ProRodeo Sports News - Dec. 21, 2018

MISS RODEO AMERICA

Taylor McNair acknowledges the crowd after she was named Miss Rodeo America 2019 on Dec. 9 at the Tropicana in Las Vegas. PRCA ProRodeo photo by Billie-Jean Duff

BY AMBER BAILLIE A small-town cowgirl with a true passion for rodeo and agriculture was crowned Miss Rodeo America 2019. Taylor McNair, from Learned, Miss., was named Miss Rodeo America 2019 on Dec. 9 at the Tropicana in Las Vegas. The 23-year- old became the Magnolia State’s third queen to hold the national title. 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 want to continue to be a voice for agriculture,” she said. “I lived on a farm, so it’s very important to me that our farmers and ranchers are being heard. I hope to put that in use in this role.” With a bachelor’s degree in agricultural business already in hand, McNair plans to use her $20,000 scholarship from the pageant to attend law school at the University of Mississippi and pursue a degree in agricultural and food law. “(In college) I had an incredible internship at the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation,” McNair said. “I had the opportunity to go toWashington and meet with our congressmen and women. I was able to speak with them about issues our ranchers and farmers are facing.” Throughout junior high and high school, McNair competed in the National Barrel Horse Association, Mississippi High School Rodeo Association and Mississippi Quarter Horse Youth Association. Before serving as Miss Rodeo Mississippi, McNair was Miss Dixie National 2014, Miss Crossett PRCA Rodeo 2015 and Miss Rodeo of the Mid-South 2016. Southern Royalty

Mississippi’s Taylor McNair crowned Miss Rodeo America

“I just fell in love with rodeo,” she said. “I fell in love with the people and the opportunity to be an educator and to show people what our rodeo is. (As Miss Rodeo America) I’m going to take it day by day and enjoy every moment of every rodeo because these committees work hard all year long for their rodeo. I want to make sure I appreciate them and give them the time they deserve as an ambassador.” At the 2019 Miss Rodeo America Pageant, McNair earned awards for her appearance, personality and written tests on rodeo knowledge. She placed ahead of Miss Rodeo Oklahoma Taylor Spears, who finished as first-runner up, and Miss RodeoWashington Beth Snider, second runner- up. “(Through the process) I’ve learned to never give up,” she said. “There were so many times I felt like, ‘I’ll never be smart enough or wear the right clothes,’ but when I started being true to who I was, I was able to start to embrace who I am, my skills and God-given talents. Luckily, the judges saw that, and it paid off.”’ McNair values her rural roots and hometown of 33 residents, where everyone is treated like family. “I’ve appreciated that sense of community,” she said. “Being from Mississippi, which most people don’t think of as a traditional rodeo state, it typically has between eight to 10 professional rodeos each year.” When McNair held her first queen title at age 16, she collected more than 200 issues of ProRodeo Sports News . “I absolutely love to read and learn about every single cowboy,” she said. “I just love learning, especially when it’s something I’m passionate about like rodeo and horses.”

ProRodeo Sports News 12/21/2018

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