
The Oregon Queen — March/April 2021
April 18, 2021 Off By Lois ForesterMiss Rodeo Oregon 2021 Samantha Henricks!
Miss Teen Rodeo Oregon 2021 Ainsley Goughnour!
With spring brings new beginnings... and the past couple months have brought many new and exciting adventures. I’m beyond thrilled to be out and about promoting rodeo and participating in events again.
At the end of February I was able to travel to Grants Pass to run Leo in Sam’s Miss Rodeo Oregon Gymkhana Fundraiser. She had a great turnout and Leo and I had a ton of fun at the event. March continued on with the gymkhana theme. The Clackamas Co. Fair and Canby Rodeo Court hosted a Coronation Games which I was able to come watch Morgan run in as well as hand out a few awards and hang out with the CCF&R court, Queen Nicole and Princesses Alexa and Marlee.
Next up was the first rodeo of the season...the High Desert Stampede. What a treat it was to be at a rodeo again. Signing autographs, taking pictures, helping at the Rhett’s Rodeo as well the Rascal Rodeo were definitely highlights of the weekend. I just love to see the smiling faces and excitement in the eyes of all the kids. I’d like to say a special thank you to the directors and volunteers of the High Desert Stampede for making this event happen.
The following weekend I was back in central Oregon for the Miss Rodeo Oregon Queens clinic at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds. Let me just say Oregon is in good hands. Everything from the materials provided, the amazing clinicians and speakers, and the delicious food was top notch. If you missed it this year make sure and watch for next year’s dates and get registered. You won’t want to miss it. I feel so much more prepared for the year to come especially now that Leo and I were able to get in this extra practice time. Thank you to everyone involved in making this clinic possible. I’d also like to thank the board for letting me sneak out to give my FFA district officer election speech (I’m happy to announce that I am the 2021-2022 secretary for the Capital District FFA) and to go play a quick game of volleyball with my team right in the middle of it all. To say it was a busy weekend would be an understatement. But it was so much fun and so insightful. And I loved seeing all my sash sisters and meeting new friends. And of course meeting Taylor McNair, 2019 Miss Rodeo America, was awesome!
I can’t wait to see what I have to report on next month and share my adventures with you. Until then stay safe, stay healthy and I’ll see you down the rodeo road.
Cheerfully, Ainsley!

Still smiling after a great day of gaming

With the Clackamas County Fair and Rodeo Court and Sam

Good luck Morgan and Custer

Ready to run at Sam's fundraiser

Autograph time

Picture with an aspiring cowboy

With Madi, Miss Rodeo Washington

Low-Ready Design gave Morgan and I each a pair of earrings

Ring toss at the Rascal Rodeo

Dinner with Morgan (JMRO) and Kearsten (St. Paul Rodeo Queen)

Autograph table at High Desert Stampede

Met up with JJ

Running barrels with a little cowgirl

With Sam and Morgan at the Rhett’s rodeo roundup

All the visiting royalty at the Rhett's Rodeo

First night of the High Desert Stampede

Everyone lined up for horsemanship at the clinic

With 2015 Junior Miss Rodeo Oregon, Destiny Wecks

Leo and I practicing grand entry

With Miss Teen Rodeo Washington

With 2019 Miss Rodeo America Taylor McNair

With our crocheted Tommy and Pete
Junior Miss Rodeo Oregon 2021 Morgan Brownell!
This month I was able to attend the High Desert Stampede with so many other amazing rodeo queens. We were able to do Rhett’s Rodeo Friday night following the second performance which was my first. Going into Saturday morning we got up early to volunteer at the Rascal Rodeo. It was so much fun being able to help all the kids. Ainsley and I teamed up and did the ring toss together. Not only did we help others with it we had to get a little competitive with it and compete against each other. That night we had another action packed performance watching the rodeo and signing autographs!
This may not have been in March but why not share it? I had the pleasure of attending the Miss Rodeo Oregon clinic with host clinician Taylor McNair. It was such a great experience and such a good time! I got to meet some great people and learn so much. It was Custer's first event as a queen horse and he did amazing! He loved it and definitely loved doing the queen runs! A special thank you to everybody that made this event possible!!
As some may know I lost a very special part of my team at the beginning of the month. Tommy unexpectedly passed away after a very long and hard night. He was an amazing horse and taught me so much more than I ever thought I could learn. He was my heart horse. He tried his heart out for me. He won me my first queen title, was the first horse I was able to be competitive on in gaming and taught me the sport of reining. I never thought I would have a horse that would be able to not only place me 1st in pole bending at youth rodeo but we placed first overall at the end of the season. I wish it wouldn’t have happened so soon but I just have to keep reminding myself everything happens for a reason. Tommy will forever be missed and he will always have a special place in my heart.
Gratefully,
2021 Jr. Miss Rodeo Oregon Morgan Brownell

Miss Rodeo Alaska Kelsey, Miss Rodeo Oregon Sam, Miss Teen Rodeo Oregon Ainsley, Miss Rodeo Washington Madi and I

Some of the visiting royalty

Sam, Ainsley and I at the Rhett Rodeo

Helping at Rascal Rodeo

Kearsten, Ainsley and I in our jean jackets

An amazing action shot of Tommy and I at youth rodeo this past summer doing what we love

Tommy and I in 2019 at one of our first playdays together

Custer and I doing our first queen run together

Tommy as a baby

Custer and I at the Miss Rodeo Oregon Clinic

Ainsley's and my mini Tommy and Pete

Another action shot of Tommy doing a run in

The mini Tommy Ainsley got me to remember him and be able to take around to rodeos with me

Miss Rodeo Oregon Sam, Miss Rodeo Washington Madi, Miss Rodeo Alaska Kelsy, Miss Rodeo America 2019 Taylor, Ainsley and I
Congratulations!
Congratulations to our newest Miss Rodeo Oregon scholarship recipient, Taylor Ann Skramstad! Taylor Ann will be attending the University of Idaho College of Law, Class of 2024! She earned a $1500 scholarship toward her tuition from MROIF as Miss Rodeo Oregon 2019.