The Oregon Queen — January 2019

January 14, 2019 Off By Lois Forester

While reflecting on 2018, I can sure say it was quite the year! I’d spent the whole year preparing to compete in the Miss Rodeo Oregon 2019 pageant in August and it sure was quite the experience! I had so much amazing support from my community and I was so excited to take that energy to pageant with me!

After winning, things sure haven’t slowed down a bit! I’ve been planning my coronation, designing wardrobe pieces as well as my chaps, and getting things ready for my year! I also got to attend a few events as lady-in-waiting like the Gaston Car Show, the 2019 Miss NPRA pageant, Jessi’s Good Luck Party, and--most importantly--the 2019 Miss Rodeo America pageant!

It was such an amazing experience being in Las Vegas during the National Finals Rodeo, as it was my first time ever attending! I got to watch the first round of the NFR in person and experience Cowboy Christmas as well. Being present at the Miss Rodeo America pageant to support Jessi was such a learning experience, and she did so amazing! I also got to meet some of the other 2019 State Queens I will be traveling with for the next year. We all had a special lady-in-waiting breakfast with 2018 Miss Rodeo America Keri Sheffield where we got to get to know each other and ask Keri questions about anything and everything!

I am so excited to begin 2019 with a busy schedule. While juggling my college classes and athletics, I will attend three events in January--The Columbia River Circuit Finals in Yakima, Washington, the National Western Stock Show in Denver, Colorado and the 2019 Milton-Freewater Pioneer Posse Royalty Coronation and Annual Meeting in my hometown. The last event is an extra-special event for me as I was their 2010 Princess and 2011 Queen and my grandpa is one of their 2019 Hall of Fame inductees!

I cannot put into words how grateful and blessed I have been with this experience so far. I am forever thankful for the journey ahead!

Cheerfully,

Taylor Ann Skramstad, Miss Rodeo Oregon 2019

Happy New Year! It’s finally 2019 and we are off and running. I have been looking forward to this time for months and I am very excited to represent Oregon over the next year. I have big boots to fill; both Addy and Bethany did a wonderful job as they traveled the state, sharing their love of rodeo with everyone they met. I am grateful for all the tips and advice they have given me, helping me prepare for my own year.

Over the last couple of months, I have been reaching out to businesses across the state in an effort to find sponsors to partner with in 2019. I’m thrilled to announce the following business sponsors that have pledged their support so far: Les Schwab Tire Centers, D and B Farm Supply, Thompson Brother’s Excavating, Roger’s Toyota, MacCo Distributing, Blue Mountain Telecommunications, Garner’s Sporting Goods, Royal Stewart Arena, and Grapevine Training/Versatile Performance Horses with Lisa Thonney. This list will be growing, so stay tuned. In the coming weeks you will see sponsor highlights on both my Instagram and Facebook pages. If you are interested in sponsorship opportunities, please contact us for more information.

Kicking things off right, my first event is the Columbia River Circuit Finals in Yakima, WA. I am really looking forward to attending as MTRO, seeing many old friends, and I plan to make as many new connections as I can. From there, it’s a busy coronation season as 2019 royalty from around the Pacific Northwest receive their crowns. My own coronation/fundraiser will be held on February 23^rd in Milton-Freewater, OR. Check the Miss Rodeo Oregon, Inc. Facebook Events or the MRO website for further information.

In 2019 I will be teaming up with the Oregon Agriculture in the Classroom’s literacy project and I will visit schools throughout the state, educating younger students about agriculture.

I am so lucky to have two amazing gals to share my year with, MRO Taylor Ann Skramstad and JMRO Rowdy Israel. We have so many adventures in store and will all make our supporters proud!

Meredith Moore, 2019 Miss Teen Rodeo Oregon

Rowdy Israel, 2019 Junior Miss Rodeo Oregon!

So many exciting things have been happening, I don't even know where to start! Back in July after a grueling competition, I had the most exciting thing happen… I, Rowdy Israel, the 12 year old Dayville Oregon cowgirl, was crowned as your 2019 Junior Miss Rodeo Oregon! I am so extremely excited, blessed and grateful to receive this title and opportunity and to share this journey with you all!

My First Lady in Waiting (LIW) activity was to volunteer at the Calvary Christian Horse Camp in John Day. This was six fun filled days of helping foster girls from the Portland metro area learn, care for and ride horses for the first time in their lives. We did a “Flex for Jessi” picture and I gave a presentation on being a rodeo queen. Immediately after that it was off to my local county fair. The Grant County Fair can always use volunteers and I was excited to help out. Running the main ticket gate, selling merchandise for the Lonestar concert and leading the grand parade through town with the American flag were just some of my duties and highlights.

Next, I was off to the Northwest Professional Rodeo Association (NPRA) finals located in Prineville, Oregon. The royalty luncheon got this fun filled weekend kicked off, then it was off to the Friday night rodeo performance where I helped rake around the barrels in the arena after each barrel racer ran. Saturday morning we had a Miss Rodeo Oregon meeting to attend where I got to meet up with LIW Miss Teen Rodeo Oregon Meredith Moore along with LIW Miss Rodeo Oregon Taylor Ann Skramstad. Then it was off to the luncheon to watch and cheer on the NPRA queen contestants as they competed in modeling and mock interviews. Back to the rodeo I went for the Saturday night performance, to help in the arena again and sport my patriotic outfit since it was military appreciation night. As the rodeo came to an end that night, the awards and trophy saddles were handed out to the deserving cowboys and cowgirls and I was on my way back home.

Next was working on my chaps and doing my official photo shoot. Working hard to find the special one-of-a-kind leather for my chaps took a little bit of time but it was all worth it! Closely working with Melanie from Shasta Leather in Prineville has been a great experience and both she and I are very excited to show you what we have in the works! These chaps are definitely going to be one of a kind. The photo shoot was a little wild since it was first cancelled because of the rain and then 20 min later it was back on again because the sun came back out! Great pictures were taken by my sponsor Tanni Wenger Photography.

The Grant County Rodeo Queen's coronation was my next appearance in John Day Oregon. Helping her set up and get ready for her coronation, then attending was a great experience. Volunteering at different local events is something that I have done for several years. One event that I always enjoy is the Carrie Young Memorial event every December in John Day. This event raises money for our local elderly citizens to help them out with their needs, whether it be helping pay the electric bill, food for their household or a load of firewood cut and delivered.

On the road I was again, stopping by Shasta Leather to pick up my rodeo jacket and to venture into downtown Portland to visit Oregon Leather for supplies for my next projects in the works, with my sponsor Shannon from Toolin Turquoise Leather Co.

On New Year's Eve, I attended the Hoof n Holler Rodeo and New Year's Eve celebration in Albany. Arriving as Lady in Waiting, I was put to work at the KRKT radio booth, signing autographs and helping with the radio contest that they had
going on. I also assisted the rodeo clown and staff with helping throw t-shirts and other prizes to the crowd. At midnight, surrounded by family and friends, Shannon from Toolin Turquoise Leather Co. placed my crown on my hat. So after arriving as Lady in Waiting to the rodeo on December 31st, it was now January 1st and I was leaving the rodeo as 2019 Junior Miss Rodeo Oregon!

Rowdy Israel, 2019 JMRO

President's Message

Happy New Year! First of all, I want to say what a wonderful job our 2018 Miss Rodeo Oregon Jessi Conforth did representing MROI and our great state of Oregon. I can hardly wait to see what further accomplishments her future will bring. Thank you, Jessi!! Our 2018 Miss Teen Rodeo Oregon Bethany Rowe and Addy Crouch, as well as Miss Junior Rodeo Oregon Lauren Gibson, were able to attend many rodeos, parades, and other activities across our great state to represent MROI. Good job, ladies!

We now prepare for 2019 and three new titleholders who all reside on the eastern side of our state: 2019 Miss Rodeo Oregon Taylor Ann Skramstad, 2019 Miss Teen Rodeo Oregon Meredith Moore, and 2019 Miss Junior Rodeo Oregon Rowdy Israel. I know we will all get to see a part of Oregon that we have not visited in a while. Information on their coronations is included on our website. I hope many of you will be able to attend.

There will be changes in the months to come. Watch for the information about our upcoming Miss Rodeo Oregon Clinic which will be better than ever. The Miss Teen and Junior Rodeo Oregon Pageant will have a new home. Watch our website, Facebook, and Instagram for all upcoming events.

Until next month--Julie Singer, President