North Platte Here I Come!!

http://www.nptelegraph.com/articles/2010/06/10/news/40000430.txt


Rodeo royalty headed to NP
By Heather James
Published: Thursday, June 10, 2010 4:11 AM CDT
The North Platte Telegraph

North Platte will be transformed into a sea of sequins and leather this week as 19 rodeo queens from out-of-state descend on the community. Miss Rodeo America Kelli Jackson will be among the entourage smiling for cameras and signing autographs around town. She hails from Mississippi.

The other states that will be represented are Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

"These young women help to make the celebration special," said publicity chairwoman for Miss Rodeo Nebraska Sharon Negley. "The public sees them all over town in their beautiful outfits, and they're such charming girls."

Negley said North Platte is one of the primary stops state queens try to make.

"A lot of them also hit Cheyenne and Pendleton, but the professionalism and hospitality of our pageant and of the Buffalo Bill Rodeos is well known at the national level. We've had girls say it's one of the major highlights of their year."

Although the queens will arrive at varying times, Negley said the majority of them will be in North Platte by Sunday afternoon - in time for a meet and greet session at 5:30 p.m. at the Wild West Arena. The session is free and open to the public.

During their stay, the women will be involved in a variety of activities. They will assist with the Kids Costume Parade, will attend all of the pageant events, will ride in the grand entries of the rodeos and will be featured at autograph signings throughout the community. Local businesses donate vans for the girls to travel in.

Negley said host homes have been lined up for this year, but anyone interested in becoming a host family for next year's pageant can contact Paula Stobbs at 534-9513.

Queens who travel together are often paired up together, so host families may have more than one girl staying with them. Negley is hosting this year, and said she can't wait for the women to arrive.

"They're absolutely delightful," she said. "Hosting is a great way to learn about other states and pageants, and the young ladies are so good at interacting with their host families. They're just a joy to be around."

Negley said having about 18 visiting queens is normal for North Platte, but high for other contests around the nation.

"I want to say most have around 10," she said. "We're fortunate to be able to have so many outside queens come to the pageant and privileged to have a community that is so supportive of them."