Tough Enough To Wear Pink Celebrity Team Sorting!!!

On April 15^th I was on my way to Corvallis, Montana for a Tough Enough To Wear Pink Celebrity Team Sorting. Corvallis is about a 6-6 ½ hour drive from Billings, so I decided to arrive a day before the contest.  I stayed with Ashley Sherman, the Ravalli County Rodeo Queen, and her family. They were very hospitable and made me feel right at home!

Saturday April 16^th was the day of the actual Team Sorting competition. We arrived at 8:00 am and got ready to present the colors for the Grand Entry. Peal Jeske was kind enough to let me use her horse “Josie”, a beautiful buckskin mare, who can now add being a “Queen’s Horse” to her resume!  Ashley Sherman and Ashton Blubaugh, the Missoula Stampede Little Miss, helped with the Grand Entry and did an awesome job. 

We then had a few hours to kill before the Celebrity Sorting started.  Ashley and I drove down to Darby to see Mr. Jimmy Harrison, the hat man, to have him clean and shape my hat, since I don’t get over to Darby very often.  Jimmy provides custom-made hats to all the Miss Rodeo Montana queens and I wanted to be sure my hat received the best care.  We then headed back to the Team Sorting and I was able to watch for a few hours before the Celebrity portion began.  I received some very helpful tips from Gill and Theresa Roberts.  Their family enjoys Team Sorting almost every weekend and is very familiar with the sport!

 

Before the Celebrity Sorting the “celebrities” drew partners who were “pros” to help assist in the sorting.  I drew an awesome partner, Franchelle, and together we brought $175.00 in the Calcutta!  We took part in two rounds in the Celebrity Sorting.  For those unfamiliar with this sport, contestants start with cows numbered from 0-10.  When you cross the line, the announcer gives you a cow by number.  You have 60 seconds to sort as many cows as you can into the other pen (in numerical order starting with your number). In the first round we were next to last to compete.  The “0” cow was the one that kept getting away from everyone and giving a lot of the teams a “no time”. When I crossed the line they called out our cow number and you can guess what it was?  Yep, it was #0!!! We got two cows in the first round.  While it was not as many as I would have liked, not too bad for my first time sorting!  For the second round contestants go in reverse order so this time Franchelle and I competed second.  We stayed consistent and got two cows again. We were leading up until the last few teams and then finished fourth out of 22 teams.  Well, it was not bad for a first- timer!   I had an absolute blast at Tough Enough to Wear Pink Celebrity Team Sorting, and I want to go back next year and compete again!

The next morning I traveled back to Darby to meet with Keith Smith, the owner of Trapper Peak Winery, to discuss a possible sponsorship.  Laura Bakker, my National Director, and I came up with an idea of presenting all my major sponsors with a nice trophy bottle of wine with my Miss Rodeo Montana logo on it as a personalized keepsake. Keith Smith was very generous and gave me a whole case of wine that I can use for my sponsors.  Further advertising and sponsorship are in the works and I look forward to working with him this year! 

Overall, it was a great weekend.  I had a ton of fun getting out and doing something totally different and introducing Miss Rodeo Montana to a new group of people.

Next week, I’m off to Lewistown, Montana for a Tough Enough to Wear Pink parade, dinner, and auction!

Until next time,

Lorissa Harris

Miss Rodeo Montana 2011

Amy's Coronation/ Geraldine School Visit

Shortly after I got home from the Dodge National Circuit Finals in Oklahoma I was off on the road to Bozeman for Amy-Hager’s (Miss Teen Rodeo Montana 2011) Coronation Party. She and her mother put on a super party with a great turnout and lots of fun activities. I even won an item in the live auction!  She had a kiddie rodeo, live and silent auction, and a raffle. Overall it was a great success and I hope she raised LOTS of money!!!  It was my privilege to stay with Sarah Capp and her beautiful family that night, and I can’t wait to see the future addition to their family who should be arriving any day now!!!

The next morning, I was on my way to Geraldine for an after school program visit.  Angie Hucke runs this program and has been a part of the Miss Rodeo Montana organization for quite a few years. Before the program started, some of the high school students persuaded me to take part in science class.  This “participation” involved tasting some turtle… very salty and chewy … not so much my thing!  During my school visit, I spoke to them about the Miss Rodeo Montana pageant, where I have been so far this year and some of my future travel plans..  I then shared a PowerPoint presentation from my travels and then we held our very own kiddie rodeo.  After an autograph session, I had to get on the road.  It had started snowing very heavily and I had a 3 ½ hour drive ahead of me!  This Montana weather is crazy and I’m very much ready for spring to be here!   Next, I am off to Corvallis for the Tough Enough To Wear Pink Celebrity Team Sorting Conest!

Until Next time,

Lorissa Harris

Miss Rodeo Montana 2011

Ag in Montana/ Dodge National Circuit Fianls Rodeo

The day before I left for an event in Helena, my mother had to have surgery and so being the good daughter I am, I spent the night in the hospital with her (something I hope NEVER to do again!) As expected, I didn’t get much sleep but it goes without saying that I will do anything for her as she always has done so much for me! 

On March 25^th , I was asked to speak at the Ag in Montana Luncheon in.  Which Miss Rodeo Montana has been a part of for the last few years. The Governor was also present for this event and presented the kids with their prizes.

Students grades K-5  from across Montana entered a coloring contest sponsored by Ag in Montana.  Their entries were supposed to incorporate agriculture, farming, beef, etc. into their drawings. The winners of the contest were given the opportunity to visit Helena for the week, take a tour of the State Capitol, go on local sightseeing tours, and then be introduced at the Ag in Montana luncheon. I was the guest speaker and gave a motivational speech about how practice and hard work really does pay off.  I related this talk to my journey to become Miss Rodeo Montana and shared with them a few stories about my travels so far. They were an outstanding group of young people and what a great organization to be able to be associated with.  I was honored to be asked to be a part of this event and to speak to them and their families and guests.

The year 2011 is a very exciting year for the Dodge National Circuit Finals Rodeo and I was very excited to attend!  For the past 25 years the DNCFR has been held in Pocatello, Idaho but this was the first year it was in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma March 31^st through April 2^nd.  In order for contestants to qualify for the DNCFR they must be the overall winner and the average winner in their respective rodeo circuit. There are 12 circuits and the top two contestants from each circuit then qualify to compete at the DNCFR. I was only there for a couple days but it was such an honor and a fantastic rodeo! 

A special treat – I was asked to ride in the Friday night performance at the DNCFR with about 11 other state queens as well as Miss Rodeo America and carried the circuit flags.  We also helped carry major sponsor flags during a mid-rodeo presentation. It was enjoyable to experience a rodeo of that size and caliber, and an honor to be a part of the DNCFR in its first year in Oklahoma City. 

   

While in Oklahoma City, the State Queens got to take part in a Shotgun Contest.  Not being a hunter, I had never handled a shotgun before.  Basically, I thought it was going to be a little easier than it was, but thankfully we had wonderful and very patient instructors!  There were also several cowboys from the various circuits that took part in the contest as well. After lots of practice I got somewhat better, but still only hit 3 out of 10 clays in the actual contest, but it was definitely a fun and memorable experience.

Soon, I was on a plane headed back to Montana, and then on to Bozeman to attend Miss Teen Rodeo Montana Amy Hager’s Coronation Party

Miss Rodeo Montana 2011 Coronation!!!

Miss Rodeo Motnana 2011 Coronation!!!

One of the most important events in my year as Miss Rodeo Montana was my Coronation Party.  This event helped raise the money I  need to travel across Montana, the United States and Canada. My wonderful mother and her committee that consisted of great family friends (Deb, Kathy, Janie, Darla, and Regina) worked endlessly to make sure we had an awesome party and raised LOTS of money!    

We kicked off the evening at the Yellowstone Winery owned by Clint Peck.  We all had an opportunity to mingle with our guests.  We all had a chance to taste and learn about a wonderful variety of wines. From there, we then headed to the big party.  A local Boy Scout troop posted the colors and Jennika O’Neil did a beautiful job singing the National Anthem. We then started the activities with a Calcutta auction of the kids who signed up for the Kiddie Rodeo … and it was one of the cutest and funniest things I have seen in a while. We also had a silent and live auction of some wonderful donated items.  I shared some comments with everyone about how my year is going so far.  Justin Mills of the N.I.L.E. did a great job as the M.C. and I really appreciate all he has done for me over the years.  Joe Goggins was kind enough to do the auctioneering and he did a great job getting the crowd to spend more money!

Overall the event was a great success.  I truly appreciate all of our friends and family that supported me and to all the people who donated the wonderful auction items and those who purchased them.   But, most of all, I so appreciate everything that my mother has done in planning the party and helping in so many ways..  Without her love and support, this year would not be the most special and memorable year that it is!

Until Next time,

Lorissa Harris

Miss Rodeo Montana 2011

NRA/ Rotary

NRA Finals / Rotary

The Northern Rodeo Association held their Finals March 11-13 and this year it was really exciting for me.  Not only did I get to attend as the new Miss Rodeo Montana but the finals were also in my hometown of Billings. I rode “Sug”, my mom's reining horse.  This was a new experience for Sug, and he is proving himself worthy as a true “Rodeo Queen’s horse” having stood perfectly still during the National Anthem in a blackened arena with a spot light on us!.  The NRA Finals was a great rodeo, thanks to the efforts of Beau Wagner, Theresa Walter, and the rest of the NRA Rodeo Committee.  I was very honored to be a part of such a wonderful organization.

During the NRA Finals week, Vance Ruff, the announcer, bull fighter Beau Heart and I visited Elder Grove School and explain the sport of rodeo to the students.  We had them take part in a Kiddie Rodeo.  For the older grades we even got the teachers to take part in the Kiddie Rodeo action, to the delight of the students!  It is a wonderful school and we all had a great time.

After three nights of rodeo, I had a few days to relax at home before speaking as the honored guest at the West End Rotary Club.  Mrs. Robin Hanel is a wonderful woman I met when I joined Toastmasters while preparing for the Miss Rodeo Montana Pageant.  Robin is the wife of Tom Hanel, Mayor of Billings, Montana.  They are truly great people who have been really supportive. I was actually quite nervous to speak at Rotary because this is a group of business people accustomed to hearing experienced public speakers.  I presented my “Montanopoly” speech that I gave as a contestant during the Miss Rodeo Montana pageant .  I also explained the responsibilities and duties of Miss Rodeo Montana, where my travels have taken me so far this year, and future travel plans.  The opportunity to appear at organizations like Rotary really strengthens my public speaking skills and I truly appreciate all that Tom and Rodin have done for me!

Until next time,

Lorissa Harris

Miss Rodeo Montana 2011