Miss Rodeo America People's Choice Voting!

With the Miss Rodeo America Pageant almost a month away, the Association has opened up voting for the MRA People's Choice Award! Voting will be open until December 8th.  To vote all you need is a Facebook account.  Click on my picture below (this will open a new window):

Then below my picture will be a "like" button.  Once you have clicked "like" you have voted!  Please help me achieve my dream of becoming Miss Rodeo America 2012! Thank you all in advance for your votes!

Rodeo Season June & July

What exciting and busy months that June and July have been! Rodeo season is in full swing in Wisconsin and we have only just begun. If you think that rodeo is only west of the Mississippi, I have experienced some of the finest rodeos right here in our great state.

June 9-12 started the month with the Wisconsin River Pro Rodeo in Merrill. This is a very special rodeo for Miss Rodeo Wisconsin as they are the host to the Miss Rodeo Wisconsin Pageant queen contest. Contestants were Laura Taysom from Arcadia, Brayvyn Brockman from Tomah, Amber O’Shea Dorn from Cumberland, and Rachel Ziebell from Manawa.

I think back on a year ago when I was preparing for the competition and it was tough. Not only does the state queen have to ride a horse like no other, but she also has to be able to speak publicly through radio interviews, speeches, interact with children and answer every question about rodeo, our beautiful state of Wisconsin, how to be a rodeo queen or whatever pops into the minds of the general public. She must be the epitome of perfection looking great at all times, but also not be afraid to get down and dirty in the arena doing whatever the stock contractors ask.

The Wisconsin River Pro Rodeo was the first outdoor rodeo I attended since I took reign in January of 2011. The weather was everything that June in Wisconsin has to bring. It was cold, it was hot, and there was rain. That makes some difficult choices when it comes to wardrobe. I froze, I perspired, and I got wet but I love this job!

In addition to running flags for our sponsors during the performances and selling 50:50 raffle tickets during the 3 action packed rodeos, there were many activities that I and the queen contestants completed between the performances. The T.B. Scott Library organized time for us to read short stories about horses and rodeo to the children. We made a special trip to the University Wisconsin Stevens Point for the Special Olympics where more than 1700 athletes took part in the State Summer Games. If you think my smile is big, theirs is enormous! A shotgun start early Sunday morning started the 5 K race “Running with the Bulls”. The runners were greeted during the first few blocks by the queen contestants on their horses. What a great event that raised money for breast cancer and rodeos “Tough Enough to Wear Pink’ campaign.

Each one of the queen contestants vying for the 2012 title did a fantastic job. Only one person can win and it came down to a really tough decision. Rachel Ziebell won the horsemanship award and was awarded first runner up. The speech category was awarded to Brayvyn Brockman. Laura Taysom took high score for the Written Test, and was awarded top in Photogenic, Congeniality, and Overall Appearance. Amber O’Shea Dorn was simply stunning throughout the weekend and a smile never left her face. Our Lady-in Waiting for 2012 is the charming Laura Taysom. Congratulations, Laura! You will have a busy 6 months of planning getting ready for reign in 2012.

June was also host to 2 rodeos that I was privileged to attend. Stanley and Glenwood City. It is always interesting to see what I will be doing at each rodeo I report to. Each one is different. One thing I know for sure is they keep me busy from the time I arrive, until the time I depart. A rodeo takes a lot of work and whatever I can do to help is always appreciated. Most of the time the public sees me carrying flags in the arena and chasing back cattle for the steer wrestlers and tie down roping. The most gratification I realize comes from all the volunteer workers offering high fives following a successful performance.

I spent Cowboy Christmas (July 4^th week) at the Mid-Western Rodeo in Manawa. It’s called Cowboy Christmas for the reason that during this week there are numerous rodeos that are held across the nation happening the same weekend. This is a cowboy’s paradise to catch as many points as they can in a very short time. Mid-Western Rodeo was one of them and all 4 performances were amazing!

Since I was 8 years old, I have ridden my horse in the Perkinstown parade. As part of the Black River Riders and the Asprie de Corp Drill team I have never missed the P-Town Fourth of July parade. The people of Perkinstown are my people. They welcomed me with open arms and I hope I could give back to them the same hospitality they showed me.

Heart of the North Rodeo in Spooner was my last Wisconsin rodeo until August. All workers at this great event are volunteers. Thank you to them and the rodeo committees who make our Wisconsin rodeos successful.

The remainder of July will be spent at Pikes Peak Rodeo in Colorado Springs, the ProRodeo Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Cheyenne Frontier Days in Cheyenne, Wyoming. I will get the chance to mingle with the other state queens. This is my chance to represent my home town of Medford and all I love about our great state. I can’t wait to tell them about all the great Wisconsin rodeos that I have attended so far. Wisconsin is undeniably a great state for rodeos!

Even though the Wisconsin rodeos are winding down my most exciting months are yet to come my agenda remains very full. The Great Lakes Circuit finals are coming up in Kentucky. I will be representing Wisconsin during the National Finals Rodeo at the Miss Rodeo America Pageant in Las Vegas Dec 3rd- 10^th for the title of Miss Rodeo America. I invite you will all to follow me as I keep you updated through Wisconsin Horsemen’s News.

Midwest Horse Fair & DNCFR

It was great, but it is sad. Midwest Horse Fair has come and gone. It was a wonderful weekend and it is sad that it is over for another year. I have been attending this weekend since I was 7 years old and learning to ride my first horse, Lady. I would attend every clinic possible and soak in all the information the great clinicians offered. Then I would go home and practice what I learned on Lady. I attended the rodeo and would watch the beautiful queens as they held the American flag with pride during the National Anthem and worked to clear the steers from the arena so efficiently. I never dreamed this would someday be me. I can’t tell you how proud I was to hold the flag so proudly for my country as tears came to my eyes as the spectators sang our national mantra.

March brought thrills from Oklahoma with the Dodge National Circuit Finals Rodeo (DNCFR). For many years, the DNCFR was held in Pocatello, ID. Not only was the move a change for this event, but Dodge announced that the name would also change to Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo. Traveling from Wisconsin was Tammy Whyte (barrels) from Eau Claire, Bobbi Jo Bohlman (barrels) from Eland and Jon Ragatz (steer wrestling) from Beetown. They did a great job and represented Wisconsin well. Watch for them this summer as they compete in the Great Lakes Circuit. They will give you a show and you will be impressed at their talents.

Thank you to all who stopped by our booth at Midwest Horse Fair. I look forward to next year’s extravaganza. There will be a new Wisconsin queen who will have the opportunity of a lifetime to enjoy all they have to offer. I lost Lady this year just before Midwest Horse Fair but I thank her for all the wonderful memories and for getting me to where I am today.

Updates

Hello MRW Fans!

Sorry I have not been able to keep every one updated since March. I have been having troubles posting and editing my blog spot. I am so glad that it is working again so I can post about all my exciting journeys that I have been on! Please keep checking back often to keep updated on all my travels!

Thank you and God Bless,

Sara Fuchs

Miss Rodeo Wisconsin

National Western Stock Show & Silver Spurs Rodeo

My year as Miss Rodeo Wisconsin 2011 began with a trip to Denver, Colorado for the National Western Stock Show (NWSS). Livestock is an essential part of rodeo so the showing of livestock, ranching, and the competition of rodeo go hand in hand. In 16 days there were 23 PRCA rodeos and many livestock and exotic animals (llamas, alpacas, etc.) shown on the grounds. Congratulations to our own Wisconsinite, Paige Proctor (Junction City) who took the Grand Champion in Junior Breeding Heifers.

A big thank you goes to Jodie Martin-Witt, queen coordinator, and her committee. Jodie’s staff was there 100% to help the queens and they all did a commendable job at making us feel welcome.

The event, that I liked helping with the most, was Mutton Bustin’. All of the kids received huge trophies from the cowboys competing at the Rodeo. They hoisted the kids, with their trophies, over their heads like champions. The smiles on the kids’ faces were priceless!

During the final rodeo, the Green Bay Packers happened to be playing against the Bears for a trip to the Super Bowl. To see over 8,000 fans in Colorado applaud the Packers’ win was awe inspiring and once again made me proud of the state I represent. I treasure the memories, opportunities and new friends that I met in Colorado. They were amazing!

My next adventure was to Florida for the Silver Spurs Rodeo in Kissimmee. After this Wisconsin winter, I was looking forward to the warm weather. This was a new adventure for this Wisconsin cowgirl. I had heard many great things from previous queens and their experiences about the Florida trip.

Not only did Silver Spurs host a great rodeo, we were also privileged to experience a few out of the ordinary things such as hog hunting and a trip through the wetlands on the swamp buggies. Four school visits was on the agenda where we taught the children about rodeo and then we had some fun. We held mini rodeos for the children right in the classroom. At the nod of a head, a chair became a bucking bull and barrel racing was done at high speed.

Thank you to the Silver Spurs Rodeo committee and to Mark and Laura Kessler for their generosity and organization of all the activities for the attending queens. A special thank you to my host family: Karl, Tracy and their family. I had the experience of a lifetime in Kissimmee and I am truly blessed to have had the opportunity to meet all of these wonderful people. I appreciate all of their kindness and generosity. Riding in the warm Florida sunshine was a treat!

My next adventure is to the Dodge National Circuit Finals Rodeo in Oklahoma City. The DNCFR is the showcase event of the circuit season with 7 performances in 4 days. I can't wait to go there and watch all the excitement and participate in this great rodeo. Happy trails until next time.