Special Olympics Summer Games

May 12th through the 14th I spent my days in Bozeman at the Montana Special Olympics State Summer Games and let me tell you it was AMAZING!!! I am totally inspired by the athletes of Montana and the people involved with Montana Special Olympics. There is absolutely no way that anyone could go there and volunteer and not enjoy themselves. The athletes were so grateful to have me there to hand them their shiny medals. Wednesday was the first day and I headed over to help with the awards for softball throw and tennis ball throw. The weather did not want to cooperate and by 1230 when it was time for me to head over to the gymnastics portion, I looked like a wet dog (thank goodness I

had my outdoor hat in the pickup rather than my Jimmy hat!!) Even though everyone was freezing, the athletes stuck with it, which I thought was awesome. After that I went over to the North Gym, switched hats, pulled my hair back and went to the exciting event. Miss Montana America was there, Britney Wiser, and we really hit it off. I hope to spend some more time with her before she hands off her title. Both Britney and I were invited to the VIP reception held before the opening ceremonies that night. I had just enough time to run home, recurl my hair and get back to the festivities. I am so glad I went!! The opening ceremonies was SO COOL. They had high school pep bands playing, dance teams dancing and EVERYONE was cheering! They had some great presentations, I cried during one of them. Thursday was the equestrian portion and I was really excited for that. When I arrived at the arena several events were going on. Working trail outside and equitation inside. After all was over, I helped the law enforcement with the awards. Thursday night was the dance/carnival and WOW what an event it was! The band was awesome, the prizes they had were spectacular and there was a huge line at the table they had set up for me to sign autographs for the whole 3 hours. I am glad I brought a bunch of autograph sheets. I think I signed 300 or more! The next morning was the closing ceremonies. The Havre teams were there and I was able to sit with them during the presentation. They were drawing for the Chevy pickup along with other prizes, I was crossing my fingers all morning hoping they would draw my name for something. They sold over 67,000 tickets!!!!! After the closing ceremonies we all headed over to the track. There, I again helped the law enforcement with awards. They had 3 award stands set up so the events went by really fast. The weather was fantastic and I have quite the "hand" tan now. Overall, my days at the special olympics were amazing. Everyone was so glad that I could make it and I am so glad I went!! I think that is an event that we should never miss!

PHOTO COURTESTY OF CAMERA GEEK PHOTO

Billings Outlaws Game

James Walton "Mr. Saturday Night"

On May 8th, I was invited to flip the coin at the beginning of the Billings Outlaws Game. Thank you to Linda Rest and Lucille Hill for setting this awesome appearance up for me. I had never been to an indoor arena football game so I was very excited for the event. I just might be hooked! The outlaws were playing the Fairbanks Grizzlies. During the pregame I had the chance to meet some of the players and got to see what all happens behind the scenes of the game. When it was time for me to flip the coin, I was introduced and walked out with one of the officials. Luckily, the coin was pretty big and I just had to toss it in the air, rather than flipping it like a quarter. I even got to KEEP the coin! My friend Lorissa and I were able to watch the game from the VIP section, we were so close to the field, Lorissa was almost hit by a tumbling player!! At half time I headed up to the main concourse where I signed several autograps, including a kid's forehead. After the first half, we were able to sit right behind the team. That was REALLY cool. We were able to hear what the coaches were saying to the players. The Outlaws ended up winning 46-24. Thanks to Andy & Linda Rest and Lorissa Harris for letting me stay at their house, even though I had my basset hound, Josie. Lorissa's dog, Quigly and Josie got along great

Gunsmoke

These boys were such a hoot. They couldn't

stop laughing!

NWMT Pageant Clinic

April 30 I headed to Kalispell for the Northwest Montana Pro Rodeo Pageant Clinic. A big thanks to Alyssa Hadley, Miss Northwest Montana Pro Rodeo queen and her family for opening up their home to me. When I first arrived I met with the board of directors and current royalty, Alyssa Hadley is Queen and Savannah Gentry is Little Miss, Hannah Davis the princess was unable to attend, for some tasty pizza at McKenzie River. It was great to get to know them and talk about what was going to go on at the clinic. The next morning we headed to the fairground for the clinic.What a great turn out there was! Several princess contestants and quite a few Little Miss contestants! Alyssa and Savannah, along with the board of directors did such a great job getting people with expertise in public speaking, hair & makeup, interview and horsemanship to come in and visit with all of the girls. I am so excited to see how the pageant goes starting in June. I wish all of the contestants the best of luck and cannot wait to work with them at the Northwest Montana Pro Rodeo held in Kalispell in August.

Northwest Montana Pageant

Chairman Mike Twillman

Dodge National Circuit Finals

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.

Coronation Success!

All of the hard work preparing for my Coronation Gala paid off! What a great turn out we had, we fed 259 people!!!! The food, catered by Pam Langel and Cindy Pimley was delicious, my Uncle Chris with KLINES did great with the bar, Trevor and Leroy Wolery did amazing as auctioneers, everyone kicked up their heels to the band "South Country" and the kids in the kiddie rodeo were a hoot! I have so many people to thank, I don't even know where to begin. First of all my parents, Don and Jaye Dee. The amount of work they put into it was incredible and I love them so much. Lori Canning and Mary Pizzini thank you so much for decorating and all the little things you did, the building looked beautiful! Cole, Brooke and the girls, Aunt Kristi for helping set up. Jen Dahlke for keeping track of the guestbook, Monica and Donette Groth, Dani Jo Kline, Bonnie Anderson, Amanda Spurlock and whoever I have missed for taking tickets. Linda Boehm and Renita Brown for being the cashiers. Aaron Boehm thank you so much for keeping the live auction organized. For anyone that I missed, I cannot thank you enough for what you have done for me. All of my sponsors and people who donated to the auctions:

SILENT AUCTION

Baker Bob's Bostons's Pizza O'Haire Motor Inn
Clark & Lewies Sip n Dip Staybridge Suites
Planet Earth Rose Spinler Kate Ruland
A Time or Two Big Sky Images Dusty Kline
In Cahoot's Doreen & Quanna Bailey State Farm
Candy Masterpiece Mark Petersen Radio Shack
Hoglund's Country Dame Petco
Bert & Ernies The Boutique Iverson Leather Sarah Capp Bob's Riverfront Cafe Bim & Debbi Vielleux McNair Furniture Moodie Implement
Western Trailer Sales Wolfer's Diner Theresa Carda
Suzanne Miller Carrie Lucon Uncle Joe's
Susan VanDessel The N' Thing Marlin & Margie Cross
Alayne Bickford Northern Montana Hospital Janice Schmier
Serenity Spa & Salon Bearly Square Quiliting 5th Ave. Grind
Aunt Betty Sattleen Shores Floral Liz Manley
Megan Helmer Tracy Matz Matz Chiropractic
Dick & Elaine Kline Chase Hill Outfitters Burnett Wagner Family
Hilton Garden Inn Virgil Hershberger Leilani Nesper
Tracy's Place The Toggery Joyce Fuel & Feed
Ty Malek Fleet Whole Sale Montana State Fair
Barb & Al Han Heirloom Jewelry Lowell Strissel


LIVE AUCTION:

Norman's Master Sport's Bear Tracks Bronze (Toby Capp)
Milk River Co-op Blaze Wendland JM Donovan
Double H Hats Valley Furniture Virgil Hershberger
Liquor Stop Chase Hill Outfitters Northern Football Team
Dennis Hanson Dave Canning Casey Fitzsimmons
Judy Drugge Margie Cross Kate Settle Ruland



As I said before, if I missed anyone I apologize but thank you soooo soooo much!

Winter Special Olympics

From National Pancake Day I headed to Great Falls to watch my sister in the Northern Divisional Basketball Tournament. The Knights did a great job! After I spent the weekend with my family I headed to the BEAUTIFUL town of Whitefish. First of all, what a fabulous group of athletes we have involved with Special Olympics in Montana! Once I arrived in Whitefish I headed right to the parade. Annie Anseth, Miss Montana, was there and it was so nice to meet and get to know her. A dealership in Kalispell provided vehicles for Annie and me to ride in for the parade. Annie was given a camaro and I got to ride in a fully loaded Cadillac with a sun roof. I must say I had a great time hanging out the top of the car in the parade.

After the parade we went to the opening ceremonies. It was great to see the team from Havre. I just saw Keeley again a few days ago and we talked about keeping in touch through email.

After the opening ceremonies I was able to meet several of the athletes and signed a TON of autograph sheets. When I was visiting with the athletes I discovered snow shoeing is a big event for the athletes. I have never snowshoed and am now considering giving it a shot. A big thanks to Jon and Lynette Ludvisken for inviting me to be in the parade and for letting me stay in their beautiful home.

National Pancake Day

Mmmm Pancakes! Tuesday, February 22, 2010 was National Pancake Day. The International House of Pancakes in Kalispell and Glen Newhart with the Children's Miracle Network invited me to help them out this year. National Pancake Day was a fundraiser for the Children's Miracle Network, specifically for the Shodair hospital here in Helena, Montana. The offer was a free short stack if they donated to the children's hospital. Lots of people took up the offer, but some ordered other food off the menu. My job was to greet and visit with the customers, flip some pancakes and serve some pancakes. They even gave me my own apron. :) The staff at the IHOP were so friendly and were very patient with me. I have never worked in a restaurant and what an experience it was.