I recently ran into a skeptic of rodeo queens.  It is not out of the ordinary to find people who don’t understand or know how much work goes into being a rodeo queen.  Some people find any pageant to be degrading to women.  My first response to this type of person is, “Have you been to a pageant before?”  These ladies are not held against their will to walk and talk in front of hundreds of people.  They (We) do it for a cause and that is giving back to, in this case, rodeo.  Rodeo queens are the liason between the sponsors of rodeo, fans of rodeo, and contestants of rodeo. 

Let me give you an example….CHILDREN. 
Yes children love to go to rodeos, but how do we get them there?  School visits, kiddie rodeos, autograph signings, media interviews all put on by….RODEO QUEENS!  I shouldn’t say all because of course there are sponsors that help and often times the rodeo clown or announcer has free time to contribute to these type of things also.  The question many times is why do rodeo queens have to get so dolled up in sequins, makeup, big hair?  For starters we want to look nice and dressing in business casual just doesn’t make much sense.  The other reason is to stand apart from the crowd and the contestants.  Contestants, clowns, announcers - they all have their hands full during a rodeo.  If there is a person who stands out in that crowd the children (and adults alike) are drawn to that.  

It is necessary to find a girl who can handle these types of situations (and many, many more).  The interview process, as with any job, is essential; but, we want to be sure the girl can handle herself in the arena during the rodeo, for that we judge her on horsemanship.  We need to be sure that she can present herself confidentally to a board of directors to ask for donations or sponsorships, for that we ask her to prepare a speech.  We need her to be confident so the most timid rodeo fan can approach her, for that we have modeling and appearance.  She does not need to be a super model but someone who is passionate about rodeo and what it stands for, confidence in herself and friendly to others.  She will be judged pubically during the pageant but as a role model you are constantly judged by other people.  I hope this opens the minds of skeptics of rodeo queens. 

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