ProRodeo Sports News - Dec. 20, 2024

MISS RODEO AMERICA Earned, Not Given

Callie Mueller from Florence, S.D., poses with her flowers after being crowned Miss Rodeo America 2025 at the South Point Hotel & Casino. Miss Rodeo America photo

South Dakota’s Callie Mueller wins coveted MRA crown

BY ALEX DODD B ecoming Miss Rodeo America is no easy task. State titleholders study rodeo and practice their horsemanship for years to prepare for the grueling nine-day pageant at the South Point Resort & Casino. The event is held in conjunction with the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Teton Ridge and featured 29 representatives from across the country. After countless hours studying flashcards and serving as Miss Rodeo South Dakota, Callie Mueller was crowned Miss Rodeo America 2025 on Dec. 8 at the South Point Resort & Casino. She succeeded Miss Rodeo America 2024, Emma Cameron. “I was so proud and honored and honestly humbled,” Mueller said. “There have been so many great women who’ve walked in those Justin Boots with the Black Hills Gold crown on top of their hat. And for the judges to choose me as the next girl, I feel truly honored.” The MRA competition included a horsemanship contest, a written test on equine science and rodeo knowledge, extensive interviews, extemporaneous speaking and a fashion show. Then, the top five contestants answered a question about how PRORODEO, Miss Rodeo America and the agriculture industry will stay relevant in an evolving society. When the competition ended, Mueller received the crown and over

$20,000 in educational scholarships and prizes, including a Wrangler wardrobe, Montana Silversmiths jewelry and a selection of Justin Boots. Mueller, from Florence, S.D., decided to pursue the Miss Rodeo South Dakota and MRA titles when she was a local rodeo queen and got straight to work. “Even when I was a local title holder and my contest was done, I would still bring my study cards in the vehicle and have my parents or whoever I was riding with quiz me,” Mueller said. “I’ve been prepping for this for years. And in my year as Miss Rodeo South Dakota, I started reaching out to previous Miss Rodeo Americas and Miss Rodeo South Dakotas who have gone through the pageant and asked them for their best advice.” Mueller holds two Bachelor of Education degrees and is pursuing a Master’s in Educational Leadership. She’s a member of the American Quarter Horse Association, trains horses and is a published writer. As Miss Rodeo America, Mueller will serve as a representative of PRORODEO and travel more than 40,000 miles to appear at nearly 100 rodeo performances as well as schools, civic groups and special events. “I want to just continue to go to places I haven’t been yet and check some states off that I haven’t traveled to,” Mueller said. “I’ll talk to rodeo committees, talk to new people and hopefully make an impact and inspire people to live with faith over fear. That’s my platform and something very near and dear to my heart, and I also wrote a book about it.”

ProRodeo Sports News 12/20/2024

ProRodeo.com

81