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

Circle Of Sisters in their Justin Boots!

My trusty steed, Blue and I getting ready for grand entry the first night of the rodeo!A very good friend of mine, Miss Rodeo Nebraska, Michelle Boeshart and I after the Special Rodeo

Black Hills Stock Show

Hello Virginia!

February has brought me up to the Black Hills Stock Show held in Rapid City, South Dakota! What a change in the weather is has been for sure! I really wish my friend Heather Hall, Miss Rodeo Florida was here to see this! My poor little bug wouldn't even start! But the snow didn't even put a damper on these wonderful people! Rain or snow- the rodeo will go on!

South Dakota people are excellent hosts! Jim and Julie Sutton are wonderful people! Not only did they provide us with wonderful, bomb-proof (literately!) horses to ride, but also provided us hotel rooms for our stay. Measha Gittins, Miss Rodeo Idaho and I were roommates and I doubt we got much sleep the night before performances because we were so excited to be at the BHSS. Miss Rodeo South Dakota, McKenzie Haley sure had plenty of things for us to do as well! I had a lot of fun signing autographs in the Rodeo Zone and riding in the Flight Simulator that the U.S. Navy brought in. It sure looked the Navy would be fun, however, I don't know if I could handle the flight! I think we were all a little 'green under the gills' by the time we got done with the ride! One would think that with all of our flight experience we have we would be well seasoned, but apparently not!

I was so excited to get to wear my new chaps made and sponsored by Rose Saddlery, Sally Haythorn and my parents!

I loved carrying the flags in at all the performances! I couldn't believe how many sponsors came together to make the Extreme Bulls, PRCA Rodeo and High School Rodeos Possible! Grand Entry was really awesome as well. One of the things I have always loved about rodeo is the amount of patriotism that we all share. Old Glory always gets the special seat in the house and is ALWAYS our guest of honor. McKenzie carried in Old Glory in and at the end of the National Anthem there were bombs and fireworks and the Flag herself lit up! (That is what I meant by the horses being bomb proof!) The pyro crew did an outstanding job. It was really fantastic and every one of us girls were provided with our own horse that we got to ride the entire week we were there! Amy Sutton and her crew really knew how to keep us girls in line and I really enjoyed working with Sutton Rodeo!

Another highlight of my trip was going to the all of the schools!! This is hands down one of my favorite thing to do as Miss Rodeo Virginia! I love kids, because they are always so eager to learn about rodeo and McKenzie's program, Rodeo R.O.C.K.S. made it really fun and educational for the kids. We also got to go to the Old Timer's Breakfast, where us girls got to introduce ourselves to some people who have been coming to the BHSS for many, many years! We also helped sell auction items to raise money for their scholarship foundation.

Whenever we weren't busy carrying flags, signing autographs, going to schools and doing what us Rodeo Queens do best, we were enjoying the wonderful shopping that the Black Hills Stock Show had to offer, going to the Waikiki Water park, or going to Mount Rushmore (my favorite part)! Us girls are all like sisters and I really am glad that I have such wonderful girls to share my year with!

Rapid City is definitely going to have a special place in my heart after such a great experience and I can't wait to go again next year!

Next stop..... KISSIMMEE, FLORIDA!! From the extreme cold to the extreme warm!

Hope our trails meet again sometime soon!

God Bless!

Anita Moorhead

Miss Rodeo Virginia 2010