The first weekend of September, I attended the 26th Annual National Cowboy Symposium and Celebration in Lubbock. This event strives to preserve our cowboy culture and the Western way of life, just like Miss Rodeo Texas! The weekend was filled with Western heritage from cowboy poets and musicians, to chuck wagon cooking, horses, and historical demonstrations. There really was something for everyone! During the day, I spent my time doing one of my very favorite things: interacting with kids! On Friday, we had school tours as busloads of children came to learn outside of the classroom. I loved getting to watch them have fun and I even got to participate! We listened to cowboy poets and musicians, watched an equine demonstration, and learned about a cowboy’s life on the trail. On Saturday, we set up an activity station for kids visiting the event. I always enjoy sharing our Western heritage with the younger generations and watching their excitement for our culture grow. 
Both nights I spent at the event, I was honored to present the American Cowboy Culture Awards alongside Alvin Davis. Congratulations to Bob Bluthardt for the Western Museum Award and to Elizabeth Kesler for the Lifetime Achievement Award. Both of these individuals are very deserving of these prestigious achievements! I would like to thank Monica Hightower for inviting me to this wonderful event that she puts so much work into. Thank you also to Alvin Davis for being so kind, I really enjoyed visiting with him throughout the weekend.
Once the celebration was over, I drove down to Abilene for the West Texas Fair and Rodeo. During the first night of the rodeo, the Miss West Texas Fair and Rodeo queen was crowned. Although I wasn’t there for the pageant since I was in Lubbock, I heard that all of the girls did a great job! They had a wonderful group of girls competing and I loved getting to spend the little time I did with them. Congratulations to Nikki Woodward on her new title, I know she will have an amazing year!
Throughout the rest of the week, Nikki and I had a lot of fun participating in the rodeo each night. We got to help with the calf scramble and mutton bustin’, in addition to our queen’s run at the beginning of each performance. Thank you to Beutler and Son Rodeo Company for supplying us both with horses to ride for the week. We definitely appreciated all of the help we had!
While I was in Abilene, I was happy to interview with their local TV station, KTAB news. As an Agricultural Communications major wanting to pursue a broadcast career, I truly cherish these opportunities I have to learn more and be involved with that industry. I really appreciate them even thinking of me and having me on the show! I also got to help with the Mini Hereford show during my time at the fair and rodeo. I enjoyed getting to meet new people, pass out ribbons, and spend time with Devin Felger Sisk who was photographing the livestock show. Devin was Miss Rodeo Texas 2009 and also a fellow New Braunfels Unicorn like me! I always love getting to visit with her and see a familiar face during my travels. Thank you for all that you do for the Miss Rodeo Texas organization, Devin! Thank you also to Rochelle Johnson for having me at the West Texas Fair and Rodeo and for being so hospitable during my stay there. I really enjoyed working with her and everyone else that makes this wonderful rodeo possible!
Blessings,
Alex Ingram – Miss Rodeo Texas 2014