Anita Moorhead Miss Rodeo Virginia 2010: The Sunshine State

Hello Virginia!

I must say that Florida definitely lives up to its nickname! The weather was absolutely beautiful the entire week I was there. I had a wonderful flight into Orlando and was met by Miss Rodeo Idaho, Measha Gittins, Miss Rodeo Wyoming, Erin Hefron and Miss Rodeo Florida, Heather Hall picked us up! I actually had the privilege of getting to stay with Heather and her family along with Miss Rodeo Iowa, Jordanne Blair, Miss Rodeo Oregon, Ashley Ziegler, and Erin. It was like having a big sleep over all week! Her poor dad had to put up with a lot of hairspray and giggly girls! I will also say this- Florida was invaded by rodeo queens. I believe there were over twenty of us PRCA State Queens there, as well as the two Canada Queens and all the Silver Spurs Queens and Princesses and their courts. I believed we were about thirty or so in number when all was said and done and we were like our own little queen army going into the schools. We even used the divide on conquer method a lot so we were able to go to a lot of schools in a short amount of time.
The first night that we were in Florida was quite an experience! We went for a swamp buggy ride on the hunt for wild hogs! While we didn't find any hogs, we did however find and catch an armadillo (which Heather's Dad actually threw at Ashley!) as well as seeing a bunch of deer, a gator or two and tons of cows. One of the things that I learned on this trip is that Florida used to be 2nd in the nation for cattle production.The whole week was such a whirl wind adventure and all us girls had an amazing time! We visited lots of schools, watched the 50th Miss Silver Spurs get crowned, signed LOTS of autographs, rode in the grand entry and got to meet the sponsors of the Silver Spurs Rodeo. It was absolutely an experience that I will never forget. Laura Kessler, our queen mother for the week was really brave and took all twenty something of us girls to the beach. Who would have thought you could get a sunburn in the middle of February? To think that my home state of Virginia was battling a record setting snow storm at the time! I was sure thankful to be in the warm weather!Probably my greatest experience the whole time while I was at the Silver Spurs Rodeo was getting to participate in the special rodeo. I think there must have been over 75 kids there to participate and each one of us girls got to have a one on one experience with a kid and we took them around to each rodeo event we had there for them. My new little friend was such a good sport and the first thing he did when I met him was wrap his arms around me in a great big hug. His dad was quick to tell me that his son was a fan of pretty girls and was a really big flirt. He was such an outgoing little guy and we tried everything from the steer wrestling, goat tail untying (which was his favorite), roping and we pet a real live bull and we pet a horse named Blue, who I rode in that evenings grand entry. I really felt like I learned a lot from that little boy. He was a very courageous, fun loving little guy who wanted to try to do everything and he did it with the biggest smile on his face.

One little girl, Melony, and her father thought that it was really a great thing that we were doing for the rodeo there in Florida and were able to get us a few tickets to Disney World while we were there. It was really a special moment because Melony said she felt like she had 20 sisters taking her out to Disney World. Her favorite ride was the Rocken' Roller Coaster and I think we probably rode it at least 4 or 5 times. I learned really fast that I can't ride rides like that like I used to!

The southern hospitality that we received while in Florida was the best. They made sure we went and saw and experienced everything that we possibly could while we were there and I really did have the time of my life! I was always trying something new and adventurous while I was there. I ate gator, turtle, hush puppies and drank gallons of sweet tea. I went to Disney World, carried the Virginia State Flag in the grand entries, and got to watch the 50th Miss Silver Spurs get titled. I met the many faces of the people that came to watch the rodeo while walking the stands and talking with people while conducting surveys (I even got to use mySpanish a couple of times!). There were people from every walk of life and many different countries that came to Florida just for the rodeo.

This trip was defiantly one that I will never forget and I will for sure have to make the trip again next year to come back and visit. They put on a great rodeo and they have plenty for everyone in the family to do!
My next trip will be taking me back to Virginia to do a few school visits and some High School Rodeos. It will be good to get out that way, I just hope that the weather is clearing up!

Until our trails cross again! God Bless!
Anita Moorhead
Miss Rodeo Virginia 2010