The Oregon Queen — September 2022

October 21, 2022 Off By Lois Forester

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