Miss Rodeo Montana 2008 will become the 4th consecutive girl to travel to Japan to promote Montana beef, Mount Aso’s International Country Gold Festival, and Montana’s sister state relationship with Kumamoto, Japan.

When I traveled to Japan last year it was a whirlwind of culture and an experience of a lifetime I will never forget. It was the highlight of my entire year.  Every year Charlie Nagatani puts together the Country Gold Music Festival.  The U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) sponsored a booth and cowboy themed BBQ resturant.  Everyone was dressed head to toe cowboy!  As a rodeo queen, it was the first time I felt “out dressed.”  Some Japanese even sported their six shooters - holsters and all!  The boot helped generate excitement in Japan about U.S. beef during a time where Japan is hesitant about importing beef from the states.  The festival brought 20,000 + people from all over Japan, and the world.  Headlining music acts were Mark Chesnutt and The Lost Trailers.

Mr. Charlie Nagatani’s dedication and hard work to this event is evident and appreciated by all of those involved with Miss Rodeo Montana, Inc.

Country Gold is not just a Country Music Festival; Country Gold is an international event encouraging US and Japan relations.  Regardless of a person’s culture, language, or ethnicity, music has the power to reach far beyond that and bring people together to help strengthen relations between our countries.

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