The Oregon Queen — All the News Through September 2024

The Oregon Queen — All the News Through September 2024

October 6, 2024 Off By Lois Forester

Miss Rodeo Oregon 2024 Abby Torgerson!

The month of September was full of iconic rodeos! I started my September run in Walla Walla, Washington and then headed south to Lakeview, Oregon for their Labor Day Rodeo. The drive was well worth it. I had a blast attending the parade and helping out at their rodeo performance.

The next weekend I headed to Burns, Oregon for the 100th Harney County Fair and Rodeo. Queen Rylee assured me it was an event I did not want to miss and boy was she right. I attended two rodeo performances, the queens luncheon, and the parade. I also participated in the queens race down the track! It was such a neat experience seeing the unity of this small town, and a rodeo I’m so thankful to have attended.

I left Burns and headed to Sisters to watch the horsemanship portion of the Sisters Rodeo tryouts. A lot can be learned from watching pageants and the girls did a phenomenal job.

After Burns, I picked up some fellow state queens in Portland and we headed East for the Pendleton Round Up! There is truly nothing like Pendleton. We had four jam packed days showing the state queens the rich history of Pendleton and the Round Up. We watched every performance of the rodeo, participated in the parade horseback, toured the Underground, helped with the children’s rodeo, toured the Hall of Fame, toured the Pendleton Woolen Mill, learned about the rich Native American history, and shopped! Pendleton was an experience I will never forget.

The next weekend I headed north to Salem for the Northwest Professional Rodeo Association Finals. It’s always fun to see the up-and-coming cowboys and cowgirls compete. I attended two of the performances before hitting the road to go coach soccer back home.

My Miss Rodeo America preparation is in full swing. My days are spent studying and riding horses. I’m finalizing my outfits and getting ready for those Vegas lights!

Gratefully,

Abby Torgerson

2024 Miss Rodeo Oregon

Autograph signings after the rodeo at Walla Walla!

Enjoying the parade in Harney County on my awesome horse for the weekend, Vandy.

Kamryn allowed me to hop on her horse last minute for the queens race in Harney County!

Touring the Pendleton Woolen Mills in my Donna Riva vest.

All of the visiting state queens at Hamley’s Steakhouse.

The queens I roomed with during Pendleton!

Due to time restraints and illness, I was unable to ride all 50 horses for the challenge, but I did manage 30.

Miss NPRA Jessica and I at the NPRA Finals wearing purple in remembrance of Scooter.

My official Miss Rodeo America headshot!

 

 

Miss Teen Rodeo Oregon 2024 Hallie Haslebacher!

September was the last month of horseback rodeos for me! I got to attend the 100th Harney County Fair and Rodeo, the one and only Pendleton Round-Up, and NPRA Finals!

During Harney County I got to do a parade, luncheon, run-ins, and packing flags for their special 100th year ceremony. Thank you, Queen Rylee and her family, for inviting me out there and making me feel so welcome and another thank you to the Shelman family for letting me borrow your gorgeous and incredible horse Queenie! Harney County was definitely one of my favorites!

The Pendleton Round-Up was a dream come true! I started off with the “Westward Ho” Parade, then headed off to the luncheon and wrapped my day up with the Iconic Pendleton Round-Up. I would like to throw out a huge shoutout to Taylor Skramstad for making my dream of watching the rodeo from the big green come true! Thank you, Taylor, I really appreciate you!

I wrapped up my September with the NPRA Finals! Queen Jessica was her amazing self, beautiful, kind, and always so welcoming. Thank you, Jessica, for all your support and friendship over the last two years. You are truly one of a kind! Also, a big thank you to Jean for making me feel welcome and throwing a super fun “Happy Hour”. This year's NPRA was extra special because all the queens wore purple to honor Scott “Scooter” Burks Davis. Even when fighting cancer, he was still there for queens on our biggest days with love and support! Scooter was the auctioneer for my coronation; he helped make my special day so much better. I will forever remember his big smile, fun laugh, and how excited he was to be there.

September was busy, but fun! I made so many memories and enjoyed all the time I spent with my sash sisters and watching all the great rodeos. I am looking forward to Columbia River Circuit Finals October 18th and 19th.

 

Carrying flags in Harney County!

Queenie and I at the Harney County Parade

My Oregon and Idaho girls on the Big Green

Riding some of the best horses at the Shelman Family Ranch

All the girls in my wagon for the “Westward Ho” Parade

Queen Riley, Abby and I at the luncheon

Idaho Jr Miss Lexi Clow and Miss Teen Cearra Henderson and me!

Abby, Kayla and I are ready for the second perf of the NPRA Finals

2023 Jr Miss Rodeo Oregon Reegan and I

2023 Miss Teen Rodeo Oregon Morgan and I

Junior Miss Rodeo Oregon 2024 Kayla Hunt!

The month of September was a great time.

I was busy all month with the start of school and lessons to getting to Pendleton for the biggest rodeo I have gotten to be at. There was a awesome parade with wagons and big longhorns being brought out to show off their amazing horns. But man, the rodeo was where to be, from a ton of amazing vendors to the excitement of watching people parachute onto the green grass center of the arena. My favorite parts were getting to watch the Indian relay races from on the green to watching the barrel racers on the biggest pattern I've seen.

My next stop was in Salem at the NPRA finals. I could not hold back the energy of excitement that radiated from the grounds by all. I first met up with some other of the visiting royalty and did autograph signing at a few awesome places but then it was straight back for Friday's performance where we had a exciting grand entry. During Friday's performance I got the privilege to help run sponsor flags and ride in the barrel truck tossing swag to the audience.

The next morning we had another performance where the crowd got bigger and more excited to see the performance and this one was a bit different for me as I got to do grand entry and then help out pushing cows and that is fun. During break time in between we did a queens luncheon to kind of celebrate our year together as sash sisters and prayed for a successful evening performance of no injuries and good scores. Saturday night's rodeo was full of great memories made with great riding by all.  I left proud of everyone and a little sad that I probably won't see all of the other royalty soon.

I made a lot of friends this year and will cherish the memories made.

Joyfully yours,

Kayla Hunt, 2024 Junior Miss Rodeo Oregon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nominations are now open for the Hall of Fame Class of 2024!

 

 

Use this link for the nomination form:  Untitled form - Google Forms

Save the date for our 2025 Miss Rodeo Oregon Clinic!

It's April 11-13, 2025, at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds in Madras!