My adventure began at The Mesquite Championship Rodeo in Mesquite Texas. With a dark arena, bright spotlights, and a rodeo ready crowd all awaiting the presentation of the American flag. As I sat there waiting for my signal to go in and present the American Flag for the very first time as the first lady of Texas rodeo. One of the directors tells me to hurry back and unsaddle my horse, because they need him in the chutes for the Bronc Ridding. 
Thankfully he was just joking and the horse couldn’t have been more of an angle! During the rodeo I was put to work pushing the steers and calves along side the pickup men. I was very fortunate to help the mutton busters behind the chutes, and they were all excited to tell me just how they were going to ride that sheep.
The Mesquite Championship Rodeo has a weekly TV show along with being broadcast live at every Saturday night performance. I was asked to join Joanna Huckabee (A former Miss Rodeo Texas) for an interview on the TV show. It was great getting to see Joanna and hearing about her experience as Miss Rodeo Texas.
From Mesquite I headed to the Marble Falls pro-rodeo. Marble Falls has never hosted Miss Rodeo Texas and everyone was just thrilled to have me there. Hawkeye was my trusty steed for this appearance. I am so thankful for his owner’s generosity and for hauling him all the way to the rodeo for a queen run.
Along with the rodeo performance I was asked to partake in the parade. I had so much fun visiting with the other floats and getting to know the people from Marble Falls.
The next stop was at the Daddy of E’m all the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo. I had a jam-packed schedule from rodeo performances, parades, concerts, to the pancake breakfast. On my first day we woke up early for the parade downtown, which was one of the longest, and most exciting parades I have ever seen. All of us queens really got a good workout waving to everyone.
The parade ended just in time for the rodeo performance to start where I got to make my famous Cheyenne Frontier Days fly by. It was such a rush being on a completely unknown horse flying down an old racetrack at full speed. Thank goodness the horse knew when to stop or else I would have gone around for another lap! After the rodeo was over all of us queens were able to attend the Alabama concert that night.
The next morning was even earlier as we prepared to flip some pancakes at the famous pancake breakfast. I put my cooking skills to the test, making pancakes and throwing them up in the air in hopes that a catcher would be there to catch them. We then ate and signed autographs for the audience members. 
After breakfast we proceeded to do some shopping in downtown Cheyenne. After our shopping spree it was again time for the rodeo. This time I got to visit with some of the major sponsors of the rodeo and even got to talk to one of the announcers who introduced me during the performance. By the end of the performance I had walked well over 4 miles! That night Toby Keith headlined the concert and it was a great way to end my experience at the Daddy of Em all.
After my big travel experience to Cheyenne I had the opportunity to head home for the West of the Pecos Cattle Women’s meeting. They asked me to be the guest speaker to talk about what it means to be a rodeo queen.
My next big stop was in Colorado Springs Colorado for the ProRodeo Hall of Fame inductions. The first event was the Cowboy Ball held in the Museum of the American Cowboy where I got to mingle with some of rodeos most elite. I also had the pleasure of meeting several other state rodeo queens whom I will see again in Las Vegas.
The next morning was the induction ceremony where World Champion Cowboys Tom Nesmith, Mark Garrett, Bob Wegner and Harry Charters, along with rodeo notables Jack Hannum, the Hendricks Brothers specialty act and four-time team roping head horse of the year Precious Speck (Walt) were all inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame. 
That night I attended the Douglas Country Fair and Rodeo. Where I meet several Colorado girls who dreamed of becoming Miss Rodeo Colorado, as well as a very excited rodeo crowd who all wanted to know what it was like to be a rodeo queen from Texas. It was an amazing experience filled with good people and good times.
A wonderful sponsor of Miss Rodeo Texas is the South Texas Cattle Women who invited me to attend their first of the year meeting. As their guest speaker they wanted to know a little bit about myself as well as all of my travels. It was a great experience getting to meet all of the inspirational women behind this organization. This was a special appearance because Miss Rodeo Texas Teen Sissy Winn was also in attendance, and it was our first time together since the pageant! 
This is just the beginning and I am so excited to see what the next adventure has in store. Stay toned for more adventures!
“Vaya con Dios”
Nikki Woodward – Miss Rodeo Texas 2015
