Hey Everyone, It has been a few weeks since I have updated so I have alot to catch you up on! Monday, April 5th I hit the road to Pocatello, Idaho for the Dodge National Circuit Finals. I was so excited for the rodeo, I had never been to the DNCFR, but always heard how fun the event was. Also, I was pretty pumped that I was one of the state queens selected to go this year. 
As I said before I had never been to Pocatello before so I decided to leave a day early, and boy was I glad I did! Monday night they had a huge snowstorm! Some of the girls flights were delayed and it took some almost double the hours driving. My mom came to Pocatello to watch the rodeo and she ran into the storm too! My roommates were Miss Rodeo South Dakota, Nebraska and Wyoming. We had so much fun together!! The DNCFR committee members took very good care of us. They provided us with a hotel room, food, transportation and anythiing we needed. Mr. Stan Cope was my van driver and he was so fun. 
We had several places to be during the week, so instead of all of us going to one place we were separated into vans and we went where our van took us. The system worked great. Tuesday was when the fun began. The first thing on the agenda was the DNCFR Kick off party at the Holiday Inn. What a great turnout! They had it poolside where everyone mingled, enjoyed appetizers and drinks and visited. The rest of the girls, along with the committee members for the Dodge Finals and I were introduced. The next morning we were up bright and early so we could head over to Holt Arena for rodeo rehearsal. We got the chance to get to know the horses they provided for us to ride and took some pictures with kids on school tours. Shane, a leather repair man, and big help with the DNCFR gifted us a personalized flag boot with our name and year on it so we didn't have any flag safety issues. They are SO COOL!! 
After the rehearsal we headed to the hospital where we visted the pediatric unit and the rehabilitation unit along with the LIFE FLIGHT helicopter! 
Both the kids and the rehab patients enjoyed our company. The pilot fo the Life Flight helicopter explained how everything worked and what would go on in certain situations. I was enthralled being a nursing major :) 
The local TV and newspaper followed us around the hospital and I was even picked to be interviewed, and I was very proud! That night was the first performance of the rodeo. There were 18 state queens, but only 10 horses so we were split into two groups. Group 1 would ride Wednesday & Thursday night and Saturday afternoon and group 2 would ride Friday & Saturday night. I was in group 2 so during the perfs that I didn't ride I walked around the rodeo and sold programs, signed autograph sheets, helped the kiddos with muttin bustin and chatted with several people. 
Thursday was another early morning and my van started off with a school visit. We went to Ellis Elementary, where I spoke to three 2nd grade classes. I only had to talk for about 5 minutes because the other 40 minutes was filled with great questions. They were so well behaved and were really interested in rodeo. I love to see that! After the school visit we went to visit a sponsor, Idaho Unlimited, where they treated us to a coffee/latte/italian soda of our choice. It was just what I needed to wake up. We then had a few hours to rest before we went to Texas Roadhouse, another big sponsor, for dinner. YUM! 
Then it was off to the second performance of the rodeo. Friday morning, my van and Kelli (Miss Rodeo America) headed over to Idaho Falls for a radio interview. We were on the live webcam so it was a mix between a radio and a tv interview.
After that we were invited to visit the Golden Valley Jerky Plant. Mr. Hal Hawkins has been invovled with the Miss Rodeo America program and he works with the business. We didn't have enough time for a full tour through the plant, but did get the chance to visit with some of the people who make it all happen and try some samples.
We headed back to Pocatello for lunch at another sponsor, Butterburs and then signed a few autographs at the local credit union. 
We had a 3 hour break before it was time to head over to Holt Arena for the third performance. We all squeezed in a nice nap . :) It was my turn to ride in the rodeo and I was so excited. They gave me the Montana Silversmiths Flag and I thought it was pretty cool to carry it.
Saturday morning was the Exceptional Rodeo where 45 kids came to learn about rodeo. I was partnered up with a 16 year old named Wes.
He loved the bronc riding! 
It was then time for the Saturday afternoon performance, where we got to sit and watch the rodeo. Lesli was there and it was great to visit with her.
Between perfs we went back to the Texas Roadhouse for dinner. It was then time for the final performance.
I was on a young horse they call Skeeter. They told me to be ready for anything. South Dakota rode him in the first group and had some trouble with him spooking at everything, not staying close to the fence, and ducking half way down the arena, so I was ready for anything. Friday night, I was going to get him next to the fence and show him who was boss....I moved him a little closer but we still cut off a quarter of the arena. Saturday night I knew what to do differently to keep him close to the fence and all the way around the arena. Well.....I had him nice and close to the fence when he decides to hunch up and start bucking...I ended up dropping the flag, but I STAYED ON!! haha. It could have been much much worse, but was just one of those things that horses decide to do. The saddle guys who work for Sutton's were glad I didn't fall off too or they would have owed me 50 bucks.
Overall, the DNCFR was such a great experience. The other state queens are so much fun and I cannot wait until I see them all again in North Platte in June.
As I said before I had never been to Pocatello before so I decided to leave a day early, and boy was I glad I did! Monday night they had a huge snowstorm! Some of the girls flights were delayed and it took some almost double the hours driving. My mom came to Pocatello to watch the rodeo and she ran into the storm too! My roommates were Miss Rodeo South Dakota, Nebraska and Wyoming. We had so much fun together!! The DNCFR committee members took very good care of us. They provided us with a hotel room, food, transportation and anythiing we needed. Mr. Stan Cope was my van driver and he was so fun. 
We had several places to be during the week, so instead of all of us going to one place we were separated into vans and we went where our van took us. The system worked great. Tuesday was when the fun began. The first thing on the agenda was the DNCFR Kick off party at the Holiday Inn. What a great turnout! They had it poolside where everyone mingled, enjoyed appetizers and drinks and visited. The rest of the girls, along with the committee members for the Dodge Finals and I were introduced. The next morning we were up bright and early so we could head over to Holt Arena for rodeo rehearsal. We got the chance to get to know the horses they provided for us to ride and took some pictures with kids on school tours. Shane, a leather repair man, and big help with the DNCFR gifted us a personalized flag boot with our name and year on it so we didn't have any flag safety issues. They are SO COOL!! 
After the rehearsal we headed to the hospital where we visted the pediatric unit and the rehabilitation unit along with the LIFE FLIGHT helicopter! 
Both the kids and the rehab patients enjoyed our company. The pilot fo the Life Flight helicopter explained how everything worked and what would go on in certain situations. I was enthralled being a nursing major :) 
The local TV and newspaper followed us around the hospital and I was even picked to be interviewed, and I was very proud! That night was the first performance of the rodeo. There were 18 state queens, but only 10 horses so we were split into two groups. Group 1 would ride Wednesday & Thursday night and Saturday afternoon and group 2 would ride Friday & Saturday night. I was in group 2 so during the perfs that I didn't ride I walked around the rodeo and sold programs, signed autograph sheets, helped the kiddos with muttin bustin and chatted with several people. 
Thursday was another early morning and my van started off with a school visit. We went to Ellis Elementary, where I spoke to three 2nd grade classes. I only had to talk for about 5 minutes because the other 40 minutes was filled with great questions. They were so well behaved and were really interested in rodeo. I love to see that! After the school visit we went to visit a sponsor, Idaho Unlimited, where they treated us to a coffee/latte/italian soda of our choice. It was just what I needed to wake up. We then had a few hours to rest before we went to Texas Roadhouse, another big sponsor, for dinner. YUM! 
Then it was off to the second performance of the rodeo. Friday morning, my van and Kelli (Miss Rodeo America) headed over to Idaho Falls for a radio interview. We were on the live webcam so it was a mix between a radio and a tv interview.
After that we were invited to visit the Golden Valley Jerky Plant. Mr. Hal Hawkins has been invovled with the Miss Rodeo America program and he works with the business. We didn't have enough time for a full tour through the plant, but did get the chance to visit with some of the people who make it all happen and try some samples.
We headed back to Pocatello for lunch at another sponsor, Butterburs and then signed a few autographs at the local credit union. 
We had a 3 hour break before it was time to head over to Holt Arena for the third performance. We all squeezed in a nice nap . :) It was my turn to ride in the rodeo and I was so excited. They gave me the Montana Silversmiths Flag and I thought it was pretty cool to carry it.
Saturday morning was the Exceptional Rodeo where 45 kids came to learn about rodeo. I was partnered up with a 16 year old named Wes.
He loved the bronc riding! 
It was then time for the Saturday afternoon performance, where we got to sit and watch the rodeo. Lesli was there and it was great to visit with her.
Between perfs we went back to the Texas Roadhouse for dinner. It was then time for the final performance.
I was on a young horse they call Skeeter. They told me to be ready for anything. South Dakota rode him in the first group and had some trouble with him spooking at everything, not staying close to the fence, and ducking half way down the arena, so I was ready for anything. Friday night, I was going to get him next to the fence and show him who was boss....I moved him a little closer but we still cut off a quarter of the arena. Saturday night I knew what to do differently to keep him close to the fence and all the way around the arena. Well.....I had him nice and close to the fence when he decides to hunch up and start bucking...I ended up dropping the flag, but I STAYED ON!! haha. It could have been much much worse, but was just one of those things that horses decide to do. The saddle guys who work for Sutton's were glad I didn't fall off too or they would have owed me 50 bucks.
Overall, the DNCFR was such a great experience. The other state queens are so much fun and I cannot wait until I see them all again in North Platte in June. 
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