Wow, how time flies!  I can’t believe there is less than a month before I’ll be heading off to Las Vegas for the Miss Rodeo America Pageant!  I have had so many amazing experiences since I last wrote and I would like to share just a few of them with you today. 

I had a blast at the last few summer rodeos including Cedar City, Saint George, and also the Wilderness Circuit Queen contest…. Speaking of, the Wilderness Circuit Finals were just this weekend and what a weekend it was!

On Thursday night, all of the queens in attendance met a little early to help pass out candy to any trick-or-treaters that came to the rodeo.   This is where I met Kassie, the Pocatello Frontier Days Queen and got to reunite with my good friend Mesia Gibbs, Miss Rodeo Idaho.   Shortly afterward I was privileged to be a part of the opening act and tribute to our nation’s armed forces.  I am especially grateful for the sacrifices they give to keep our country safe, and feel that it is only fitting that we thank America’s defenders during America’s sport.  I “oohed” and “awed”  along with the crowd during Bryn Christenson’s “Fire Cracker” performance.  I hope everyone had their cameras at the ready for her opening act!

Now I hate to be superstitious, but I daresay someone in a Dodge truck crossed paths with a black cat that day because Dodge had no luck to be found.  During the performance the Dodge barrel truck and a grumpy pickup man’s horse had a little run in, and judging by the dent in the truck….. I’d say the horse won.  As the queens, pickup men, and Dodge reps all sat in the alley way jokingly discussing the horseshoe dent in the truck, Kassie prepared to do her sponsor fly-by with the Dodge flag.  Unfortunately, she only made it a few steps forward when the flag caught on some low hanging pipes and the flag shattered in not two but three places.  Like I said, there must have been a black cat running around.

Friday night was the Wilderness Circuit’s Tough Enough to Wear Pink tribute.  This was one of the most touching TETWP performances I have ever attended.  There was a large silent auction to help raise money, and a pink donation bucket that was passed through the crowed.  Also, Cody Wright was gracious enough to ride with a pick buck rein that was then sold in the auction.  The most memorable part of the evening was the tribute given in honor of the late Bud Kirby.  Several of his bucking horses were set loose in the arena while announcer Wayne Brookes helped us all to remember Bud and the amazing things he did during his seventy years with us.  I have been blessed to grow up in the great state of Utah attending many Bar T rodeos.  Bud and all the people that are a part of Bar T have always been my idols.  I would like to thank each and every one of you, especially Bud, for making my generation want to grow up to become like your generation.      

Saturday, also Halloween eve, was an especially eventful day.  I attended the Sponsor Lunch with Jamie Udell, Miss Wilderness Circuit and McKenzie Mahuan, 1^st attendant.  We enjoyed a great lunch and many rodeo and hunting stories provided by all of the contract personnel.  This lunch was one more testament to me that rodeo is a family sport.  Rodeo is a sport that entire families can enjoy, but more than that the contestants and contract personnel are also family, if not through blood then through the blood and sweat it takes to be a part of this sport. 

After lunch it was time to do a little Halloween costume shopping!  Ashley Scott, the  Utah High School Rodeo Queen, came home with some giant pink eyelashes and I picked up some gold glitter to cover myself, my horse and, unwittingly, my truck with!

The rainy weather didn’t slow down the contestants as that night the Wilderness Circuit Champions were crowned and given their ticket to the Dodge National Circuit Finals in Oklahoma City, OK by Miss Wilderness, Jamie Udell.  Also, a special shout out to Nancy Hunter our Wilderness Circuit Barrel Racing Champion!     

Later that night at our celebratory dinner at Denny’s, I was distractedly looking through my bag while on the phone with my mom when I locked the door of the truck, shut it, and immediately panicked because I didn’t have my keys in hand!  Everyone at dinner including the waiter got a good laugh out of my panicked phone calls to locksmiths explaining my situation while looking for a good deal.  Some high school cowboys offered to break in to the Larry H. Miller Dodge truck, if I supplied them with a few common house hold items.  Yeah, don’t worry, it sounded just as shady to me as it does to you right now.  So, I opted to have a locksmith come.  When the locksmith arrived I walked outside to meet him, as I did so I happened to put my hands in my jacket pocket only to find the truck keys!!!  You can imagine the look or horror and surprise on both mine and the locksmith’s faces.  But in the end we both got a good laugh out of it.  I paid him and explained that it really wasn’t a Halloween prank, I then had to go inside and explain my blonde moment to everyone at the dinner table, oh and the waiter. 

Needless to say, I had a great and every eventful weekend in Ogden at the Wilderness Circuit Finals.  My next stop is Las Vegas!  I hope to see many of you there for either the Miss Rodeo America Pageant or the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, or maybe both! 

Happy Trails and God Bless!

-Marti