The San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo starts this week and I could not be more excited! These past few weeks have kept me busy with pre-rodeo events in preparation for this 10 time Large Indoor Rodeo of the Year. Our first event was the Cowgirls Live Forever Style Show and Luncheon. Miss Rodeo Texas Teen, McKenna, and I greeted guests and took pictures along with the Texas Heritage Riders. Afterwards, we went inside for the fashion show. McKenna and I had so
much fun modeling our pageant dresses on the runway and seeing the beautiful Julian Gold clothing that was showcased. Later that night, I attended another fashion show put on by our wonderful modeling coach, Lari Nelson. This event was a Ferrari Fashion Week show also in honor of the upcoming rodeo and one of my favorite local stores, Ranch At The Rim, provided the “rodeo-ready” fashions.
After a day full of fashion, I got up very early the next morning for the annual rodeo kickoff
event, the Cowboy Breakfast. Starting at 4:30am, thousands of breakfast tacos are made by volunteers and given to endless lines of people. I loved seeing that many people, despite the chilly and early morning, lined up to participate in such a special event and excited for the rodeo. Thank you to Billy Harris and Jackie Van De Walle for showing me around and making it such a fun morning!
This past weekend, I was honored to ride in the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo Western Heritage Parade and Cattle Drive. It was incredible to see the busy streets of downtown San Antonio filled with horses, longhorns, wagons, and even sheep! I got to ride Billy and Brenda Harris’ beautiful palomino horse, Jazz, again. Having carried Miss Rodeo Texas through this parade for the past 9 years, he is the perfect parade horse! As a Texas A&M Aggie, I was excited to ride in front of their Parsons Mounted Cavalry. Whoop! It was a beautiful day with the largest turn out of spectators I have ever seen at a parade. Thank you to Billy, Brenda, and the rest of the Texas Heritage riders for always being so willing to lend a horse and making sure I’m well taken care of.
Later that day, I attended the hide branding party put on before the rodeo by one of our 
very generous sponsors, Mr. Urbanczyk. I had a great time visiting with some familiar faces, meeting many new people, and I even got to brand a hide for myself! It is such a special keepsake for my year as Miss Rodeo Texas. Thank you Mr. Urbanczyk for the beautiful hide and all that you do for Miss Rodeo Texas, I really appreciate it. After the party, I headed to Bulverde for the First Annual Bulverde Spring Branch Area Chamber of Commerce Rodeo at Tejas Rodeo Company. I loved getting to ride in as well as help with the little mutton busters. Tejas is one of the neatest facilities with dinner, dancing, and much more with their weekly rodeos. Thank you to Becca Roach and Yancey James for always being so helpful and providing me with a horse. Y’all are awesome and I hope to visit again soon!
In addition to these events, I also got to go on school visits with Terry Chandler of the South Texas Cattlewomen, as well as a visit with the Texas Heritage Riders. School visits are so important because they give us an opportunity to teach the younger generation about our Western heritage. Throughout the visits we read books, talked to them about rodeo, had stick horse races, and even let the kids pet horses! I love getting to share my passion for the Western way of life and watch their excitement grow for it too!
Along with school visits, I also got to go with some of the South Texas CattleWomen to a special movie premiere in Austin. We watched an impressive film that promotes the beef industry called True Beef – Exploring Texas Beef From Pasture to Plate.
I highly recommend checking out this informative film, they did a wonderful job producing it! The South Texas Cattlewomen also invited me to a reception at the Briscoe Western Art Museum to welcome the American National CattleWomen to San Antonio forthe National Cattlemen’s Beef Association convention. We had a great time touring the museum and visiting with each other. A few days later, I attended the convention and signed autographs at the Knipe Land Company booth. Thank you to John Knipe for inviting me to the event, it was so nice to meet you! Also, I can never thank the South Texas CattleWomen enough for their support and always welcoming me.
Now that all the pre-rodeo events have come and gone, it’s finally time to RODEO! Let’s Rodeo San Antonio!
Alex Ingram- Miss Rodeo Texas 2014