Hitting the Road and Living the Dream…

Woman’s Club of San Antonio

The Woman’s Club of San Antonio is the oldest civic organization in San Antonio, so being invited to the Woodward House to attend the WCSA luncheon and style show was an honor and a great experience.  This amazing group of women supports scholarships and education with their fundraising and community activities.  I also had the honor to work with Lari Nelson and her group of up and coming models from the Nelson Fashion Group.  I had so much fun, met some wonderful new friends (such as the beautiful Miss River City and Miss River City Teen) and learned a lot about this wonderful city that I now call home.

On the road again…… First Stop was Burwell, Nebraska

On July 20^th I embarked on my first out of state journey as Miss Rodeo Texas.  So I packed my bags and with butterflies stirring, headed to Denver Colorado!  I was met by my dear friend, Kellie Carr who is the Director of the Miss Burwell Rodeo Queen Contest.  She drove the 6 hour trip from Burwell to pick me up at 10:00 am! Thanks Kellie!!! ( The Nebraska hospitality did not end there).  Before the Queen Contest or Rodeo started, I was treated to a few local traditions.  One of the most interesting things they do in Nebraska is “tanking”….  Yes, Tanking!   I’m probably one of the few Texan’s that can say they’ve floated down the Calamus River in a cattle tank and I’d do it again!  “Thank you Bruce Switzer and Calamus Outfitters for offering me such a fun experience”.  If you ever get a chance to go to Burwell – you’ve got to stop by and see them!  (Hope to see you at the San Antonio Rodeo, Bruce!) The fun didn’t end there… Dean and Kristi Meeks invited us out on the lake with their family to go tubing behind their Jet Boat, which was finally something I was familiar with.  We had so much fun and I can’t thank them enough for their hospitality.

The next day I was honored to visit with some of the “Young at heart Nebraskan’s” at the Burwell Community Memorial Nursing Home.  The residents were so welcoming and excited about the rodeo but I have to say that Ms. Pearl and Ms. Dorothy were especially sweet to me.  Everywhere I went, I was treated like family by everyone I met.  A Special Thanks goes out to the Burwell Rodeo Queen Committee, The Carr Family (Jim, Becky, Gracie and Kellie).  They were all amazing hosts and went out of their way to make me feel welcomed.

I was extremely honored to be invited to attended the Miss Burwell Rodeo Queen contest.   I truly love that Rodeo is a universal language and no matter where I travel, I run into people who are kindred spirits and love it the same way that I do.  Thank you to the MBR Queen Committee and especially Kellie and Andrea for allowing me to be a part of your program and rodeo this year.  I also had the honor of meeting Lori Bortner Harding who was one of the judges at the contest.  She was Miss Rodeo America in 2003 and we had fun talking about her year as MRA.  A big Congratulations goes out to Olivia Hunsperger for winning the coveted title!  She is such a sweetheart and I know she’s going to do a great job this year!!

 

Next on the agenda was Nebraska’s Big Rodeo… yes, that’s the name of it. The whole town of Burwell pitches in to support and then comes out to their rodeo, which was so cool!  They literally have one the largest arenas that I’ve ever seen and the weather was perfect, so I was extremely excited to be there! Once again, I was treated like one of the family and put right to work carrying flags and pushing stock.  If that wasn’t enough to make me feel right at home, a few familiar faces certainly did the trick!  Texas’ own Benjie Bendele was the sound man, Mr. Bennie Buetler brought his awesome stock and Mr. Hadley Barrett was that familiar voice over the speakers. I had the honor of working with both Bennie and Hadley at Rodeo Austin but it was so heartwarming when they both remembered this Texas girl.  (I can’t tell you how much that meant to me) Burwell has another crazy tradition… they have wild horse races at their rodeo!  It was literally the wildest thing I’d ever seen.  What an amazing display of guts and courage.

I must say that one of the highlights was getting to officially meet and ride with Miss Rodeo Nebraska, Sam Chytka.  We get to know the other state girls over Facebook, but it’s awesome when you actually get to meet them. “Thanks for letting me share one your NE rodeos with you, Sam. I hope you’ll get to come to Texas so I can return the favor and show you around the Lone Star State”.  I can’t say enough about the Nebraska people, land and traditions.  They are my family and home away from home now.  I hope to be able to come back soon!

Cheyenne, Wyoming… The Daddy of em’ All

 

July 25^th we were up before the crack of dawn and on our way to “The Daddy of em’ All”, for the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo!  (“Special thanks to Sarah and Kellie for driving many long hours to make sure that I got where I needed to be on time and safe and sound!”)

Walking into the Cheyenne rodeo grounds was like being in a dream.  It was everything I had ever imagined it could be and much more!  This was extra special because I’ve wanted to attend this world famous rodeo since I was 15 years old and here I was and I was Miss Rodeo Texas.  Two dreams merging into one fabulous trip!  Since we take this very serious, can I just say that…. “I LOVE MY JOB!”

I had an amazing host family and want to thank Troy and Casey Griffith.  Right from the moment I walked in the door they made me feel right at home! I hope you think of me every time you enjoy your morning cup of coffee in your Texas mug.   My roommate in Cheyenne was Jenna Smeenk, Miss Rodeo Florida who is the sweetest! We had so much fun together and we both appreciated the Griffith’s for welcoming us into their home and putting up with our early mornings.

 

I was honored and excited to share my time in Cheyenne with Chenae’ Shiner, Miss Rodeo America, as well as to have the opportunity to get to know and work with Miss Rodeo Wisconsin, Nevada, Louisiana, Florida, Utah, New York, Mississippi and Arizona.  I had so much fun with this great group of girls!

Together, we attended the world famous pancake breakfast where we got to help make the pancakes and then actually “flipped” them out of the chuck wagon to the other queens and Boy Scouts! I cannot confirm or deny if my first 3… or…10 hit the ground, but I finally got the hang of it!  It was so much fun to launch pancakes to another person or to try to catch them with a tray. What a crazy experience!  Only in Rodeo do we get encouraged to play with our food!  I Love it!!  We also participated in the parade and attended each of the rodeo performances.

 

 

 

Texas was well represented at Cheyenne and it was beyond cool to see all of the amazing Texas cowboys and cowgirls competing with the best of the best of the PRCA!  It’s a big world but Rodeo is a small family so it’s never a surprise when I run into friends that I knew in High School Rodeo or have met through the years at our Texas Rodeos.  It was especially cool to run into the PRCA judge I met recently at the Belton Rodeo, Mr. Gary Case.  He was also judging in Cheyenne and is another proud Texan!  Again, it’s always about the people.

Cheyenne really does put on an amazing rodeo and I was honored to be there to watch many of the PRCA world champs.  I’m always proud of our Texas Stock contractors and Stace Smith Pro Rodeo always provides some of the best stock! Not only were the cowboy champions in Cheyenne but also the champion stock like Chuckulator (the Saddle Bronc “let ‘er buck” winner in 2013).  Doesn’t get much better than this!

I had a very busy schedule in Cheyenne from flippin’ pancakes and playing bingo with our veterans at the Cheyenne VA hospital, to signing autographs and doing radio interviews during the rodeo! It was truly a surreal experience that has given me memories that I will treasure for the rest of my life.   Memories, Friends and Experiences that have literally changed my life…  I am “Living the Dream” and I can’t wait to see what God has planned for me down the next road!

See you at the next Rodeo!

Stephanie Revels,

Miss Rodeo Texas 2013