February 2016 was all about the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo. We kicked things off with the Western Heritage Parade Press conference held right in front of the Alamo, where President Cody Davenport released details for the 2016 Stock Show and Rodeo, as well as invited everyone to the parade that Saturday! From there I was off to do a radio remote at Whataburger with KJ 97 in Boerne, to promote the rodeo and interact with people interested in coming out to the rodeo!
The cowboy breakfast was an early morning but so many people over 30,000 showed up to enjoy some out of this world breakfast tacos! What is even more unbelievable is that this event is completely free yes everything was free. The Texas-size menu includes 20,000 servings of Picante Sauce by Simply Fresco 15,000 cups of McDonalds coffee, 12,000 Kiolbassa Chorizo & Egg Tacos, 10,000 Delicious Tamales, 10,000 Pruski’s Sausage & Egg Tacos, 10,000 Rudy’s BBQ Beef Tacos, 8,000 Pioneer Biscuits & Kiolbassa Sausage, 8,000 bacon & egg tacos, 5,000 potato & egg tacos, 5,000 Kiolbassa Sausage Wraps, 5,000 Pints Oak Farms Milk & Orange Juice and 2,500 servings of 
Pioneer Biscuits & Gravy. Not only did I enjoy the great food and friendly atmosphere but I was able to hand out the award for the cow patty contest. Yes I awarded the golden toilet to the sponsor participant that was able to throw a rather fresh cow patty from a marked distance into a toilet! The Cowboy Breakfast Foundation has all sponsor dollars netted to go towards St. Philip’s College for Culinary Arts Scholarships. Thank you Jackie Van De Walle for inviting me to partake in this world record-breaking event.
The Cowgirls Live Forever Scholarship Luncheon and Fashion Show was one for the books. The Cowgirls Live Forever Style Show has awarded over $1 million in 
scholarships. This profound giving would not be possible without the contributions of sponsors and donors of the event who avidly support the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo’s mission, “A volunteer organization that emphasizes agriculture and education to develop the youth of Texas.” I am so appreciative that I was able to partake in this extraordinary event. Sissy Winn Miss Rodeo Texas Teen and I greeted guest as they arrived, as well as modeled our western dresses as part of the finale of the show. Thank you to everyone who attended and helped make these scholarships possible, it means so much to be a recipient of a SALE scholarship and I can not thank you all enough.
The Western Heritage Parade was a little chilly and windy this year but that didn’t stop us from celebrating our Western Heritage and herding some longhorns down Houston Street in downtown San Antonio. Thank you Billy and Brenda Harris for letting me ride the famous Jazz who has carried many Miss Rodeo Texas in this very parade. 
This was the first time the parade has been broadcast live on KSAT 12 SA live. I wasn’t expecting it but Jeff Roper stopped me and did an impromptu interview right there in front of the Buckhorn. 
Later that day I was fortunate enough to attend the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo Buyers Hide Party. The buyers from last years auction came to visit have a good time and take home their very own personalized S Hat branded cowhide! Thank you for letting me attend as well as take home my very own branded hide!
During the days leading up to the opening day of the rodeo I made school visits in Lytle, and at Cambridge Elementary. Lytle had their very own rodeo days where they made the entire school day an educational experience about agriculture and rodeo. I was a guest speaker and answered many questions about all aspects of rodeo and agriculture. At Cambridge Elementary I spoke to first graders on my job as a rodeo queen and what I would be doing at the rodeo! Kids really do say the darnedest things and I could not have asked for a more enjoyable day getting to spend it with all of them.
Opening day was finally upon us and I spent the majority of the day doing interviews and promoting the Rodeo. I did the annual carnival food interview David Sears of KSAT 12 where we tried all varieties of funnel cake that was full of calories, powered sugar, and some good laughs. From there was off to the first produc
tion meeting of the rodeo where I met everyone who helps make this rodeo the eleven time PRCA Largest Indoor Rodeo of the Year. What an experience it was riding into the AT&T Center for the first time as Miss Rodeo Texas words simply cannot express that feeling.
For the rest of my eighteen-day adventure at the rodeo I visited the School Tours Tent where I spoke to kids from first grade on up to seniors in high school. I had a blast 
getting to talk to them and hear about their experiences out on the grounds. I was in the International Room quite a bit visiting with rodeo fans from all around the world, The International Committee were also nice enough to feed me in there and always welcomed me with open arms. The 
contestant hospitality room is one of the many reasons San Antonio has obtained the PRCA Rodeo of the Year Award. They are by far the most hospitable kind, caring, and welcoming people out there. They welcomed rodeo contestants, their families, and myself in there daily for a great meal, provided a place to rest and some good conversation.
The South Texas Cattle Women hosted their 
February meeting in this room and were also a sponsor of a hearty BEEF dinner that I am sure the contestants were happy to have. I was fortunate enough to speak at the Brush Country Cattle Women’s meeting held in the New Frontier Club. I talked about my ties to rodeo and ranching and what it means to me to have so many women continue their involvement in agriculture.
Every Sunday I was able to attend the cowboy church service held in the auction barn for fellowship during a non-denominational worship service. Speaking of the auction barn I was in attendance for the Lamb and Goat action as well as the Steer auction where I helped award the scholarship checks to the Grand and Reserve Champions. These auctions wouldn’t have been possible without the support of so many sponsors and supporters. I am so thankful I had the opportunity to spend an evening with the men and women who support our youth at their top buyers reception, thank you!
The Cowboy Golf Classic pairs PRCA Rodeo contestants, volunteers, and patrons in supporting the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund and the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame. They didn’t have me on a team competing but they did helped me take a few strokes off my golf game. I enjoyed meeting everyone at this event for such a great cause in helping support our rodeo contestants as well as helping preserve our western heritage! The event was able to donate $40,000 to the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund and $25,000 for the ProRodeo Hall of Fame and Museum of the American Cowboy.
San Antonio hosted the rodeo committee and queens court from the Pendleton Round-Up whom received the 2015 PRCA Largest Outdoor Rodeo of the Year award, to show them how San Antonio rodeos! I got to play tour guide and show them around the grounds and give them an insiders look into what makes San Antonio the eleventh time Indoor Rodeo of the Year. This rodeo is really special and well deserving of another Rodeo of the Year Award in large part because of all the volunteers, and sponsors who care so deeply about the mission of the San Antonio Livestock Exposition.
I am just so incredibly thankfully for the sponsors and supporters of Miss Rodeo Texas who have helped so much in letting me have this once in a lifetime experience! It truly would not have happened without each and every single one of you. Cavender’s thank you for being my presenting sponsor at the 2016 San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo. To every single committeeman and woman thank you for making me feel like family 
everywhere I went, you all made it feel just like home. Thank you to the Marketing Department for keeping me going and helping schedule my days. San Antonio Rodeo 2016 gave me lifelong friends; connections that will last a lifetime, and memories that will never die.
Thank You San Antonio!
“Vaya con Dios”
Nikki Woodward – Miss Rodeo Texas 2015