But first things first... family. Most of you that are really good friends with me already know this, but I am originally from Ogallala, Nebraska and was brought out to Virginia to help get the Miss Rodeo Virginia program started. It's been a fun and fantastic opportunity for me and God has really blessed me. However, when I moved to Virginia, I did not take my immediate family with me, so when I have to chance to go and see them I do it. Little did I know that my mom put together a little "Congrats" party for me this month. She even advertised it in our local paper. All of my closest friends came back from college, all my family came and many people from our community stopped in to have cake and to drop off gifts. It was a wonderful get together and it was great to see everyone before I left for Virginia.
Now, those of you who don't know me may be asking yourselves...."Why would she want to move to Virginia to start a Miss Rodeo Virginia Program? She has to leave all of her family and friends....Where will she stay?" I would be lying if I said I had this all planned out, so I will be completely honest with you... at the time, even I didn't have an answer to this question, other than I knew this is what I have always wanted to do. I have always wanted to be put in a situation where I could be a role model for other young women and children. I believe that I have a lot to offer the world and being Miss Rodeo Virginia would help give me a leg up to doing this. But this is also where you have to let go and let God handle it. If He brings you to it, He will bring you through it...It didn't take God very long to answer any of my questions of doubt or discouragement.
I attend school in Cheyenne, Wyoming as a pre-nursing student and wait tables at a restaurant called Old Chicago. Before heading to work one night, my National Director, Miss Rodeo Virginia 2009, Charla Wacker called and told me that I needed to get out to Virginia as soon as I could. Now, mind you I knew that I needed to get to Virginia, but plans for where I had planned on staying fell through and all seemed hopeless to me and I was wondering what I had gotten myself into. I had plans to stay with long lost family for the first week I was in Virginia in Richmond, but I didn't know what I would do after that. I was scared and I started doubting myself and knew that I couldn't afford to rent a place in Virginia, because my lease in Cheyenne was not up and I had roommates that I couldn't just leave hanging.
So, through tears and a broken heart I asked for God's help. I really believe in what I am doing and know that I can touch the lives of so many people as Miss Rodeo Virginia, but that I couldn't do it on my own. It really didn't take God very long to answer me either. Literately ten minutes later, I met Bryan Gill, a young Air Force Cop based in Cheyenne. He came in with a large group and I could tell from his accent that he wasn't from around Cheyenne, so I asked him where he was from. His answer..."Jarratt, Virginia." ...wow, that was quick God... I told Bryan that I was Miss Rodeo Virginia and we chit-chatted for the longest time and exchanged numbers. Turns out his family runs a peanut farm in southern Virginia. I never mentioned to him that night my predicament that I was in.
It wasn't until a week later that I felt comfortable telling him about my situation and my plans for the program in Virginia. His natural question, "Where are you going to live?" and of course my answer was..."Well, I haven't figured that part out yet, but it will all work out." But I had no more than gotten the words out and he was on the phone with "PaPa" (Grandpa Carter Gill) and telling him about me and that they should help me out.... To make this long story short, I am now living with Bryan's parent's Henry and Shirley Gill who I have dubbed my "Bonus Family."
In the last week or so, my family has swelled about three times it's natural size and I am loving it. I just fall right into line. Henry and Shirley have five kids. Michael, KC, Mandy, Leslie and Bryan, so I guess that that would make me the sixth child now. I just kind of fit right in and what's really funny is the people in community here keep asking Shirley where she's been hiding me, I guess we look a lot alike. Also adding into my bonus family is Jeannie and Bob, Bryan's aunt and uncle who own horses and take me riding all the time which is wonderful. I ride Joker, who's a huge Missouri Fox Trotter. I feel like I am riding a bulldozer compared to the quarter horses I am used to riding in Nebraska. But I can't forget to mention MiMi (Shirley's Mom) and NaNa and PaPa (Henry's Parents), who have all accepted me as one of the grand kids. I am so blessed to have met this wonderful family!
It's always funny to me how things got all worked out. Henry and Shirley had never been to a rodeo before they had met me, and now they try to find one whenever they want to get out of town. Their favorite is the High School and Junior High School Rodeos, they love to watch the kids compete and ride their horses so fast! My family back in Nebraska is still the heartbeat of all that I do. My Parents, Ron and Kathy, my brother, Chris, and my sister, Tammy, call me all the time while I am away and they keep up with all that I am doing. My grandparents Bonnie and Denny make sure that all my needs are taken care of make sure that I keep focused, but still have a great time. I would be so lost with out them.
So... there it is. The story of the real Miss Rodeo Virginia. The real me. But I must say this before I end this blog....I never really ever felt like I belonged in Nebraska. People say that I talk different than a Nebraskan, whatever that may mean...and don't get me wrong, beef is great but I have never fit the stigma of the true "Nebraska Corn-fed Cowgirl." I am thinking about making this move to Virginia a permanent one. I really fit in here and I never get homesick to be honest. This feels like home to me and the people here have been so accepting and wonderful to me. Many have even said that if I hadn't told them that I was not from here, they never would have guessed. Who would have thought? Thanks so much for letting me share my story with you. I hope you found it well worth your time to read and I hope that you have learned something from me sharing this story with you. If ever in doubt, please remember that sometimes it is better to just put things in HIS hands and know that He will never let you down.
See you down the trail!
Anita Moorhead
Miss Rodeo Virginia 2010
John 3:16
Henry, Shirley and I at Powhatan High School Rodeo 
NaNa and I 
PaPa and I
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