ProRodeo Sports News - Dec. 20, 2019

MISS RODEO AMERICA

Rodeo Royalty South Dakota’s Jordan Tierney wins coveted crown BY AMBER BAILLIE T he Miss Rodeo America title was passed on to a cowgirl from a well-known rodeo family who has competed in every rodeo event available to girls. Jordan Tierney, fromOral, S.D., was named Miss Rodeo America 2020 at the Tropicana in Las Vegas, Dec. 8. Her mom, Robin, was Miss Rodeo South Dakota in 1985-86 and finished as second runner-up at the Miss Rodeo America Pageant. Her dad, Paul, is a ProRodeo Hall of Famer and PRCA world champion in tie-down roping (1979) and all-around (1980). “It’s been a great week of competition, and I’m excited to hit the ground running and get this job,” she said. “Growing up, I was able to see the influence my dad had and the positive impact he was able to make. I got to a point where I wanted to do more with my life, so I decided rodeo queening would be an awesome avenue because it ties in with everything that I love.” The 25-year-old became the fifth queen from South Dakota to take on the national role. As an official representative of the PRCA, she will appear at schools, civic events and 100 rodeos to promote the sport of rodeo during her year-long reign. “I love getting to go to all of the rodeos and travel but interacting with fans is what I love the most,” she said. “I want to use social media platforms to have that positive influence. You can reach girls or boys anywhere in the U.S. and world, you don’t just have to be at a rodeo to have that reach. I have a marketing background, so it’s exciting for me to have my year with it.” After earning a bachelor’s degree fromChadron (Neb.) State College in business administration (and a minor in marketing), Tierney plans to use her $20,000 scholarship from the Miss Rodeo America Scholarship Foundation to further her education.

Jordan Tierney waves to the audience after being crowned Miss Rodeo America 2020. PRCA ProRodeo photo by Clay Guardipee

“I want to pursue a master’s (degree) in marketing,” she said. “There’s also the South Dakota Agricultural and Rural Leadership Foundation. SDARL is an 18-month program where you learn leadership skills and how to be a better advocate for agriculture in the Western way of life. It’s up for new enrollment in November 2020, so I would like to do that after.” At age 5, Tierney had a bad horse wreck and didn’t want to get on a horse again for about four years. She didn’t begin competing in rodeo until junior high and didn’t run for a queen title until she was 23. “My journey started in 2018 at the Miss Days of ’76, I got that title and went on to run for Miss Rodeo South Dakota,” she said. “Even though I haven’t had this dream since I was a little girl, it doesn’t make it any less valid. You can have goals and dreams at an older age and they still mean a lot.” In high school, Tierney competed in barrels, breakaway roping, pole bending and goat tying. On Chadron’s rodeo team, she competed in barrels, breakaway roping and goat tying, and has continued to compete at the amateur level. “Now that they’re starting to implement breakaway at big rodeos, I’m super excited,” she said. “Having another event for girls to compete in is a great opportunity. Your average winning time in that event is a low two seconds. I think the wow factor for breakaway is really exciting and could be a fan favorite.” At the 2019 Miss Rodeo America Pageant, Tierney earned the appearance award and placed ahead of Miss RodeoWashington Hannah Leib, who finished as first runner-up, and Miss Rodeo Nebraska Eva Oliver, second runner-up. “The number one thing is always be yourself,” Tierney said. “That’s a cliché thing to say, but coming into this competition and throughout my year as Miss Rodeo South Dakota, I wanted to be authentically me, and if I wasn’t what they wanted then I would be perfectly content with that.” Tierney belongs to less than 1% of the world’s population: she is a redhead with blue eyes. “It’s two recessive genes, and that’s very uncommon,” she said. “I’m also double jointed in both of my thumbs.” Tierney made her first appearance as Miss Rodeo America during Round 6 at the 2019 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. Her next appearance will be at the National Western Stock Show and Rodeo in Denver, Jan. 16.

ProRodeo Sports News 12/20/2019

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