday, we were off to Wild Florida where I got to experience air boat rides for the first time along with seeing wild alligators! Along with that while on our airboat rides we got to see a mama alligator with her nest of babies! Friday night we headed back to the Silver Spurs Arena where we greeted people as they came to watch the rodeo. We got to watch the rodeo a little ourselves and sign autographs at the end of the night!

Our last day together in Florida we went to Gatorland where we Zip-lined over alligators, got to watch them be fed and see all of the amazing alligators. One more night of rodeo followed and a week full of amazing memories for me to never forget! After being settled back at home for a week the horses and I were off again for another fun weekend. We were St. Paul bound for the first youth rodeo of the year where Chester, Custer and I competed in Barrel Racing, Pole Bending and Breakaway Roping along with doing run ins in grand entry and carrying the Oregon flag!

With love,

Miss Teen Rodeo Oregon

Morgan Brownell

2023 Junior Miss Rodeo Oregon Reegan Bills!!

The month of June was awesome and my horse liked it as much as I did.

We started out in St. Paul, Oregon for the first Northwest Youth Rodeo Association (NWYRA) appearance. It was fun to get to talk to the NWYRA court for pretty much the first time. I had two hot laps in 3 days. The really fun part was the rodeo events. My barrel runs were pretty unremarkable, and I knocked a pole on the second day, but it was still a blast. I got to really shine during my first Pole Bending run. Rocket was so happy to do something other than queen laps, so we just ran. It was exhilarating to run that fast. When the run was over I learned we got it done in 22.666 seconds, which placed 3rd in the juniors and was our new personal best! What was less fun was clothes lining myself to the ground on the awning arm of our trailer to go see results.

Later that night we celebrated my 13th birthday. I had a few friends at my camp for the celebration. We laughed, we joked, we ate cinnamon birthday cake I made the night before. We even played with glow sticks, which caused many jokes about not drinking the glowy Kool-Aid, aka glow stick liquid. That pretty much sums up the first NWYRA rodeo.

The only other thing I had rodeo queen wise was the second youth rodeo. So we made the trek to Canyonville. That rodeo was pretty much the same except that I made friends with the current NWYRA queen, Hallie Haslebacher, who is only a year older than me and a contestant for 2024 Miss Teen Rodeo Oregon! The thing I like best about Canyonville is the river across the street from the rodeo grounds. We got to go twice with two different sets of friends! Another great month down with more to go.

With thanks,

2023 Jr Miss Rodeo Oregon Reegan Bills

The Oregon Queen — May 2023

2023 Miss Rodeo Oregon Zoe Brooks!

May has come and gone! What a month filled with great memories and lasting impressions. I started my month off in Pendleton at the Pendleton Cattle Barons. Miss Teen Rodeo Oregon Morgan, Miss JR Rodeo Oregon Reegan and I had so much fun helping sell scholarship raffle tickets, judging a BBQ Cooking contest, passing out scholarships and helping with the Horse and Dog Sale. We even got to sneak on the Iconic Grass Arena for a once in a lifetime photoshoot. I had so much fun with Morgan, Reegan and their moms.

In the middle of the month I had the wonderful opportunity to attend the Oregon High School Equestrian Team State meet in Redmond, OR. This was so special to me because I am an OHSET Alumni. I spent 4 years on the Eagle Point High School Equestrian team where I qualified for State each year. My favorite memories were winning the Freestyle 4’s Drill Team State Championship twice! During my time at the OHSET State meet, I got to participate in their Grand Entry, push cows during their cow events, help set up their cowboy prom and pass out awards during the 30-year OHSET Celebration Party.

Once I was home from Redmond, it was time to gear up for my hometown rodeo, the Wild Rogue Pro Rodeo. I was so lucky to join the Wild Rogue Pro Rodeo Queen in a radio interview to help promote the rodeo. I spent 3 days participating in rodeo performances, public appearances and a Rascal Rodeo on Saturday morning. It was such a fun experience to be in my hometown rodeo as Miss Rodeo Oregon. I will cherish those memories forever.

I finished off the month of May in Spray, Oregon at the One and Only Spray Rodeo! I always love coming to the Spray Rodeo because you never know what to expect. For the Saturday morning parade, we had beautiful sunny weather and then for the Saturday performance we had a hail storm with lots and lots of rain! Sunday was the perfect day with lots of sunshine and great rodeo action. I want to thank the Spray Rodeo Queen and Miss NPRA for letting me push cows with them.

Now that May is over, I am getting ready for my summer rodeo run! It will be a busy and exciting summer and I can’t wait to hopefully see you at a rodeo.

With Thanks,
Zoe Brooks
Miss Rodeo Oregon 2023

2023 Miss Teen Rodeo Oregon Morgan Brownell!

The month of May started off strong for me as I made my way up to Pendleton for the Pendleton Cattle Barons. It was so fun to be back together with Zoe and Reegan. It was my second time at the Pendleton Cattle Barons and it definitely did not disappoint! All three of us got to sell scholarship raffle tickets to help support the local kids, sell rodeo tickets and of course participate in the BBQ contest. It’s a no brainer who I voted for as one of my sponsors and family friends was there, McKillips Catering, also known as Meatsweats BBQ! Zoe, Reegan and I were also able to sneak into the one and only Pendleton Rodeo arena and take some amazing pictures both on the green and on the famous colored bucking chutes.

After that, I was able to sneak in the Silverton Pet Parade in Silverton and what a great day it was to be at a parade! Kid was the lucky one to join me at my first parade of the year. We were able to attend the Silverton Pet Parade alongside Clackamas County Fair and Canby Rodeo Queen Alexis and it was a blast!

Memorial Day weekend you could find Custer Biggie and I in Spray at the one and only Spray Rodeo. With a parade, two performances, rain, hail and sunshine, I had a blast. Saturday, Biggie and I kicked off with the parade where he made his second ever debut as a queen horse but this time, he was hitting the streets of Spray. Thank you so much to my dad for letting me steal your horse once again (even if you didn’t know). After that Custer and I had performance number one where we luckily got back to the trailer before it started raining! Sunday, we had a nice sunny day so Custer and I were able to stay out a bit longer and push some cows!

With love,

Miss Teen Rodeo Oregon

Morgan Brownell

2023 Junior Miss Rodeo Oregon Reegan Bills!

The month of May wasn’t as busy as some coming up, but I definitely had stuff to do.

First off, Mom and I took the long road to Pendleton for the Pendleton Cattle Barons. We arrived at Motel 6 pretty late at night. The next day Zoe, Morgan and I spent the day selling raffle tickets for the Cattle Barons Scholarship program. We also took pictures in the legendary Pendleton green mile and played tag in it! We’re probably the only rodeo queens who can truthful say we did that. It was also really cool to see the cow horse exhibitions! Later that day we three Oregon girls went to Dairy Queen for ice cream. We also got to sell tickets to the ranch rodeo that night. During the rodeo we got to toss swag to the audience. Turns out I have a decent throwing arm.

The next day at the Pendleton Cattle Barons we sold a lot more raffle tickets. I sold 66 in two days! If I thought the cow horse exhibitions were cool, oh man, it couldn’t prepare me for the cattle dogs. It was so awesome! We also got to judge the BBQ competition. It was all so delicious! There was also an auction where the horses and dogs we saw earlier were sold. Then we got to have dinner with the Pendleton court. They are all so generous and nice. It was great to spend some time with them.

I also got to go to mom’s childhood hometown for the Linn County Lamb and Wool Fair in Scio, Oregon. My flower pack had its maiden voyage in the parade which was a lot of fun. But the best part of the day was watching my little brother shine in the pet show. Before the show, however, we had to get Fletcher and his dog Scrubby ready. For the show there was an option to dress up in costume. Fletcher dressed up as Asher and Scrubby as Pikachu. Scrubby didn’t even mind too much that we spray painted her yellow. We then drove to the show. Scrubby and Fletcher had been practicing their agility course for a week to prepare. They went up on stage and performed for the judges and got Best in Show! I may have cried a little. Ok, a lot. They did so good!

The following weekend I had my first rodeo of the season, the Spray Rodeo! It was a five hour long drive to get there but it was definitely worth it. The first morning I got to ride in the parade and that night was the rodeo itself. I got to do a hot lap for grand entry. JJ Harrison, the rodeo clown, zip lined in with the American flag. Then during the National Anthem a lot of Fireworks were set off. I was nervous about what my horse Rocket would do, but he was an absolute champ. Mom and dad got to chat with friends from college who they haven’t seen for 20 years. As they were chatting, the heavens opened up. It started POURING DOWN RAIN. My wonderful purple hat was not impressed, so we ran back to the LQ.

The next day was pretty much the same except there was no parade or rain. The truly wonderful thing that day was the drive home. Only thirty minutes out of our way was the Painted Hills. It was so cool to have a photo shoot in front of them. Also on the way home we stopped by Walgreens for road trip snacks and to let Rocket stretch his legs in the parking lot. Dad led him around the trailer. Rocket was probably thinking that we take him some weird places, which we do. Shortly after that we were driving again and I fell asleep, which concluded the excitement for the month.

Joyfully yours,

Junior Miss Rodeo Oregon Reegan Bills

Columbia County Fair & Rodeo, St. Helens!

It’s a new venue for the 2024 Junior Miss Rodeo Oregon, 2024 Miss Teen Rodeo Oregon, and Miss Rodeo Oregon Sweetheart Pageants, but we sure excited to embark on this adventure!!

Travel Oregon provides a map of all Oregon rodeos and their summary of Columbia County Fair & Rodeo provides a glimpse into all the fun that awaits: “Held Wednesday through Sunday, the third week of July, the Columbia County Fair & Rodeo is just a short 30-minute scenic drive from Portland along the Columbia River to St. Helens where the beloved tradition, more than 100 years old, makes for a wonderful family outing. In addition to the two-day NPRA Rodeo, there is the Jr. Rodeo as well as the Rodeo Queen Pageant. Other activities include stock car races, live music at the entertainment stage, 4-H presentations, vendor booths with great food, a carnival and exhibits.”

The 2023 Columbia County Fair & Rodeo Queen is Savanna Moore!

The Junior/Teen Pageant will be held on July 22 and 23 with the Sweetheart Pageant on July 23. Further details and a pageant schedule will be found in upcoming newsletters and on social media!

The Oregon Queen — April 2023

2023 Miss Rodeo Oregon Zoe Brooks!

I cannot believe that April has already come and gone. The beginning of the month started in Central Oregon for the High Desert Stampede and the 2023 Miss Rodeo Oregon Clinic! This was a busy weekend and one that I will never forget. I was so thankful to have 3 visiting state queens come and enjoy the festivities with us. Miss Rodeo Alaska, Arizona and Nevada all flew in Wednesday and left Monday morning. We enjoyed 4 PRCA rodeo performances where we participated in grand entry each night and pushed cows during timed events. We had 3 great days of the Miss Rodeo Oregon Clinic where we got to expand our rodeo queen knowledge and horsemanship skills. It was such an amazing experience to learn from some of the best in the business in the rodeo queen world and from Miss Rodeo America!

Next, I got to help out at the inaugural Southern District Oregon High School Equestrian Team Fundraiser dinner! It was a fabulous evening filled with great auction items, amazing food and the best company. This was such an important event to me because I was a 4-year member of OHSET and to be able to give back to a program that did so much for me was very special. Not only was this event a success but it was also put on by past MRO, Sam Henricks!

To end my month, I jumped in the car with Miss Rodeo Washington, Bailey, and we headed south to the 102nd Red Bluff Round-Up in Red Bluff, California! We spent 4 days in the beautiful California weather and enjoyed 3 great rodeo performances. We ladies got to help push cows each night and got to participate in their famous “Grand Entry Parade”. I have never seen so many visiting royalty at one rodeo before! On our down time we were able to make a quick trip over to Burney Falls and it was beautiful! I got to spend one weekend at home before I geared up for a busy month ahead.

With Thanks,

Zoe Brooks

Miss Rodeo Oregon 2023

2023 Miss Teen Rodeo Oregon Morgan Brownell!

April started off strong for me as I was able to make my way to St. Paul for the St. Paul Rodeo court coronation. We got to celebrate all the good memories and a good job that the 2022 court did. I absolutely loved being able to travel with them around the state as my dad was their director and being able to make so many memories with them so it was a little sad to see Hope, Macy and Sarah pass down their crowns but I am so excited to see where Jessie, Jenna and Mary go!

The next weekend my mom and I made our way to the High Desert Stampede for the Thursday night performance where I was able to meet both Jackie Crawford and Miss Rodeo America! We were able to sign autographs at the Coastal Farm and Ranch booth and be introduced by riding on a carriage around the arena!

The next 3 days after that we were off to the Miss Rodeo Oregon Clinic! I got to learn so many things from our amazing head clinician 2023 Miss Rodeo America Kennadee Riggs, two past Miss Rodeo Washingtons, both of them being 2nd Runner-up finishers at the Miss Rodeo America pageant–Beth Bahem and Lexy Hibbs–and past Miss Rodeo Oregon and Miss Rodeo America top 5 finisher Kayla Vincent! I had so much fun improving my horsemanship skills, learning how to better my hair and makeup and practicing my modeling and, of course, so much more!

With love,

Miss Teen Rodeo Oregon

Morgan Brownell

2023 Junior Miss Rodeo Oregon Reegan Bills!

Each month things get a little bit busier and April was no exception. My fellow title holders, title hopefuls and I went to the Miss Rodeo Oregon clinic. This was the third year in a row that I have had the opportunity to attend and each year is better than the last. Mom’s foal Jinx was not born yet, so it was just me and Dad. We went 200 miles to Madras Oregon.

I was so happy that Kayla and Beth were teaching this year again! There were also two new clinicians. First of was Lexy Hibbs, 2022 Miss Rodeo Washington and second runner-up at Miss Rodeo America pageant. The main clinician this year was Kennedy Riggs, 2023 Miss Rodeo America and 2022 Miss Rodeo Arizona. Since my Dad was flying solo as my chauffer, he had to learn how to curl queen hair. I’m not going to lie, I was pretty nervous, but my hair turned out decent!

Opening night we learned how to give a good first impression. Food for the whole clinic was amazing because the MRO board made sure that I was well fed. Most of the time I go places I need to bring my own food because I get sick if I have gluten. There were a lot of learning sessions and great opportunities to see not just where I have improved since last year but also my fellow attendees and friends. Clinic is such a fun way to meet fellow Rodeo royalty hopefuls and catch up with old friends. A few of the sessions were makeup, hair, modeling, appearance, horsemanship, and knowledge.

I was starry eyed when Lexy talked about study material. One of her phrases really stuck with me. She said, “Knowledge is power”. Rodeo Jeopardy is my favorite part each year and this time was no different. Rodeo Jeopardy is played like normal Jeopardy but Rodeo questions. The first year I attended I was only 10 and the amount of knowledge seemed daunting. This year, for the first time I felt like the leader of my team. I was the first person to get time out for answering so many questions correctly. We didn’t win, but it was a whole lot of fun!

Cows with Kayla was awesome as usual. Arena work with Sam was fun. Horsemanship pattern with Beth was very helpful. But my favorite part of the group was probably tack. Tanya and Julie would full a piece of tack out of their magic bag and we would say what the tack is called and say its function. I felt very knowledgeable, and it was absolutely wonderful. We had a mock grand entry. After grand entry, I talked with Lexy about knowledge and she said she was impressed! That made me glow with pride on the whole drive home.

Sincerely, JMRO Reegan Bills

Sponsorship Opportunities!

We have many sponsors to whom we give our grateful appreciation at pageant time. Most of the Miss Pageant awards have been sponsored but there are some opportunities we’d like to make you aware of.

Bob Roy makes our wonderful trophy saddles and sponsors half the cost. In years past, the other half has been sponsored by individuals, some of whom do not want to be recognized. We are looking for a sponsor to cover the balance of the award. If you are a business and want to have the benefits of sponsorship (including having your name on the sponsor jackets), please contact us at missrodeooregonincfoundation@gmail.com.

There are other sponsorships available at lower price points so please contact us if you’re interested.

If you are a business and want to donate an item toward the pageant, please send us a note. You can be included in the pageant program or possibly on the website!

The Oregon Queen — March 2023

2023 Miss Rodeo Oregon Zoe Brooks!

February of 2023 will be a month I remember forever! I started my month off in Rapid City, South Dakota for Rodeo Rapid City. We had the wonderful opportunity to attend multiple PRCA Rodeo performances, sign autographs for hundreds of rodeo fans, participate in a fashion show and do some much anticipated tourist activities! The Miss Rodeo South Dakota program kept us busy with a jam packed schedule. We got to visit Mt Rushmore National Park, we got a private tour of the Crazy Horse Memorial Statue, we did an underground cave tour at the Wind Cave National Park, and then we had the wonderful opportunity to tour the Landstroms Black Hills Gold Factory. I had such a fantastic time in South Dakota and I can’t wait to go back in the future.

I was home for 5 days before I left again for my next trip, but in those 5 days I was able to do some much needed fundraising for my coronation! I was also able to make the trip up north to celebrate our Miss Teen Rodeo Oregon Morgan Brownell at her Coronation. It was a fabulous evening at a great venue, with good food and a wonderful support group. Congratulations Morgan on a successful evening. After Morgan’s coronation I was wheels up heading to Kissimmee, Florida for the Silver Spurs Rodeo!

My week in Florida was an experience I will never forget. I was blessed to have had a wonderful host family, Tony and Patrice. They treated my roommate, Lydia Miss Rodeo Idaho and I like true Queens all week! Some of our activities throughout the week included 9 school visits, airboating, visiting gatorland, hog hunting, blueberry picking and trying lots of new foods! I was so excited to experience the East Coast and the Atlantic Ocean! We got to travel to the beach and let me just say, it was a lot warmer than our Oregon Coast but surprisingly just as windy. We also got to attend the 150th Silver Spurs Rodeo! There were 3 spectacular rodeo performances and an Exceptional Rodeo Performance. My favorite part of the rodeo is when they introduced all of the little and Jr Queens on a Big Blue boot with a giant silver spur on it!

After I got home from Florida, I geared up for the 2023 Miss NPRA Coronation for Abby Torgerson. This was a very special event for me. I held the title of the 2022 Miss NPRA and the NPRA will always hold a special place in my heart.

After a long month of traveling in February, it was nice to stay in Oregon for the month of March! It was the month of coronations! The first coronation I attended was in Eugene to celebrate the 2023 Eugene Pro Rodeo Court. Queen Grace and Princess Grace had a wonderful turn out and it was nice to see so much community support. I look forward to attending the Eugene Pro Rodeo over Cowboy Christmas this year. From Eugene I traveled north to Canby to celebrate the 2023 Clackamas County Fair and Canby Rodeo Queen Alexis. It was so great to see so many familiar faces. I can’t wait to be back in Canby August for the Canby Rodeo and the 2024 Miss Rodeo Oregon Pageant! It was also a special evening because it was the first time Miss Teen Rodeo Oregon, Morgan and Miss Jr Rodeo Oregon, Reegan and I got to be in the same place at once! We had so much fun getting to know each other better and we made great memories helping with the Canby live auction. I feel so grateful to have such smart, kind, beautiful and caring cowgirls to spend my year with!

The next two weekends I was thankful to stay close to home! The first weekend was to celebrate the 2023 Wild Rogue Pro Rodeo Queen Laney! This was such a special experience for me as the Wild Rogue Pro Rodeo was the very first rodeo I ever went to and where I started my queening career. To go back to celebrate their Queen as Miss Rodeo Oregon was a dream come true. I cannot wait to go to the Wild Rogue Pro Rodeo in May as Miss Rodeo Oregon 2023.

The last week of March was spent getting all of the final touches ready for my very own coronation! It was a great event filled with fabulous auction items, fantastic food and amazing entertainment. I was so fortunate to have such great support from my family, friends and my community! I can not thank my family enough for all of their help with setting up, taking down and over all helping me plan for such a big event. I could not have done it without them. Now that my coronation is over, I am looking forward to kicking off the first Oregon PRCA Rodeo, the High Desert Stampede in Redmond, Oregon. During that same weekend, we will also be having our Miss Rodeo Oregon Clinic in Madras! I hope to see you all there!

With Thanks,

Zoe Brooks

Miss Rodeo Oregon 2023

Sunday after the Canby Coronation, we made a quick trip to Tillamook to pick up an auction item!

The 2017 and 2019 Wild Rogue Pro Rodeo Queens! They also happen to be my two best friends!

My venue for my Coronation!

Miss NPRA, Abby and I helping with Live auction items! This mirror was donated by Twisted B Trading Co.

This is Shelby Snow! She has taken all of my photos from my senior photos, my first queen title and now as Miss Rodeo Oregon!

My Grandparents surprised me with a pair of earrings in the shape of their brand!

I want to thank Britney for coming down and helping me set up for my coronation!

2023 Miss Teen Rodeo Oregon Morgan Brownell!

It’s official, I had my coronation and am officially crowned as your 2023 Miss Teen Rodeo Oregon!

I’m going to start off with a huge congratulations to Destiny on a job more than well done as your 2022 Miss Teen Rodeo Oregon! She set the standards high and I can’t wait to see what I can do!

Thank you to everyone that helped, donated and supported me leading up to and at my coronation! Even just showing up and giving me your support was more than enough. My coronation was a huge success and a night that was to remember. Also congratulations to my brother Clint on winning the Mr. Rodeo title; he put on a great performance! I would also like to say a big, big, big thank you to all of my sponsors, those that were able to come and those that weren’t. My sponsors trust me enough to let me represent them to the best of my ability and show how truly amazing they all are! Thank you again to everyone that made the night possible!

I want to just take a moment to tell everyone the stories behind a couple outfits I will have the pleasure of wearing throughout my year. The story behind my chaps.The purple ribbon in the tooling on the side is for my grandma Gail Kirsch who passed away in August of 2021 due to Alzheimer’s. My beautiful and wonderful grandma was 77 when she passed away and not only meant the world to me but my whole family.

The hair on the back band of my chaps is for my 24 year old buckskin paint gelding Bells Little Badger aka “Tommy”. I had the pleasure of borrowing and riding Tommy for three years before he passed away in March of 2021 due to a neurological issue. Tommy was the first horse I was really able to be competitive on when it came to gaming. Something interesting about Tommy is he was blind in one eye and not only that he was a 21/22 second pole horse and would give me a win almost every time I ran him in poles. With both of these memorial pieces on my chaps I am able to carry a piece of those I love with me and always have them there to cheer me on.

Not only do my chaps have a story behind them but so does my wonderful elk outfit. The base hide itself was given to me in 2019 by a very close family friend who had shot the elk and gave me the hide to make something out of it. Robert was close to me like a grandpa and was always there when I needed him. He sadly passed away in 2022 very suddenly. A few days before my coronation I went to go see his wife and she had given me two pairs of Montana Silversmiths Jewelry that Robert had given her when they had first met. So I decided those earrings were the perfect finish to my outfit. A fun fact about the rabbit fur on my outfit is that it’s from a past Miss Rodeo Washington outfit!

After my coronation I was able to find my way to Canby at the 2023 Miss Columbia River Circuit Coronation and celebrate Britney on an amazing year and support Amber as she heads into a new title! I can’t wait to be able to watch and be with Amber throughout this year and see where she goes!

Coming into March I attended the Eugene Pro Rodeo Coronation. It’s going to be such a fun time being able to see both of the Graces on the rodeo road! Congratulations to the 2022 court and they did such an outstanding job representing Eugene! Just a week after that I made my way up north to celebrate someone who has impacted me a lot in the queen world. Your 2023 Clackamas County Fair and Canby Rodeo Queen Alexis Goughnour! Alexis has helped me every step of the way and been there whenever I’ve needed her. I am so happy I got to help her celebrate such a wonderful night.

My last event of March I was able to make the trip all the way down to Central Point to celebrate your 2023 Miss Rodeo Oregon! Zoe! I’m so excited to see where this next year takes us as we will be able to spend so much time together and get to know one another so much more than we did before!

Now from here we are all off to the Miss Rodeo Oregon clinic and as Custer and I gear up to go to Central Oregon we are so excited to see all the lovely ladies who will be there!!

Until next month,

Miss Teen Rodeo Oregon

Morgan Brownell

ReplyForward

2023 Jr. Miss Rodeo Oregon Reegan Bills!

February was pretty simple for me. My younger brother Fletcher was sick for his tenth birthday on February 5th. So, of course, I got sick too. When I just barely got better, I was struck with the stomach flu. Because of this, I was devastated to miss Miss Teen Rodeo Oregon Morgan Brownell’s coronation. It was massively disappointing to miss a fellow Oregon tittle holder’s big night. Also because of the stomach flu, I missed Eugene Pro Rodeo’s coronation.

Not long after that, I was feeling well enough to attend the Clackamas County Fair and Rodeo coronation. It was a spectacular event that I thoroughly enjoyed. It was also the first time that we got all three 2023 Oregon title holders in one place at one time. Congrats Alexis, I am so glad you can serve another year as the Canby Queen.

So, as you can see February was mostly a bust. However, I survived and went to even more coronations in March! First off being Miss NPRA Abby’s coronation way down in Central Point! It was fantastic and I especially enjoyed the trivia game. It was also a pleasure to see our own Zoe hand down the NPRA crown.

Best of all was Miss Rodeo Oregon Zoe Brooks’ coronation two weeks later! I loved the detail in her decorations. The center pieces for the tables had Zoes initials on them and the napkins had her name and title on them. It was a privilege to not be sick for that coronation. It was a magical night and I am excited to see what Zoe does with her new title! It was a very long,long drive home for my dad and I. We might have stayed the night at a hotel if there wasn’t critters at home who needed us in the morning. Dad and I finally got home at about 12:30 a.m.

Mom wasn’t at Zoe’s coronation because her horse Pita is pregnant and her foal is due soon. Mom and I are currently at day three of staying on our friends barn with Pita, watching and waiting. Thank you Jennifer for letting us stay in your LQ. This morning Jennifer, who played a huge role in my coronation, helped me with scrap book ideas to chronicle my year. I really hope Pita has Jinx soon so Mom can meet her baby, but also so we can catch up with sleep. I never knew how wonderful sleep was until I didn’t have enough of it.

I am excited to see fellow title holders and title hopefuls at the Miss Rodeo Oregon Queen Clinic!

Sincerely, 2023 JMRO Reegan Bills

The Oregon Queen — February 2023

2023 Miss Rodeo Oregon Zoe Brooks!

Wow, I can’t believe January has come and gone already! I started off my first month as Miss Rodeo Oregon in my hometown at the Challenge of Champions bull riding tour finale. I had the wonderful opportunity to do a 50/50 Drawing, Sign Autographs and interact with the crowd. Accompanying me was 2023 Miss NPRA Abby Torgersen and the 2023 Wild Rogue Pro Rodeo Queen Laney Staten. It was so special to have my first official appearance as Miss Rodeo Oregon in my hometown.

The 2nd week in January took me all the way to Denver, Colorado for the National Western Stock Show and boy, let me tell you there is no place like stock show! I had the privilege to attend 8 PRCA Rodeo performances during my 5 days in Denver. I had the fabulous opportunity to carry sponsors flags during performances, help with mutton bustin, and sign autographs to rodeo fans! My favorite part of the trip was getting to know all of my fellow state title holders. We bonded quickly and made memories to last a lifetime! While I was in Denver, our Jr Miss Rodeo Oregon Reegan had her coronation and it was a great success! Congratulations Reegan!

Once I was back home, I got to attend my first coronation of the season, the Jefferson County Fair and Rodeo Coronation! It was a fabulous evening celebrating Queen Emma and supporting her for her year ahead. I love traveling to Central Oregon as it feels like a second home and it was extra special as I will be back April 7th- 9th for the Miss Rodeo Oregon Clinic!

Now onto more coronation planning! Don’t forget to get your tickets for my coronation for March 25th, 2023 in Central Point, Oregon! You can purchase your tickets on the Miss Rodeo Oregon website. I hope to see you all there!

With Thanks,

Zoe Brooks

2023 Miss Teen Rodeo Oregon Morgan Brownell!

Wow it’s crazy to think it’s already been a month of me being your 2023 Miss Teen Rodeo Oregon!

I sadly wasn’t able to do much this last month but don’t be fooled, I have a lot planned coming up! My first event as Miss Teen Rodeo Oregon was at the 2023 Jr Miss Rodeo Oregon coronation in Albany where I got to support one of my favorite people, Reegan! It was such a fun filled night where I got to help auction off live auction items, sell 50/50 raffle tickets and be the runner for my table for the dessert dash!

I have a lot planned and coming up in the next year with coronations and rodeo season which is just around the corner. The first rodeo you’ll see me at is the Spray Rodeo at the end of May. I can’t wait to get my horses out and have some fun!

With love,

Miss Teen Rodeo Oregon 2023

Morgan Brownell

2023 Junior Miss Rodeo Oregon Reegan Bills!

Wow! What a month! It definitely went by in a blur of colors.

January started with my whole family rushing to get done finishing touches for my coronation that happened on January 14th. My coronation was everything I hoped for and more! I am extremely grateful for everyone who helped make my dream a reality. Coronations tend to take a long time, until it is your own that is happening. The night started with me learning how to walk in dress boots. Then when my coronation started, I greeted people at the door and generally helped wherever I could. Then, it was time for dinner! The tacos were delicious, but the best thing was the fact that I could eat them! Sometimes it is extremely hard to be a rodeo queen with food allergies, and a taco bar allows everyone to customize!

After dinner was the dessert dash. It was fantastic! After dessert was live auction. I got Miss NPRA Abby and outgoing Junior Miss Rodeo Oregon Carrie to help me with walking the items through the crowd as my emcee and auctioneer Scott Burke, with humor, got the bidding going great. Then it was time for crowning! As Dad walked me down the aisle, I felt a sensation of such profound joy and excitement. After my acceptance speech, I got my saddle! I didn’t know that I would be getting it, but there it was, waiting for use. That night I also got to share my custom chaps and photo album from Rockstar Custom Leather. They did a beautiful job. That night after my coronation I actually started my first journal so I can chronicle my year to look back on it down the road.

This month I also found out that a short story I had entered in the Wild Beauty Foundations national short story contest, designed to increase awareness of our wild horses, had placed 5th. There will even be a video of a celebrity reading my story along with the other finalists. I can’t wait to see who will read mine and promise to share it when they post them.

I also had the honor to attend the Columbia County Fair and Rodeo coronation! Congratulations Savannah, it was so much fun being there to see you crowned by Sadie! Sadie, the outgoing queen, was the first queen I ever served with. It was great to be there when she handed down her crown to Savannah. It’s going to be a great year serving with Sadie now as the Sisters Rodeo queen. It is always great to see sash sisters I’ve met in past years in new titles.

Today, as I’m writing this, it is actually my brother Fletcher’s birthday! Sadly he is sick, so all day he has been flat on the couch. I am excited to attend even more coronations including our own 2023 Miss Teen Rodeo Oregon Morgan’s this month and more to come!

Thanks for reading,

2023 JMRO Reegan Bills

2023 Miss Rodeo Oregon Clinic!

We’re getting registrations already for the best clinic around these parts!

We have made a commitment to keeping our prices just the same as last year despite inflation all around us. We want as many members of rodeo royalty to attend as possible.

On the schedule are two full afternoons of Horsemanship and instruction across all areas. The manuals are always being updated and we even offer one for parents.

We serve fresh “home-cooked” meals, deliver swag, offer natural networking opportunities, and have the finest Queen’s Boutique around. It has dressing rooms with mirrors and a wide variety of resale merchandise.

And the Miss Rodeo Sweetheart Clinic! Destiny Wecks and Jean Hrabik are in charge of this fun opportunity for little rodeo queen wannabes.

Meals are available for visiting relatives at $5 each. So, if dad is hauling the horse across the state, he’s welcome to attend and get a hearty meal. You can sign up ahead of time for this!

The Oregon Queen — January 2023

2023 Miss Rodeo Oregon Zoe Brooks!

When people tell you “Time flies while you are having fun”, they are not kidding. The months since the Miss Rodeo Oregon pageant have flown by!

For my first blog entry, I wanted to tell you a little bit more about myself. I am twenty-two years old from Eagle Point, Oregon! I have lived in Eagle Point my whole life and I am proud to be a part of my community. I grew up alongside my two brothers, Anavrin and Gavin. I graduated high school in 2018 from Crater Lake Charter Academy and I am pursuing a Nursing Degree from Rogue Community College. Currently, I work for Providence Medical Group as a Clinically Certified Medical Assistant in the Urgent Care Department. I hope to use the skills I learned while working as a CCMA as a nurse in the future.

When I was 8 years old, I started taking lessons with my wonderful Aunt Martha who taught me everything I now know. I started my riding journey in the show ring and then eventually moved into more gaming and team events. I was a four- year member of the Eagle Point High School Equestrian Team where I qualified for state each year. When I am not at work or at the barn, you can find me at home spending time with my family, playing with my dog Kahlua, or learning new recipes to cook.

While preparing for my year as Miss Rodeo Oregon 2023, I have spent lots of time connecting with my community and those around me. I am so excited to be holding my coronation dinner and fundraiser auction at my local fairgrounds, the Jackson County Expo! This is so special to me because this is the expo where I went to my very first rodeo, saw my very first rodeo queen and held my very first rodeo queen title! It is home to the Wild Rogue Pro Rodeo! This rodeo is so special because it is the rodeo to hold the only 100-point bull ride!

Apart from coronation prep and planning for my year, I had the wonderful opportunity to attend the Miss Rodeo America Pageant in Las Vegas! My grandparents and I made the 12-hour drive down to Las Vegas and boy, it did not disappoint! We spent lots of time in the South Point Hotel and Casino enjoying all things rodeo! We shopped until we dropped, enjoyed the Miss Rodeo America Pageant and had the most amazing foods. Miss Teen Rodeo Oregon Morgan and I attended a Rodeo Royalty Seminar that was put on by past Miss Rodeo Americas and State titleholders. I got to spend a lot of time with my fellow 2023 state titleholders. We got to sell raffle tickets and pageant program books before each event, attend a special ladies in waiting breakfast, and participate in a photoshoot on the strip with Sherry Smith Photography! I had such a good time getting to know all these ladies and I can’t wait to spend more time with them this year. It was a wonderful experience, and I can’t believe that in less than a year, I will be back in Vegas competing for Miss Rodeo America 2024.

This month I am looking forward to my first official appearances as Miss Rodeo Oregon 2023! I will be making my first out of state trip to Denver, Colorado for the National Western Stock Show. Make sure to follow along with my travels on the Miss Rodeo Oregon Facebook page and Instagram!
With Thanks,

Zoe Brooks
Miss Rodeo Oregon

2023 Miss Teen Rodeo Oregon Morgan Brownell!

Wow! I can’t believe it’s already January! It feels like just yesterday I was crowned your 2023 Miss Teen Rodeo Oregon and now here we are.

Before I go into too much detail about myself, I just want to say how good of a job Destiny did as your 2022 Miss Teen Rodeo Oregon and she left me with some big shoes to fill!! Some may know me as your 2020/21 Jr Miss Rodeo Oregon but for those of you who don’t know me, I’ll introduce myself! I’m the 16-year-old daughter of Keith and Debbie Brownell and I reside in Stayton, Oregon. I have 2 dogs (CJ and Clarabelle) and a cat named Alvin. I have 4 horses including my 2 horses Custer and Chester along with the horse I show and who belongs to my mom, Kid, and my dad’s rope horse Big Boy.

As Miss Teen Rodeo Oregon Lady-in-Waiting I was able to go to the Miss Rodeo Oregon horsemanship competition and watch the contestants compete and see what they bring to the table when it comes to horsemanship. Jr Miss Rodeo Oregon Reegan and I helped to sell programs during the competition. In September I was able to attend the NorthWest Professional Rodeo Association finals held local to me in Salem. I was able to attend the back number dinner the night before finals started along with helping to hand out free items during the rodeo over the weekend. I was also able to go to the Tillamook County Rodeo Association Coronation and help to support the girls I will be traveling with for the next year! Congratulations to Queen Brooke Anderson and Jr Miss Brynnen Blazer–you two were so much fun to spend time with at tryouts and I can’t wait to spend the summer with you!

In December I was able to go to Viva Las Vegas to go support the 2022 Miss Rodeo Oregon Avalon at the 2023 Miss Rodeo America Pageant and watch her place in the top 10 out of 28 girls! If that’s not amazing, I don’t know what is! While in Vegas I attended the Miss Rodeo America Horsemanship competition and the Miss Rodeo America Fashion show along with going to the Miss Rodeo America Queen seminar that I was able to learn so many amazing things from!

I hope to see everyone at my coronation on February 11th at the Oregon State Fair Grounds in the Cascade Hall for dinner, silent and live auctions, a dessert dash and a Mr. Rodeo Pageant! Doors open at 5, dinner is at 6, and tickets are $25 (with 5 and under free)!

Even though I didn’t do much as Lady-in-Waiting, be prepared to see me all throughout the state in 2023 as I prepare to travel and promote the greatest sport on dirt!!

With love,

2023 Miss Teen Rodeo Oregon

Morgan Brownell

2023 Junior Miss Rodeo Oregon Reegan Bills!

I remember it felt like the pageant for Junior Miss Rodeo Oregon would never get here. Those two days were a whirlwind of activity, excitement and nerves. After I was crowned, I just kept saying “I’m so happy my eyes won’t stop leaking!”

Now here we are seven months later in what felt like the blink of an eye and 2023 is officially underway. I can not wait to share all my travels over this next year with you all. Here is a little update of what has happened since June.

I finished out my summer by attending the Miss Rodeo Oregon Pageant in July as a Lady in Waiting. It was great to get out there with our 2023 Miss Teen Morgan Brownell selling programs. The rest of the summer was caught up in a flurry of competing in the youth rodeos I could as my family was also moving into our new home, my mom broke both her feet, my horse had her baby, and he spent a month in a cast.

Once life calmed down a little and I had started 6th grade as a charter homeschool student, I got to watch as Junior Miss Lady in Waiting our own 2023 Miss Rodeo Oregon Zoe Brooks as she shined as the 2022 Miss NPRA at their circuit finals.

Since then, we have been in full sponsorship and item collecting for my year and my Coronation fundraiser. It seems unreal that it is so close already, but it is coming up January 14th, 2023 at the Linn County Fair and Expo Center.

I cannot wait to see all the places my partners in crime, Zoe and Morgan, will go and all the great stories we will have to share. I am excited to have such an amazing opportunity to give back to a sport I love.

2023 JMRO Reegan Bills

Wish You’d Been There!

Congratulations to Miss Rodeo Oregon 2022 Avalon Irwin for her Top Ten accomplishment at the Miss Rodeo America Pageant! There were several board members present, not only to cheer her on, but to assist on committees charged with putting on an amazing pageant and attend pageant meetings. They included Julie Singer, Lynn Haynes, Tanya Cloutier, Tanya Marie Utberg, Glenda Franich, Diane Utberg, Carol Shull, and Lois Forester. Kayla Vincent also attended as a future National Director (not yet approved by MRA).

We want to acknowledge the sponsorship of Donna Riva who created Avalon’s leather full-length coronation gown and her interview suit. They were magnificent and memorable! Pendleton Woolen Mills provided the fabric for Avalon’s Justin boot parade outfit. They also provided the Weekender bag and Pendleton blanket for the Scholarship Auction.

2022 MRO titleholders were in Las Vegas to support Avalon–Destiny Wecks and Carrie Woods. 2023 titleholders who also came were Miss LIW Zoe Brooks and Teen LIW Morgan Brownell!

The Oregon Queen — November 2022

2022 Miss Rodeo Oregon Avalon Irwin!

Many times in my life I have been encouraged to be present in each moment as it comes because you aren’t guaranteed another moment like that. It took some time and practice to really take that advice to heart, but I am so glad I did because it changed the trajectory of my life. This year has come and gone so fast, but I can honestly say that I worked hard to be present for every moment of it. I am so grateful for the experiences that this position has given me, and so grateful to all of you that have experienced this year along with me.
During the month of October, I might have been down for the count on the 50 horse challenge, but I was still able to participate in some of the month’s events. I was able to do an interview with our current Miss Rodeo America, Hailey Frederiksen. That interview will be posted on Miss Rodeo America’s social media in the weeks leading up to the pageant, so make sure you give them a follow.
In October I also had the opportunity to participate in the Columbia River Circuit Finals. It is always such an honor to get to ride in the arena during such a prestigious event. In my humble opinion the Columbia River Circuit is one of the best circuits around and I am so grateful to get to be a part of it. During the Circuit Finals the Columbia River Circuit Queen Pageant took place, I was incredibly grateful to be invited to attend those events. I also had the opportunity to participate in Rascal Rodeo where I got to visit with new and old friends who were in attendance. To top off an incredible weekend, the Miss Rodeo Oregon Board hosted a sendoff party for me. I was able to show off some of the wardrobe that will go to Vegas with me as well as share my preparations and experiences with my community. Thank you to everyone who came out to support me!
Currently I am spending most of my time preparing for the upcoming Miss Rodeo America Pageant and in the spare time I do find, I am preparing the high school equestrian team that I coach for their upcoming season.
Looking back on this year my hope and prayer is that by being present in each moment I was able to have a positive impact on the lives of those around me. God puts us in certain places at certain times for a reason. I am grateful He put me right here right now, my hope for you is that you can find joy in the place He put you.
Blessings,
Avalon Irwin
Miss Rodeo Oregon 2022
P.S. I would love to hear any encouragement you might have while I am at the Miss Rodeo America Pageant! You can email me at Mrapmedia@missrodeoamerica.com and put “Oregon” in the subject line or you can send roses by ordering them through this link: https://www.missrodeoamerica.com/p/pageant/roses

Looking Ahead to 2023 and our new Titleholders! (plus Executive Board changes)

We are excited to welcome MRO Zoe Brooks, MTRO Morgan Brownell, and JMRO Reegan Bills next year. We also have a couple of changes at the board level:

President — Lois Forester

Vice President — Tanya Cloutier

National Director — Kayla Vincent

Junior/Teen Director — Tanya Marie Utberg

Treasurer — Diane Utberg

Secretary — Carol Shull

Junior/Teen Advisor — Glenda Franich

We are immensely grateful to both Julie Singer who served six years as President and Lynn Haynes who served as National Director for Oregon for 15 years (but has served on the board since 2003!!) They will be honored at one of the 2023 coronations!!

2022 Miss Teen Rodeo Oregon Destiny Wecks!

Just like that, it’s the end. This is the last newsletter of Miss Teen Rodeo Oregon 2022 and what an outstanding year it has been! I want to mainly give huge thanks to the many people who made it all possible.

I want to thank my parents Vixen and Jeffrey for always being there for me and supporting me at each and every rodeo and event. Though my dad was working many rodeo weekends, it was amazing to have him in the stands cheering me on and helping zip tie on flowers for parades, the ones he was able to attend. Now, none of my long-distance rodeo trips would have happened without my amazing mom! She drove basically everywhere and helped me with anything I needed from getting parade numbers, tacking up my horses, and talking me over rough patches on my bad days.

Next a must–I want to give the biggest of thank yous to all my sponsors, large and small. Each of my sponsors helped me with funds to cover fuel, motels, food costs and of course to pay for my custom pieces part of my year–chaps, saddle, saddle pad, bridle, reins, parade serape, parade shirt, and so much more! This doesn’t even go to list the other great things I was able to have sponsored over my year! Thank you to each and every one of my sponsors as well as the great MRO sponsors!

MROIF and each and every one of those dedicated members and directors, without you I wouldn’t have had this year to work so hard to make you all proud. Thank you to those amazing ladies who donate their time, experiences, money and so much more.

My last few events of my year have included going to the 2022 Columbia River Circuit Finals Rodeo in Redmond. I didn’t ride in the rodeo by my two great horses Kyra and Ariel but they got to be the main mounts for Miss Rodeo Washington and cattle mount for Britney, Miss CRC, during each of the rodeos. I got to also lead Kyra for the horse part of the Rascal Rodeo that weekend. Seeing the smiles and joy of those who got to swing a leg over reminded me how blessed I am to have great stock for my year.

Before leaving central Oregon, I stopped in at the Miss Rodeo Oregon Send Off Party for Avalon Irwin. We got to see some of her America outfits before the pageant starts and hear about some planning she’s done for the pageant. Best of Luck, Avalon. It’s been a great year with you as my older sash sister.

I’ve been very busy with college, but I was able to come home for a weekend and prepare for yet another clinic. I was able to teach and instruct just over the mountain in Milton Freewater. My mom and I, and past Walla Walla Queen Advisor Cindy Granger, led a full circle rodeo clinic. We helped lead rodeo queens, parents, advisors and directors to find what they know and build better for the future about their jobs. This clinic was so fun to new title holders and parents along with seasoned ones grasping all working parts of a good rodeo queen while learning to become a team together.

In the next months I’m looking forward to driving down to Las Vegas for the NFR, BFO Finals, some needed Cowboy Christmas shopping and to watch the Miss Rodeo America horsemanship and coronation. I’m excited to be watching my favorite part of pageants: horsemanship for this big national pageant and the end result of the coronation on my birthday!

It will all come to a final close in February. I am looking forward to crowning my sash sister Morgan during her coronation! Held in Salem on the 11th, she still has tickets and is in need of items for the auctions to raise money for her year!

Again, thank you so much to everyone who has made my year such a dream come true and have helped fill it with so many memories!

Don’t let the dust settle on your heart; keep the sunrise in your soul.

Blessings–Destiny Wecks, 2022 Miss Teen Rodeo Oregon

2022 Junior Miss Rodeo Oregon Carrie Woods!

This whole year has really flown by! It feels like just yesterday I was writing my first newsletter, but here we are, on my last one.

It’s a bit weird to think that it’s already November because October sure flew by! Although I didn’t get to do any queen activities last month, I still got to stay busy by finishing up my volleyball season, and of course riding my horse. Last month I got to go to a few gaming play days and even went to a breakaway roping clinic! Then I started off November by attending the Tillamook County Rodeo Association Coronation. Congratulations to Queen Brooke Anderson and Jr Miss Brynnen Blaser! I got to help out with the dessert auction as well as the live auction.

This past week my parents were on their way to Wisconsin to help a friend move but they had a few truck issues on their way there, so now my brothers and I are headed to go get them! Only a few more hours there and about 11 back! There’s never a dull moment for the Woods family, haha.

Although my time as JMRO is coming to an end, I am still so excited to watch Miss Rodeo Oregon Avalon shine in Vegas!! I leave the 28th and will get to watch multiple portions of the pageant! And even though 2022 is almost over, I can’t wait to see where the crown takes Reegan in 2023! She is going to have a great year along with Morgan and Zoe! Thank you so much to all of my amazing sponsors because your help to get me through my year is greatly appreciated! Thank you to my family and friends, and especially the MRO board and Destiny and Avalon, this has definitely been a year to remember!

Carrie Woods 2022 Junior Miss Rodeo Oregon

Within the next couple of weeks, we will be setting prices for coronations and you’ll be able to purchase your tickets on our website! We are so grateful to Chad Morris of Fervent Media for the work he has put into making this happen. You will also be able to pay for clinic registrations in the store as well. Thanks also to Treasurer Diane Utberg for making the transition away from PayPal to help us avoid fees. You’ll be able to use your credit card, but our expenses will be much less.

The Oregon Queen — September 2022

2022 Miss Rodeo Oregon Avalon Irwin!

Fall is officially here, but rodeo is still going strong. While my schedule might have slowed down, I am still feeling busy as ever. September began with a trip to the Pendleton Round Up. I had the opportunity to host seven other state queens during this iconic rodeo. We had an absolute blast getting to tour Pendleton’s Hall of Fame Museum, watch the Happy Canyon Indian Pageant and, of course, watch the rodeo. Before we gathered in Pendleton, a few of the girls came to my hometown where I took them to see the lava flow, a waterfall, and tried Axe Throwing for the very first time. Don’t worry, they made us sign a waiver before the axe throwing began. Overall, it was a wonderful time to get to spend with my fellow state titleholders and friends. The next time I will see all of them will be on the big stage in Vegas.

After the Pendleton Round Up, I headed over to Salem to attend the NPRA Finals. This is always such a big event and the rodeo where I did my first ever queen run in 2019 when I was competing for the title of Miss NPRA. I didn’t get the title that year, but how cool was it to come full circle and run through that arena as Miss Rodeo Oregon? God has a cool way of putting us in the right place at the right time, even if it doesn’t seem like the right spot at the moment. I was so grateful to Plus 1 Productions for letting me be so hands on during this rodeo. Not only did I get to push cows and toss swag in the arena, but I also got to interview the champion Cowboys and Cowgirls of each event.

My next stop was home, where I have been diligently studying and practicing for the upcoming Miss Rodeo America Pageant. OHSET season has also started up and I feel blessed by the kiddos that I get to coach this year.

I hope to see some of you at Circuit Finals in late October and don’t forget to stop by my send-off party on October 23rd at New Basin Distilling!

Blessings,

Avalon Irwin

Miss Rodeo Oregon

2022 Miss Teen Rodeo Oregon Destiny Wecks!

September had its memories from dancing at the Lewiston Round Up with Walla Walla Queen Jenna and her mom Brooke to watching a great demolition derby at the Walla Walla Fair and Rodeo, to sitting on the grass during the Pendleton Round Up! And then to cool down this fall month, I got all cozy in my dorm room at Treasure Valley Community College in Ontario!

As I look back on the past month, I recall fun times during the first week in September while being at the Walla Walla Fair and Frontier Days! I helped Queen Jenna with school visit tours around the fair, watched a demo derby, did the parade and rodeo grand entry with Kyra, and of course spent time that I would never want to spend anywhere else with a great friend and her family in her hometown rodeo!

In the second weekend of September, I just went over the Snake River and wound through some canyon walls over to Lewiston for their Round Up Rodeo! The first day I was there I helped with the cancer awareness fundraiser, known as the Chicks and Chaps. After selling raffle tickets and helping with the auction items, I attended the rodeo performance. The next morning was the parade through town and Kyra and I rocked having sunflowers all over! Then following the parade was the queens’ luncheon with poem reading as entertainment and then group photos before the rodeo performance.

Rounding the 3rd weekend, the Pendleton Round Up was already going strong as I pulled over the mountain on Friday to the Westward Ho Parade down Main Street. I got to ride in an amazing horse-drawn carriage with Jr Miss Rodeo Oregon Carrie Woods. After the parade, I attended the luncheon at the convention center where I got to be in the front row of the biggest rodeo queen picture ever! Best part would definitely be the rodeo performance of the Pendleton Round Up. Nothing can top watching this action packed huge outdoor rodeo… unless, you can get a little closer to the action by sitting in the grass! I am so very thankful that I’ve gotten to know so many great rodeo people that have become family, who have given me opportunities of a lifetime that will make memories that last forever!

I was bummed to not be able to attend the NPRA Finals rodeo in Salem the last weekend in September because I was busy driving the opposite direction to the Idaho border to start my first week of college! I moved in on Friday and Saturday, and Monday, I started my first few classes at TVCC!

Next month will slow down for the rodeo performances, parades and appearances. But homework and social media will still be very much active! I’m looking forward to attending the Columbia River Circuit Finals Rodeo in Redmond, sending off our great Miss Rodeo Oregon Avalon Irwin to the Miss Rodeo America Pageant!

Make a Difference, Leave a Legacy–Destiny Wecks, Miss Teen Rodeo Oregon 2022

2022 Junior Miss Rodeo Oregon Carrie Woods!

And just like that, it’s October! Last month was crazy busy for me! School started back up again, and so did volleyball and it kept me pretty busy.

Although I did still manage to go to some rodeos! I got to go to the Pendleton Round-Up where I was able to ride in a buggy along with MTRO Destiny in the Westward Ho Parade! It was so cool to be able to participate in one of the largest non-motorized parades! Soon after the parade, we headed to the convention center for the luncheon, then we got a group photo with all of the visiting royalty; there were so many! Then I attended the afternoon performance along with all of the other state queens and other visiting royalty.

Then Saturday I got to go shopping at all of the awesome vendors, then watched the Happy Canyon show, but thunder and lightning started so we decided to just head back to our trailer. Then on Sunday we wrapped up our Pendleton trip and made the 5-hour drive home.

Then the next weekend we left home Friday, then attended the afternoon and evening performances where I got to push cows alongside Miss NPRA Zoe Brooks and Miss Rodeo Oregon Avalon. On Saturday I attended the visiting royalty brunch with all of the other queens, then got ready for the afternoon performance and then later on the evening one. Then Sunday we had the afternoon performance for the rough stock rodeo, then got to help out by running sponsor flags along with the Columbia County Fair and Rodeo Princess Sophie Parrot and Jr. Miss Tillamook County Rodeo Piper Armstrong. Later that day we packed up the trailer and headed for home.

Asides from the rodeo I have been staying busy by playing volleyball, and of course riding!

Until next month!

Carrie Woods

2022 Junior Miss Rodeo Oregon

The Oregon Queen — August 2022

2022 Miss Rodeo Oregon Avalon Irwin!

While the month of August wasn’t as busy as June and July, it still held some very important events. The first week of the month was a special one for my family as we were hosting my sister and her bridal party before her wedding. The week was filled with daily and celebration as we introduced everyone to all that Central Oregon has to offer. At the end of the week there was a beautiful outdoor ceremony in Sunriver uniting my sister and her college sweetheart in the life
they have chosen to embark on together. I was honored to get to perform the job of Maid of Honor for my sister, a job I have been looking forward to having since we were children. It was wonderful to get to spend the week with my sister preparing for her big event. The thing I always enjoy the most is the people I meet. I was so grateful to get to deepen my relationships with her friends and add a new brother to the family.

After a week of wedding celebrations my family and I got a quick week off before it was time to head to Canby for the Miss Rodeo Oregon Pageant. Being on the other side of the pageant this year was quite the experience of its own. I was so grateful to get to be such a big part of the Canby Rodeo, helping pack sponsor flags and push cattle in the arena. This rodeo will always have such a special place in my heart. The pageant this year was a blast; both contestants brought their A game and did a wonderful job. It was also very special to get to spend so much time with the judges this year. As I prepare for America they were right there to give me wisdom, answer questions, and share any stories of their experiences. All of which I was incredibly grateful for.

The last big event of the month of August was to finish my application for the Miss Rodeo America Pageant. The application was due September 1st and I am proud to say that my entry was in early! It was really nice to spend the month reflecting on the person I am, not just as Miss Rodeo Oregon, but as Avalon. There are a lot of special experiences I have had in my lifetime that have made me the woman I am today and I am very excited to get to share those experiences with everyone. As I have traveled down the road I try to remind young women that we are so much more than the title we carry for a year. We are experiences, dreams and ambitions. Those are the things that qualify us to be the leaders we are and those are the things we need to remember about ourselves when faced with adversity. Because who we are at the core is far more important than any title or job we might have. I encourage you to write down some of those experiences you have had in your lifetime and post them somewhere that you can reference them when you need to be reminded of how awesome of a person you are.

Here are some of fun facts about me that you might not have known that made the pages of my Miss Rodeo America Application:
● I spent a summer in Altea, Spain doing community outreach through art as my college internship
● I am PADI scuba certified (Best PE class I ever took!)
● I love going horse camping (If you have not seen all the cool places to camp with your horse in Oregon, check out Kim McCarrel’s guide books!)
● I spent a semester of college training with the Airforce Officer’s Program

I hope that some of these experiences can inspire you and show you that you can be a successful horsewoman and enjoy other activities. Keep up with all of us on social media to see where the month of September leads us!
Blessings,
Avalon Irwin
Miss Rodeo Oregon 2022

Pendleton Queens’ Trip

Since 2010, when Ashley (Zeigler) Minaise was Miss Rodeo Oregon and thought up this idea, we have invited State Queens to Oregon for the Pendleton Round Up. It’s tradition that the event is hosted by the reigning Miss Rodeo Oregon so, this year, these lovely ladies will converge in Central Oregon where Avalon Irwin has activities planned. In 2010, the queens went to Newport Bay for dinner, visited Oregon Health & Sciences University Doernbecher Children’s Hospital for visits with patients, and then traveled to Pendleton.

Stay tuned for photos and a special article about Pendleton 2022 Queens’ Trip in next month’s newsletter!

2022 Miss Teen Rodeo Oregon Destiny Wecks!

With kids going back to school and summer days are getting limited, rodeos haven’t slowed any and the rodeo athletes are just getting warmed up in their season!

As the hot summer month of August ended and September settled in, I’ve been busy closing out my summer rodeos and events before I head off to college! August opened with the Benton County Fair and Rodeo where I was able to carry the American Flag for grand entry while their Queen Allie sang the national anthem. I also got to ride my favorite horse of all time, a rope horse loaned to me for the rodeo by Mike and Angie Gorman. Being a rope horse, he sure did pretty run ins and carried the flag with grace and beauty!

Coming back home, I stopped in to the Wallowa County Jr Rodeo, where I watched and cheered friends during different events. Just a day after the 2 day rodeo, I then started my last Wallowa County 4H Horse Fair. Though it was sad to do all my last classes, that I have enjoyed for over 9 years, I was so glad to spend each day, class and moment with my life long friends and family who came to support. I was so ecstatic to win many awards with my show horse Whisper, and with the conclusion of the fair I got the opportunity to attend the Oregon State Fair.

And with my last fair coming to an end, I reloaded the trailer with rodeo queen clothes, tack and so much more, as well as my 4H and FFA show clothes for State Fair. Traveling into Canby for the Clackamas County Fair and Canby Rodeo, I only had one horse, Whisper. And, no, I didn’t use her for the rodeo! She spent all the rodeo week at former MTRO Ainsley’s house while I used Joe for the rodeo. I’ve always been so lucky to be able to find and borrow friends’ horses for any and all rodeos if I needed one! Joe wasn’t the biggest fan of the horsemanship rail work and serpentine of the 2023 MRO pageant, but he really liked to go fast for the run ins!

During the pageant I helped teach the contestants the dance with Avalon as well as got to join in on the games during the PJ Party. Joe and I did rodeo grand entry queen laps each night with TETWP, Patriotic, and Military Appreciation nights.

And to round out the month, from Canby to Salem I began my last Oregon State Fair. Showing Whisper in all the different events, we took home a medallion in English Dressage and then many other ribbons for 4H and FFA classes.

September is coming in faster than I thought, but with this next month I’m excited to attend events, rodeos, and parades like the Walla Walla Fair and Frontier Days-rodeo, Lewiston Round Up Rodeo and home of the green mile, Pendleton Round Up! Before this next month comes to a close, I will also be moving to Ontario, Oregon to start college at Treasure Valley Community College.

“Work for a cause, not for applause. Live life to express, not to impress. Don’t strive to make your presence felt, just make your absence felt.”- unknown

Destiny Wecks,

2022 Miss Teen Rodeo Oregon

2022 Junior Miss Rodeo Oregon Carrie Woods!

What a busy month! Although August wasn’t packed with rodeos, I still kept busy outside of the rodeo arena!

For the first few weeks of August, I was getting ready for my county fair. I was busy clipping my animals, getting my things ready to load in the trailer to take to the fair grounds and lots more. This year I took my market goat to show in 4-H Showmanship, Conformation, as well as to sell in the youth livestock auction. I also brought three other dairy heifers, one to sell, and the other two just to show. This year I ended up winning 4-H Intermediate Market Goat Showmanship, which means I had to compete in Master Showmanship where I had to show a steer, swine, sheep, dairy cow, dairy goat, and a breeding goat. Although it was a little tricky at times, I guess it all paid off in the end because I was the Intermediate Master Showmanship Champion! I had a blast at county fair this year and I can’t wait for next year!

I didn’t have much downtime until it was time to leave home again. This time I headed to Canby for the Miss Rodeo Oregon pageant. We started off with Orientation and later on had the PJ Party where all of the contestants and MRO titleholders got to play lots of games and have a good time! The next day we signed autographs for people at the fair and later on we all did our run ins in the Canby arena! The next day, Friday, was for sure a busy day! We started off with Horsemanship in the morning, then followed by lunch at the Wild Hare. We then headed over to Swan Island Dahlias to get some gorgeous shots with all of the beautiful flowers. Later on, we had the Mock Media Interviews, signed autographs and once again did our run ins! Then Saturday came. We had one last fashion show rehearsal until the big show where we all did our dance while modeling our western trend outfits. Then Destiny and I got to talk a bit about our year so far and then got to watch both of the contestants model, give their speeches, and answer the impromptu questions. Not long after, we all got ready for our last run in and then headed over to the entry gate to the arena for the crowning of the 2023 Miss Rodeo Oregon! Congratulations to Kearsten Friedrich! I can’t wait to see where the crown takes you in 2023! And congratulations to both of the contestants, Kearsten and Zoe–you both did an amazing job!

Then I was on the road again! Although this time was not for a rodeo, but for the Oregon State Fair! I showed my market goat, and my two dairy heifers, one for 4-H and the other for FFA. I placed 7^th overall in the Market Goat Showmanship class, 8^th in FFA Dairy Showmanship, and Champion in 4-H Dairy Showmanship! Which meant I had to compete in Master Showmanship again. But this time, I had to show a llama too! We got through Master Showmanship with only a few stubborn animals and a very upset llama–yes it did spit at me twice, I don’t think it liked me very much. 😂Overall I had a great time at my first State Fair and can’t wait to show again next year!

Until next month!

Carrie Woods

2022 Junior Miss Rodeo Oregon

The Oregon Queen — July 2022

Miss Rodeo Oregon Avalon Irwin!

I think that the month of July was the most action packed month of the year! This month started with a bang as we dove right into the 4th of July weekend AKA Cowboy Christmas. I had the opportunity to visit 3 rodeos in one weekend.

My first stop was the Molalla Buckeroo Rodeo, followed by Eugene Pro Rodeo, and ending my journey at St. Paul Rodeo. Each of these rodeos are so unique which is what I deeply love about rodeo in Oregon. There is a diversity like no other in this state when it comes to spectators, rodeo committees, and even the locations of Oregon rodeos. I feel so blessed to get to plant my boots in the dirt of each of these different arenas.
After my Cowboy Christmas run, I headed over to the town of Elgin, Oregon where I got to spend some time with their newly crowned queen, Rowdy Israel (who is also a former Junior Miss Rodeo Oregon!), and our current Teen Miss Rodeo Oregon, Destiny Wecks. If you haven’t had the opportunity to spend time out in Eastern Oregon I highly recommend a trip to Elgin. Eastern Oregon boasts sweet towns with rich history and Elgin did not disappoint.
After Elgin, I headed over to the Valley for an event I’ve been looking forward to all year, Pre- Pageant Orientation. The time is finally upon us to pick the 2023 Miss Rodeo Oregon and I couldn’t be happier about the contestants. Both of these women are strong, smart, and passionate women. I was so happy to get to visit with them as well as their families as they take the first steps towards the competition. No matter the outcome of this year’s pageant, the title of Miss Rodeo Oregon will be in great hands!

Next up was a quick trip to Colorado Springs CO for the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. I don’t think that words can describe this experience. This event is such a humbling experience. To walk into the Hall of Fame and see artifacts from the history of rodeo is already awe inspiring, but then to get to listen to some of the legends talk about their humble beginnings that brought them into greatness was so inspiring. You don’t know the impact your life will have on the people around you, and not many of us will make it into any Hall of Fame, but it isn’t about the glory we can bring ourselves that inspires us to do great things. It is the passion we feel and the knowledge that even the smallest acts of kindness make us people that are fit to stand next to the legends.

My next trip would take me out of state to the wonderful town of Nampa Idaho, home of the Snake River Stampede. I had the opportunity to meet the Snake River Stampede Board of Directors in Las Vegas during my time as Lady in Waiting. I was so impressed with them and their constant kindness that I immediately put this rodeo down as a bucket list rodeo. I was thrilled when Miss Rodeo Idaho, Taylor Hymas, invited me to be a part of this special rodeo. This Oregon girl felt so welcomed into the Idaho family. Not only did I get to run in each night I was there, but different board members planned so many fun events for us during our stay. I got to tour the area on a river float, experience some hot springs, and cruise around in the back country on an ATV. Thank you to everyone who hosted us, and made us all feel so welcome. And thank you to the two horses that carried me through the weekend.

Once the Snake River Stampede came to a close, Miss Rodeo Idaho, Miss Rodeo Washington and I packed up the pickup truck and drove the 10+ hours to Cheyenne Wyoming. This drive was full of heartfelt laughter, honest conversations, and so many great memories. When I won the title of Miss Rodeo Oregon I never expected to be blessed with such great friends in my fellow sash sisters. It’s these little moments that will stick with me for the rest of my life. Once we arrived in Cheyenne, we hit the ground running! Starting the day with the iconic Chuck Wagon Pancake Breakfast where I got to try my hand at both tossing and catching pancakes as they flew off the griddle. After Pancake breakfast we went to a fundraiser luncheon for one of the local museums that is dedicated to displaying the history of the Wyoming Cowgirl. The event was a hoot! A big thank you to the cowgirls who sponsored our seats at the event. From there we went to my first performance of Cheyenne Frontier Days. This day was dedicated to honoring those that have served in our military and I can honestly say I don’t think there was a dry eye in the stadium after the grand entry. After watching the rodeo and exploring some of the many shops, I headed over to visit Samsville jewelry store where the owner, Sam Abweh, was so kind and sponsored a beautiful opal ring to each of us State Titleholders. If you are in the market for some beautiful jewelry you need to head over to https://samsvillegallery.net/ or visit his booth in Vegas during the NFR. Day two of the Frontier Days continued with a morning parade, and the afternoon performance. During this performance I got to do the legendary Cheyenne Frontier Days flyby! Gray was kind enough to carry me down the track before he went off to do his real job as a pick up man’s horse. Boy Howdy they were not joking when they said it would be a fly by. That might have been the fastest run I have ever done, and it was thrilling. Day three took us to one of the many Air Force bases where we got to watch the Thunderbirds perform, then we headed to my final performance in Cheyenne where we watched some rodeo, visited sponsor booths, and closed the chapter of my visit there. What a wonderful experience and thank you Cheyenne Frontier Days for welcoming us queens to your wonderful event.

I ended the month of July at Chief Joseph Days. I have heard of this rodeo for quite some time but have never had the chance to make it out there. I was happy to be back in beautiful Eastern Oregon where not only did I get to spend time in the rodeo arena, but I also got to spend time with my sash sisters playing mini golf and bumper cars. After being out of state for some time it brought me so much joy to be back in Oregon and spending time with so many of my fellow Oregon queens and princesses. No matter how old, how young, how many titles, or even where they come from, each of these women have blessed me by being authentically who they are and bringing that honest spirit into the arena each time I see them. I am so grateful for the number of young women I have met on this journey and cannot wait to see them as they continue to grow. The leadership I see in these young women is unparalleled to any other state I have traveled to. It warms my heart deeply to get to know each of these smiling faces a little better as I travel down the road.

See you all on our next adventure and keep up the smiles!
Blessings,
Avalon Irwin
Miss Rodeo Oregon

Miss Teen Rodeo Oregon Destiny Wecks!

What is “Cowboy Christmas”? The Independence Day week is called Cowboy Christmas because there are more enticing rodeos that are either conducted on or near July 4th than competitors can make. Throughout July, competitors jump in and out of their trucks and trailers and airplanes as they compete in one rodeo after another. All across the country, cowboys and cowgirls travel to try and make all the rodeos they can to gain purse monies and raise their world standings in preparation for Circuit Finals in their area as well as for the National Finals Rodeo in December.

As a rodeo queen we are also trying to make as many rodeo appearances as we can in the month of July and of course the first week as its the 4th of July week and weekend! I last left off the month of June with the Jr and Teen Pageant in Tillamook then traveled from the coast to small town St. Paul for the 86th anniversary of their rodeo! I dropped our trailer at the rodeo grounds and took a small trailer to two other rodeos for the 1st and 2nd of July. Eugene Pro Rodeo was my first appearance for the month of July where I did the grand entry and then helped shag cattle for the timed events! That rodeo was the best hospitality for getting their rodeo competitors and queens in and out of the grounds fast and easy. I felt very welcomed with handmade earrings from their queen Clarissa Sanders that she made for all the visiting royalty. During the warm up before the rodeos started, I was able to move around the arena fences to talk with fans who all wanted to pet my horse Kyra or ask questions to the rodeo queens. This warmed my heart because when I came in for the grand entry, I could hear many voices cheering for my horse and me as we made our queen lap. I also was warmed by the many high fives I was able to give returning to the other end of the arena after every calf or steer we pushed out.

On July 2, Kyra and I made the short drive to Molalla for the Molalla Buckeroo Rodeo. This rodeo was nice because I hadn’t been back since 2015 when I reigned as Jr Miss Rodeo Oregon. I really enjoyed the fans I got to talk to through the fence before the rodeo and being able to spend time with MRO board member Glenda, who was also a Molalla director. We told stories most of the night as we helped hand out sponsor flags and get the horses in the arena. Top two memorable moments from that rodeo was being the only rodeo queen there which allowed me to take my time around the arena and I did the signature Pendleton Round Up Holler around the arena in my queen lap. I also really enjoyed being able to participate in the donkey races. In my rodeo queen garb, friend and rodeo queen Mia and I took the arena line with our donkey “Donkay”, and we didn’t win but the giggles lasted forever, unlike my voice the next few days.

Rounding out Cowboy Christmas week in St. Paul, on the 3rd and 4th I did a grand entry on the 3rd wearing my green military and first responder patch shirt. Behind the scenes before the rodeo I joined the Elgin Stampede Court and did some rodeo queen karaoke, (I can’t sing). For the last day of St. Paul I wanted to leave with a bang, well maybe some thunder, as I came in riding my Percheron draft horse Dolly for the Grand Parade and rodeo grand entry. Wearing red, white, and blue, Dolly and I had the best time going through the parade. And, yes, just like my Jr Miss year, I got lost again. Good thing I had the Pendleton Round Up Court to help me get back this time! For the rodeo I really enjoyed riding my prized horse in the huge arena and being able to include her past the walking parades. We also had the Queens Luncheon where all the visiting royalty got to introduce themselves and their titles with dates and special remarks.

Heading home after the matinee rodeo performance, we got home to have just a few short days of being home before I was at another great July rodeo which I can call my hometown rodeo! The Elgin Stampede rodeo started off with the family night rodeo where I helped with goat tying and tail untying as well as the stick horse races. The following night I was honored to be asked to carry the American Flag. The next two nights were a blast being able to do my queen hot lap each performance, push cattle and then sign autographs. Dolly and I also made our grand appearance during the parade where we took home the first place prize for the royalty!

Being home didn’t last long when I headed off to the next stop in St. Helens for the Columbia County Fair and Rodeo. I helped during their court pageant with the speeches and questions as well as the horsemanship portion, followed by two nights of NPRA rodeo action and getting to do some more queen laps.

Now my wheels stopped driving across the state for the week of my hometown rodeo, Chief Joseph Days Rodeo. I not only attended all four nights of the rodeo performances but I also helped their court Maggie, Mia and Bailey push cattle and sign autographs. Outside of the rodeo I invited rodeo queens to do fun things around my hometown such as mini golfing at Wallowa Lake as well as go kart racing, paddle boats and swimming and boating on the water.

Now we are headed into the late summer month of August where I am excited for my last 4H horse county fair, showing my horse Whisper and hopefully attending the Oregon State Fair towards the end of the month. I have been also super excited and have been awaiting for the 2023 Miss Rodeo Oregon Pageant with the Canby Rodeo! My other events and rodeos planned for the next month are the NPRA Finals and starting college in Ontario! I can’t wait to finish out my year’s reign with more great rodeo appearances and events so stay tuned!

Stay humble and kind and God bless–

Destiny Wecks, 2022 Miss Teen Rodeo Oregon

Junior Miss Rodeo Oregon Carrie Woods!

My July started off on June 30^th at the one and only St. Paul Rodeo. My Cowboy Christmas week looked a little like this: I kicked it off on Thursday at St. Paul, then Friday at the Eugene Pro Rodeo where I got to do my hot lap and hang out with the other queens, Saturday I stayed local and was in the Clovers Day parade in my hometown, then headed to Newport for the Lincoln County Fair and Rodeo. On Sunday I decided to stay in Newport since I had so much fun the previous night pushing cows and helping with the other things the board needed, then Monday I headed back to St. Paul to be in the parade, and attend the luncheon and be in the rodeo performance that night.

Then the next week I went to the Philomath rodeo for all three nights; I got to help run sponsor flags, push cows, do my hot lap and be in the parade on Saturday. Then on Sunday, I got to stay to run at the fundraiser barrel race to help rebuild the grandstands after the fire. I placed third in the Youth division and second in Novice. After Philomath, I had a weekend off for the first time since February and although I was not busy with rodeo queen things, I still kept busy by riding my horse and working with my market goats and my dairy heifer’s county fair.

Then I headed to Columbia County to compete in the Junior Rodeo on the 21^st and the other two rodeo performances on the 22^nd and 23^rd. I got to do my hot lap for all three nights during grand entry and also got to throw swag to the crowd while riding around the arena!

The next weekend I made the long 8-hour drive to Joseph for Chief Joseph Days! I was there all of the nights. I got to participate in the serpentine for grand entry and also a hot lap all of the nights. On Friday Destiny, Avalon and I got to participate in the Jr. Parade; we rolled down the streets of Joseph in our rodeo rig, and it definitely “wasn’t our first rodeo”. Then Saturday I got to be in the grand parade as well! I got Miss Sue all prettied up since it would be her last parade of the year. Right after the parade, I headed to the annual Queens Luncheon, then had a little bit of downtime, and then left again to go to a photo shoot with Robert McLean! He never fails to get breathtaking shots of MRO Avalon, MTRO Destiny, and I! Although my time in Joseph was very hot, I got to cool off in the lake for multiple days and get burnt pretty bad, but beautiful Joseph made up for it!

Now I’m getting ready for County Fair this week! I’m taking three dairy heifers (one I will sell) and my market goat so I’m pretty excited!

Miss Rodeo Oregon Pageant Schedule of Events

Wednesday, August 17:
7:30 pm–Canby Rodeo Performance; Fair Admission and Rodeo Ticket Required

Thursday, August 18:
5:30 pm–Autograph Signing @Ford Booth at the Clackamas Fairgrounds; Fair Admission Required
7:30 pm–Canby Rodeo Performance; Fair Admission and Rodeo Ticket Required

Friday, August 19:
10:00-11:30 am–Horsemanship at the Canby Rodeo Arena
2:30-4:00 pm–Autograph Signing at Swan Island Dahlia Farm
5:30 pm–Mock Media Interviews and PRCA Knowledge @Food Court Stage; Fair Admission required
6:00 pm–Autograph Signing at Canby Ford Booth; Fair Admission Required
7:30 pm–Canby Rodeo Performance; Fair Admission and Rodeo Ticket Required

Saturday, August 20:
1:00-3:00 pm–Fashion Show @Clackamas County Fairgrounds; Fair Admission Required
6:00 pm–Autograph Signing at the Canby Ford Booth; Fair Admission Required
7:30 pm–Canby Rodeo Performance; Fair Admission and Rodeo Ticket Required
TBA–Arena Coronation of 2023 MRO
Following Coronation–Press Party and Awards Presentation @Wilsonville Best Western

The Oregon Queen — All the News of June 2023

2023 Miss Rodeo Oregon Zoe Brooks!!

Welcome, Twisted B Trading Co!!

2023 Miss Teen Rodeo Oregon Morgan Brownell!!

2023 Junior Miss Rodeo Oregon Reegan Bills!!

We owe a huge debt of gratitude to our Miss Rodeo Oregon Inc. Foundation sponsors!

The Oregon Queen — May 2023

2023 Miss Rodeo Oregon Zoe Brooks!

2023 Miss Teen Rodeo Oregon Morgan Brownell!

2023 Junior Miss Rodeo Oregon Reegan Bills!

Columbia County Fair & Rodeo, St. Helens!

Thank you again and again to our Miss Rodeo Oregon Inc. Foundation Sponsors!

The Oregon Queen — April 2023

2023 Miss Rodeo Oregon Zoe Brooks!

2023 Miss Teen Rodeo Oregon Morgan Brownell!

2023 Junior Miss Rodeo Oregon Reegan Bills!

Behind the Scenes at the 2023 Miss Rodeo Oregon Clinic!

Click Here!

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE MISS RODEO OREGON CLINIC!

Sponsorship Opportunities!

The Oregon Queen — March 2023

2023 Miss Rodeo Oregon Zoe Brooks!

2023 Miss Teen Rodeo Oregon Morgan Brownell!

2023 Jr. Miss Rodeo Oregon Reegan Bills!

The Oregon Queen — February 2023

2023 Miss Rodeo Oregon Zoe Brooks!

2023 Miss Teen Rodeo Oregon Morgan Brownell!

2023 Junior Miss Rodeo Oregon Reegan Bills!

2023 Miss Rodeo Oregon Clinic!

The Oregon Queen — January 2023

2023 Miss Rodeo Oregon Zoe Brooks!

2023 Miss Teen Rodeo Oregon Morgan Brownell!

2023 Junior Miss Rodeo Oregon Reegan Bills!

Wish You’d Been There!

The Most Excellent Queen Clinic Coming Soon!

Thank you, corporate sponsors!

The Oregon Queen — November 2022

2022 Miss Rodeo Oregon Avalon Irwin!

Looking Ahead to 2023 and our new Titleholders! (plus Executive Board changes)

2022 Miss Teen Rodeo Oregon Destiny Wecks!

Good Luck, Avalon, at the Miss Rodeo America Pageant–November 27 to December 4!

2022 Junior Miss Rodeo Oregon Carrie Woods!

Coronation Season is Fast Approaching!

April 7-9, 2023

Almost ready to debut the MRO Store!

The Oregon Queen — September 2022

2022 Miss Rodeo Oregon Avalon Irwin!

2022 Miss Teen Rodeo Oregon Destiny Wecks!

2022 Junior Miss Rodeo Oregon Carrie Woods!

Be sure to put the 2023 Miss Rodeo Oregon Clinic on your calendars!

Coronation Season is Fast Approaching!

Thank you again to all our wonderful sponsors!

The Oregon Queen — August 2022

2022 Miss Rodeo Oregon Avalon Irwin!

Pendleton Queens’ Trip

2022 Miss Teen Rodeo Oregon Destiny Wecks!

2022 Junior Miss Rodeo Oregon Carrie Woods!

Pageant 2022–Some Highlights!

The Oregon Queen — July 2022

Miss Rodeo Oregon Avalon Irwin!

Miss Teen Rodeo Oregon Destiny Wecks!

Junior Miss Rodeo Oregon Carrie Woods!

Making NEW memories on August 17-20!! Join us to see a new MRO crowned!

Miss Rodeo Oregon Pageant Schedule of Events

Miss Rodeo Oregon Corporate Sponsors