Wow I'm way behind! My June kicked off with my hometown rodeo. On the 15th and 16th of June I hooked up my trailer and went about 10 miles North until I reached the Dallas County Fairgrounds for the Miss Dallas County Fair Rodeo pageant. This was held all day on Friday, with the coronation to follow in pouring rain before the rodeo that night. Congratulations to Kayla Barber, the newly crowned Miss Dallas County Fair Rodeo. This pageant is especially close to me because I held this title in 2010. As Friday Night Live continued, we were able to help in the Grand Entry and chase out calves and steers for multiple events. Saturday night drew the crowd and the rain luckily held off for a nice performance. Joining Kayla and I was Miss ISU Rodeo, Abby Smith. We all had a blast showing my hometown a good time at this rodeo.
A few weeks later I traveled to Lake City to move in with Jordanne Blair, Miss Rodeo Iowa 2010 for a couple days. I joined the Top Rail saddle club and rode in the Lake City parade. Following, I was honored to being in Old Glory for the Saturday night performance. Throughout the rodeo I had a blast chasing out cattle, and signing autographs. As Sunday rolled around, I was very fortunate to help Jordanne with a special needs rodeo. It was so much fun seeing the smile spread across the contestants face as they tried their hand at roping and even barrel racing. A few hours later I saddled up again to present Old Glory for the opening ceremony and National Anthem. I spent the rest of my night tracking calves and signing boots, shirts, hats, and even a couple arms! A HUGE thank you to the Blair family for allowing me to stay with them!
I returned home late Sunday night, and headed South to Leon on Monday. The 50th Annual Leon Rodeo began with a Miss Leon Rodeo and Miss Leon Rodeo Princess pageant. Congratulations to Savanah Farrell and Anna Horn for winning those titles. On Wednesday the 4th, we all were a part of the parade which went right through Leon. I was very fortunate to ride on a "has-been" truck. Due to it being the 50th year, there was recognition of past Leon titleholers. I was the Leon Rodeo Princess in 2009, so I climbed in the truck with past queens and was recognized in the parade, and in the rodeo that night. As the first night of the rodeo went underway, I joined Kayla Barber, as well as Savanah and Anna as we led the Grand Entry and chased out for the performance and slack that night. For a fun fact, Kayla, Savanah, Anna and also Hannah Hilsabeck, Miss Teen Rodeo Iowa 2010 and I all shared a camper for the week we spent in Leon. Talk about hair spray fumes! We may have set of the fire alarm at least once.. :) We all had a great week and a successful time down in Leon as we continued to take part in the rodeo performances Thursday, Friday and Saturday night.
From Leon, I was able to kick it in my hometown once again. On Thursday July 12th, I was honored to join the Double SS Bull Company for an Extreme Bull Riding event. I was able to carry the Bullriders Of America (BOA) flag, as well as the American Flag during the National Anthem. Following, Kayla Barber and I hit the crowd to sell raffle tickets for a production shirt which was signed by all the bull riders. I also had the opportunity to sign autographs along side the bull fighters at the end of the event.
Soon after this event was over, Hannah Hilsabeck packed up and headed East for the Wapello Rodeo. I was able to be a part of the Miss Rodeo Wapello and Miss Teen Rodeo Wapello Rodeo pageant on Friday, as Hannah judged. I teamed up with the contestants and the Barnes PRCA Rodeo Company for the first rodeo performance on Friday night. On Saturday we all rode our horses through Wapello for the parade, and anxietly awaited to find out who the new Queen and Teen would be. Congratulations to Heather Morrison and Carlee Kelly for taking home the titles of Miss Rodeo Wapello and Miss Teen Rodeo Wapello. We each had a great time presenting flags and chasing out cattle during the Saturday night performance. On Sunday, Hannah and I were in for a real treat! Our host family took us out boating on the Mississippi River. We spent all day boating and tubing and soaking up some sun. Thank you to Duane, Jodie, Kale, Koby, and Kabe Boyen! Wapello was a blast!
I traveled from Wapello to Lenox where I made my steer riding debut! On Thursday July 19th, I carried the IRCA flag and chased out cattle during the first night of the performance. I was joined by Miss Rodeo Lenox 2011, Alexandra Eischeid as well as Miss Rodeo Lenox 2012, Logan Kinyon. During the day on Friday, we were able to visit a nursing home in Lenox. It was so touching to hear all the residents' stories. We made their day by visiting them, and they definately made ours as well! Just like Thursday, we saddled up to carry flags, chase out calves and steers, and sign autographs for the second performance of the Lenox rodeo. The fun began on Saturday when Logan and I were joined by Kayla Barber and Savanah Farrell. We spent the day at the local bowling alley where we enjoyed food and fun! We had the bowling alley to ourselves as the lights went down, the disco ball came up and the music started blarring. We all tried our hand, but mutually decided that we shouldn't join their bowling league. Haha :) When it wasn't our turn, we got our groove on with some swing dancing and the Two-step. That night we all had a blast as the last rodeo performance went underway. However before the action started, Logan and I had a pre-show as we tried our hand at steer riding. Neither one of us did too well but I would do it again in a heartbeat!
Back to the world of Professional Rodeo! I joined Three Hills Rodeo Company for the 3-night Carson rodeo during the first few days of August. When I arrived, I did a radio interview with a local station, and stayed busy the whole night! I was the only queen there so I did it all from mutton busting to carrying sponsor flags to chasing out cattle. I had so much fun and everyone there was great to work with! The second night was about the same as I led the Grand Entry carrying the Three Hills flag. As soon as I got out of the arena, I switched flags and went right back in to get the rodeo action started by carrying the first sponsor flag. Throughtout the night I chased out, signed autographs, carried event flags and once again helped the brave kids to their feet in the mutton busting. On the final night Anna Horn joined my side to help in chasing out and carrying flags, it was great to have a "second set of hands"! A HUGE thank you to Craig and Tammie Shellberg who let me crash at their house for the weekend!
Nothing Compares to the Iowa State Fair! Just recently I competed in the Cowgirl Queen Contest at the Iowa State Fair where I had a great time with all the fellow queens. I had a great ride and couldn't be more proud of the horse I used. The next day I headed back to the fair again to show Ollie in the Govener's Charity Steer Show. This was an experience I will never forget! Brandee Petersen graciously allowed me to show her steer Ollie and help me out in the ring. We ended up 3rd in the Top 10 so we were both extremely excited about that! Thank you to the Northwest Iowa Cattlemen's Association for sponsoring Ollie and I in this show. After the show, all the steers are sold and all the money raised goes to the Ronald McDonald Houses of Iowa. This show has been raising money for the Ronald McDonald Houses for 30 years now, and Ollie helped them reach the $2 million mark!
It's been a very busy summer but one I will never forget! I've had a blast and I'm sad to see it winding down. I'll see you all back here shortly!
God Bless!
Jenna
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