2018 PRCA Media Guide

Miss Rodeo America

2018 Miss Rodeo America

Since its inception in the mid-1950s, the Miss Rodeo America Pageant has blossomed into one of the premier events held in conjunction with the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. Last December in Las Vegas, 31 young women represented their states, competing in multiple events over several days to determine the 2018 Miss Rodeo America at the 63rd annual Miss Rodeo America Pageant. The women showcased their talents in horsemanship by riding unfamiliar horses that belong to PRCA stock contractors; in public speaking by delivering extemporaneous speeches, answering impromptu questions, and undergoing both personal, media and horsemanship interviews; and in modeling Western fashions. The women are also judged on personality, appearance, knowledge of rodeo and ability to share their enthusiasm for it, and their photogenic qualities. With a capacity crowd on hand at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino, 25-year-old Keri Sheffield of Summerfield, Fla., won the crown. International Rodeo Management (IRM) developed the concept of a Miss Rodeo America Pageant in 1955. The group recognized that royalty had been a part of rodeo since the sport’s pioneer days, and they visualized an opportunity to promote rodeo and theWestern way of life through an attractive, intelligent young woman who could represent rodeo to the public. A three-member committee established the contest guidelines and rules for selecting the first lady of professional rodeo. The first Miss Rodeo America Pageant, with nine young women vying for the title, took place in 1955 in Casper,Wyo. In 1956, the pageant moved to Chicago.The following year, it moved again, this time to San Francisco, where Miss Rodeo America 1958 was crowned during the Grand National Rodeo. The still-infant organization made another move in 1959: to LasVegas, wheremany of the hotels played host to the pageant during the 1960s and 1970s. In 1990, after several moves between Oklahoma and Las Vegas, the pageant returned to LasVegas, where it is still held today. In January 1992, the organization reincorporated in Colorado as Miss Rodeo America Inc. and was officially recognized by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association as the sole entity to select Miss Rodeo America. The pageant reached another milestone in 1992when $30,000 in scholarships were awarded to contestants. In 1995, for the first and only time in the history of the pageant, Miss Rodeo America Pageant contestants took part in the opening ceremonies of the Wrangler NFR at theThomas &Mack Center in Las Vegas. In 1998, theMiss Rodeo America Scholarship Foundationwas incorporated to handle scholarships for the organization, which have grown to $99,500 in education funding for contestants. For more information or to schedule an interview with Miss Rodeo America, contact Miss Rodeo America at 719.313.9063, www.missrodeoamerica.com, or 101 ProRodeo Dr., Colorado Springs, CO 80919.

Keri Sheffield

Hometown: Summerfield, Fla. Date of birth: April 16,1993

Intensive Care Unit nurse Keri Sheffield made history Dec. 10 in Las Vegas when she was crowned Miss Rodeo America, becoming the first from the Sunshine State to hold the coveted title. Q. What have you learned from participating in rodeo? Miss RodeoAmerica 2018 Keri Sheffield: I learned a sense of independence. My parents have always supported me but wanted me to learn how to do things on my own. I’ve learned the importance of being there for one another. Rodeo family is like any other family. I can call someone from junior rodeo that I haven’t talked to in 10 years and they would be there in a heartbeat. It’s an incredible aspect of the sport. Q.What do you thinkwas key to your win? MRA KS: Being myself. As cliché as that sounds, I think it’s true. I told myself going into the pageant that I wasn’t going to stray away fromwho I was. My faith is important to me and is not something I’m going to deny. I went in with my energetic personality and figured even if I didn’t win, I would still go home happy because I stayed true tomyself. Q.What are youmost looking forward to through this experience? MRA KS: It’s such an unexpected blessing. I didn’t go into the competition thinking I was going towin. I wasn’t somuch proud for myself rather proud for the state of Florida. It’s an opportunity to show people that Florida isn’t necessarilywhat they think it is.There are cowboys there and rodeomatters. The state is getting the recognition it rightly deserves.

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INTRODUCTION AND GENERAL INFORMATION