Disney World

I've done it all now. I had to become Miss Rodeo Utah so I could finally have a chance to see the ocean and go to Disney World. It was so awesome! We made a lifetime friendship with the Lewis Family, whose daughter Mallory competed at the Special Kids Rodeo earlier in the day. Mallory's parents Denise and Larry both work at Disney World and made it possible for 13 of us to go to the park for a couple hours after the rodeo. We had a "Fast Pass" to let us go to the front of the line everywhere we went and we were able to go on 5 rides in about 2 hours. It was so cool. Its amazing; the opportunities that I've been given this year. Its more than I could ever ask for. This week was the funnest experience I've had in a long time, maybe ever. I've made some of the best friends I will ever have and I laughed so hard at times that my stomach hurt. I felt like a little kid again as 14 girls ran through the park with our big hair, wranglers, cowboy boots, and big smiles on our faces. So many times throughout the night girls would look at each other and say "this is amazing, this doesn't happen in the real world, and there still are amazing people out there" and the Lewis Family is an example of those nice, incredible people that do nice things for complete strangers just because they are good people. Thank you so much. You've definitely made an impact in my life with this one night that I will remember forever.

Special Rodeo & Sunday Performance

Today was the special kids rodeo with the rodeo performance immediately after, so the kids kind of felt like they were an opening act or part of the actual competition and they were all invited to stay for the rodeo. I was able to carry my Utah Sate Flag during every rodeo performance on the horse Pistol that was provided for me. He was great!

Saturday Silver Spurs Rodeo

It was a pretty packed Saturday night performance at the rodeo. They actually had an interesting task for us at the rodeo every day. We filled out surveys, asking the spectators where they were from, how they heard about the rodeo, and what their favorite part of the rodeo was. It was fun to meet people and surprising to hear all the different places they called home. There were people from the United Kingdom, Maine, UTAH, Nevada; all over.

Florida Beach Trip

I have to admit it. I'm 24 years old and this was my first time seeing the ocean. I think I've been changed forever. It took me awhile to warm up but we eventually had 78 degree weather and I even got in the water, partially; ok just up to my ankles. Some of the girls claim that they saw dolphins, but I'm not really sure about that.

Florida TETWP Rodeo

Yes, we planned it. We all decided to wear pink to the rodeo tonight, but of course it was Tough Enough to Wear Pink Night. Everyone looked great while showing their support.

Rodeo Queen Pyramid

We did some silly things all week long in our spare time. After air boating, we went to Heather Hall, Miss Rodeo Florida's house for lunch and tested our strength and balance. We're cowgirls though; of course we could do it. Heather's mom made the best homemade salsa in the world. Thanks for feeding us so much during the week!

Florida Airboating

This morning we went air boating on Cypress Lake with our tour guide Dale. It was a lot of fun. We saw a couple alligators on the trip. This alligator in the picture above was 11 feet long. Once again with the cold weather they have had in Florida, the wildlife is not acting normal. Usually the alligators won't let you get too close but right now they are lethargic in the cold weather and really just want to find a place in the sun. Our boat was basically right on top of the back half of this alligator and he didn't even move while Miss Rodeo America, Kelly Jackson reached down and touched him.

Florida Hog Hunting

Tonight we went hog hunting on swamp buggies at Deseret Ranch, a 365,000 acre cattle ranch owned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. It is one of the largest cattle operations in the world with 44,000 cows and 1300 bulls. The ranch has had to remove a lot of wild hogs from the land because they ruin the farm and grazing ground. There were around 1500 hogs removed over the last year, but do you think a group of rodeo queens could find one? You guessed it, we couldn't. The weather is colder than normal in Florida this winter and as a result a lot of the wild hogs are staying sheltered. I was kind of sad that I couldn't see a hog but Regina, my host mother still took me over to her neighbor's house so that I could get a picture of their pot-belly pig.

Florida School Visits

This morning we made school visits to three different elementary schools in the Kissimmee area. In Kissimmee instead of getting out of school for President's Day, the schools are out for "Rodeo Day" on the Friday of the Silver Spurs Rodeo. Now that is lucky. Our lesson at the schools involved teaching the kids about different tack and equipment used in rodeo as well as information on each of the seven rodeo events.

Florida, Here I Come!

I left for some warmer weather today. I am going to Kissimmee, Florida for the Silver Spurs Rodeo and it sounds like we have an awesome agenda for the week. While traveling today I had a layover in Denver, Colorado and the pilot called me to the cockpit and let me sit in his chair for a picture. He taught me some things about flying a plane and I couldn't believe all of the buttons and gadgets. It was interesting.

1st Annual Ogden City Winterfest

The Ogden Pioneer Days Foundation sponsored and organized the Skijoring Event where a single tow rope is looped around the horn of a western saddle and the horse and rider pull a skier at a fast pace over a course of snow as the skier navigates through jumps and obstacles. The skier is timed during the course and I made an excellent flag girl for the timers.

Its A Princess Party!!!