South Eastern Circuit Finals Rodeo in Brighton, FL
Wow, my first trip as Miss Rodeo Arkansas! I’m wearing the crown on my hat, but it’s still hard to believe. It’s such an honor to be representing our state and I can’t wait to share my stories with you all! I hope you enjoy them. . . Because here we go.
My New Year truly started out as an adventure! I found myself going through the torturous airport security before sunrise. After stripping me of my boots, belt, buckle, hat, and crown I was good to go through the metal detector. Soon after I was seated among the eleven other passengers on my flight to Fort Myers, Florida. Since there weren’t many other passenger, I had the opportunity to chat with my airline steward Mr. Lou. He told me about seeing the Bill Picket Rodeo and how much he had enjoyed it. It just goes to show there are people all around us with the same interests.
Five hours later my feet were on the beautiful sun filled state of Florida. This was the first time I had ever rented a car, let alone in another state. Luckily they took care of me and I received a sporty little silver car with Pennsylvania plates. I thought that was an interesting detail, but didn’t pay much thought to it. A few detours and a couple of hours later, I made it to Brighton and pulled into the charming Fred Smith Rodeo Arena.. After speaking with the people there I headed for my accommodations to see if the other queens had also arrived.
As I pulled into the spot where I had been given directions to, I noticed a truck pull up next to me. Inside sat a lovely young women with quite a funny expression on her face. This was Jessica Davis. . . Miss Rodeo Florida 2009. Apparently the folks at the arena had told her that Miss Rodeo Pennsylvania had just checked in and would be at the rooms. We both had a good laugh over that. Later on we met up with Sydney Weber Miss Rodeo Florida 2008 and Arica Lassiter Miss Teen Rodeo Florida 2008. Florida has a wonderful group of girls representing them.
Our week was full of exciting events at the PRCA South Eastern Circuit Finals Rodeo. Radio interviews and autograph signings along side Joe Beaver & Chance Smart, selling programs, and being announced at the rodeo each night. Doing the grand entry is some thing I have done many times, but that first time being welcomed into the arena as Miss Rodeo Arkansas is truly breath taking. I don’t think my heart has ever pounded so hard. That is a moment I will never forget! It was also great to be able to cheer for the Arkansas cowboys as we watched each night of the rodeo performance.
But after all our work was done we found room in our schedules for some fun! Mr. Gomez planned a special trip for us rodeo queens to go and see an alligator farm. I was especially excited, since I had never seen one before. Mr. Richard Beck the owner showed us almost all of his hundreds of gators. He even let us go in the enclosure with the full grown alligators for a quick picture! I also made some new and unique friends on my trip. Their names where Norman and Pork chop. Mr. Gomez’s “wild” pet pig and adorable cow.
Saturday night we were lucky enough to be a part of the cowboys award banquet. Here we helped hand out the beautiful buckles and jackets to all the award winners. What a wonderful meal they served the cowboys and us. I even got my first taste of swamp cabbage. With a name like that I was a little worried, but I had no reason to be. The swamp cabbage was delicious. It was great to spend time on the Seminole reservation and see just how much they care for the sport of rodeo and the cowboys competing in it.
I would like to give a special thanks to Molletha Gomez for dealing with my over the phone before I even got to Florida and also for providing us with her beautiful barrel horses to use during the rodeo. Also a big thank you to her husband for taking me to see my first alligators and then for taking the picture of Jessica and Me with them. Also for taking us to all our important appointment. Thank you both! Thank you Mrs. Davis for being my adopted mother and photographer for the weekend. Another thank you to Mr. Amos for making us all feel so welcomed at the South Eastern Circuit Finals Rodeo and to all the people who helped make our visit there possible. I will always have wonderful memories of this trip.
“The best part about memories is making them.”
Micki Musick
Miss Rodeo Arkansas 2009
My New Year truly started out as an adventure! I found myself going through the torturous airport security before sunrise. After stripping me of my boots, belt, buckle, hat, and crown I was good to go through the metal detector. Soon after I was seated among the eleven other passengers on my flight to Fort Myers, Florida. Since there weren’t many other passenger, I had the opportunity to chat with my airline steward Mr. Lou. He told me about seeing the Bill Picket Rodeo and how much he had enjoyed it. It just goes to show there are people all around us with the same interests.
Five hours later my feet were on the beautiful sun filled state of Florida. This was the first time I had ever rented a car, let alone in another state. Luckily they took care of me and I received a sporty little silver car with Pennsylvania plates. I thought that was an interesting detail, but didn’t pay much thought to it. A few detours and a couple of hours later, I made it to Brighton and pulled into the charming Fred Smith Rodeo Arena.. After speaking with the people there I headed for my accommodations to see if the other queens had also arrived.As I pulled into the spot where I had been given directions to, I noticed a truck pull up next to me. Inside sat a lovely young women with quite a funny expression on her face. This was Jessica Davis. . . Miss Rodeo Florida 2009. Apparently the folks at the arena had told her that Miss Rodeo Pennsylvania had just checked in and would be at the rooms. We both had a good laugh over that. Later on we met up with Sydney Weber Miss Rodeo Florida 2008 and Arica Lassiter Miss Teen Rodeo Florida 2008. Florida has a wonderful group of girls representing them.
Our week was full of exciting events at the PRCA South Eastern Circuit Finals Rodeo. Radio interviews and autograph signings along side Joe Beaver & Chance Smart, selling programs, and being announced at the rodeo each night. Doing the grand entry is some thing I have done many times, but that first time being welcomed into the arena as Miss Rodeo Arkansas is truly breath taking. I don’t think my heart has ever pounded so hard. That is a moment I will never forget! It was also great to be able to cheer for the Arkansas cowboys as we watched each night of the rodeo performance.
But after all our work was done we found room in our schedules for some fun! Mr. Gomez planned a special trip for us rodeo queens to go and see an alligator farm. I was especially excited, since I had never seen one before. Mr. Richard Beck the owner showed us almost all of his hundreds of gators. He even let us go in the enclosure with the full grown alligators for a quick picture! I also made some new and unique friends on my trip. Their names where Norman and Pork chop. Mr. Gomez’s “wild” pet pig and adorable cow.Saturday night we were lucky enough to be a part of the cowboys award banquet. Here we helped hand out the beautiful buckles and jackets to all the award winners. What a wonderful meal they served the cowboys and us. I even got my first taste of swamp cabbage. With a name like that I was a little worried, but I had no reason to be. The swamp cabbage was delicious. It was great to spend time on the Seminole reservation and see just how much they care for the sport of rodeo and the cowboys competing in it.
I would like to give a special thanks to Molletha Gomez for dealing with my over the phone before I even got to Florida and also for providing us with her beautiful barrel horses to use during the rodeo. Also a big thank you to her husband for taking me to see my first alligators and then for taking the picture of Jessica and Me with them. Also for taking us to all our important appointment. Thank you both! Thank you Mrs. Davis for being my adopted mother and photographer for the weekend. Another thank you to Mr. Amos for making us all feel so welcomed at the South Eastern Circuit Finals Rodeo and to all the people who helped make our visit there possible. I will always have wonderful memories of this trip.
“The best part about memories is making them.”
Micki Musick
Miss Rodeo Arkansas 2009
