Today we kick off the return of our famous segment, Titleholder Tuesday! There is no better way to kick it off than with one our very own. We are very appreciative of how well Haley did as Miss ORA and how much she gives back to the program after the crown. Our pageant relies heavily on volunteers and Haley is always available to give suggestions on we can further grow our program. Keep reading to get a look at Haley's year and see what she has been up to since giving up her title.

What got you involved with the rodeo queen industry?
Miss ORA 2017, Gabrielle (Cuttler) Brown, invited me to my first rodeo, which sparked my interest. She encouraged me to try the pageant for the 2018 title. I was named runner-up but knew I didn’t want to give up this newfound dream of being a rodeo queen. I ran again in 2019 and was blessed to win the title!

There is no better way to start our blog back up again than meeting the lovely ladies that will promoting rodeo and the western way of life this year! Read below to find out more about some of the state titleholders for 2023. These ladies will go on to compete for the title of Miss Rodeo America 2024 in December in Las Vegas, NV held in conjunction with the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo!

Lydia Rose Miller was crowned at the 106th annual Snake River Stampede in Nampa, Idaho this past July and it is a huge honor for her to be the 66th woman to wear the iconic Miss Rodeo Idaho Crown. She greatly looks forward to the opportunity to represent the Gem State! She loves everything about the western way of life, and she hope that some of her passion for agriculture, ranching and rodeo is contagious for the people she comes in contact with this year. Lydia is 22 years old and the daughter of David and Erin Miller. Having already obtained an associate’s degree from the College of Southern Idaho, she has plans to obtain a bachelor’s degree in Agri-Business, and will use that education to continue on the path of continuing her family’s ranching legacy. In her spare time, Lydia enjoys doing leatherwork, and being a Longhorn Project 4-H leader.

What made you decide to run for Miss Rodeo Idaho?
I didn’t start actively riding horses until I was almost 13 due to an accident when I was younger. I began showing horses in 4-H, and shortly after that, I decided it would be fun to compete in high school rodeo. While preparing for my first rodeo season at just 14 years old, I met a previous Miss Rodeo Idaho who helped me prepare for my very first pageant. Because of her, I decided to be the best ambassador for the sport of rodeo that I possibly could, and one day compete for the coveted title of Miss Rodeo Idaho. Nine years later, that dream is coming true. Being an advocate for agriculture and rodeo is something I am very proud of, and I have big plans for this year. I want to remind people everywhere of the service our farmers and ranchers provide to people around the globe.
What are you looking forward to the most this year? 
Aside from the chance to represent my home state, meeting new people and sharing my western heritage with them is something I am very excited for. Seeing new places and visiting rodeos that I have never been to are also just a few of the many opportunities that I am looking forward to.
What is your personal platform that you will be promoting during your year as Miss Rodeo Idaho?
Through 2023, I will be sharing my platform: “Ride With Me.” This multi-dimensional platform serves as a way to encourage others to be part of my journey – through social media and more, reminding those I come in contact with that they always have a friend, and never ride alone.
What is one piece of advice you would give to someone starting out in the rodeo queen industry?
Regardless of your age, experience with horses, or knowledge of rodeo, becoming a rodeo queen is something that can truly change your life. On top of it being so much fun, it is a lot of work, too. But, the opportunities are endless. The people you’ll meet, along with the memories you’ll make, are priceless. There are so many wonderful current and former queens that would love to be a part of your journey! All you have to do is ask, and remember that there is always something to learn about everything.

Kayla was born and raised in Quincy, IL where she graduated from Quincy Senior High as a Junior Graduate. She obtained her Associates Degree in Arts from John Wood Community College where she was also a cheerleader for the Blazers basketball team. Kayla then attended Oklahoma Panhandle State University where she was a member of the OPSU equestrian team, team captain her senior year, the OPSU spirit rider, and 2021 Miss Panhandle State. In May of 2022, she graduated with her Bachelors Degree in Agribusiness with a minor in Animal Science. Kayla enjoys competing in rodeo events, showing ranch horse, IHSA, NRHA, AQHA, and society breed shows. She is currently working as a brokers assistant and hopes to purse a career as an Ag Commodity Trading Broker. 

What made you decide to run for Miss Rodeo Illinois?
​In Junior high and high school I competed a in few rodeo queen pageants as I also had started running barrels, and fell in love the community of supportive people. Every pageant I attended I learned something new about myself. I then took a few years off to tune my horsemanship skills, and knowledge. After showing for a few years I really missed being involved in rodeo, but I knew that with the new skills I had gained from showing I had the confidence to pursue my dream of becoming a rodeo queen. The opportunity presented itself to compete for Miss Rodeo Illinois and I couldn't have been more excited to represent my home state!
What are you looking forward to the most this year? 
 I am really looking forward to all the new people I will get to meet while traveling across the country. With this title I will get the meet so many people involved in rodeo and people outside of the rodeo community. Closing the gap between the rodeo community and those who haven't had the opportunity to enjoy the sport will be a wonderful sight to see. Along with doing everything with my incredibly talented and unique sash sisters is icing on the cake!
What is your personal platform that you will be promoting during your year as Miss Rodeo Illinois?
 My platform is Long Live Rodeo. I feel that the future of rodeo is beyond more than what we could ever imaging. Whether you're someone in the stands, horseback, or apart of a committee everyone has a special place in the sport of rodeo. It does not matter how old or young you are! You are the future of rodeo!
What is one piece of advice you would give to someone starting out in the rodeo queen industry?
 My number one piece of advice, is always be teachable! You can learn so much from the incredible people around you and their experiences. it does not matter if this is your first pageant or your 100th pageant, you can always improve in some way. The more focused you are on being at least 1% better everyday, the more you will accomplish. Rodeo Queen pageants are a great way to learn life skills that you will use every day in your future endeavors!

Khalilah Smith is the 24-year-old from the heart of Detroit Michigan! She is a Michigan State University graduate with a Bachelor of science degree, the youngest of her mother's two children and the first-generation graduate. Growing up they participated in several sports including snowmobiling, but as she entered 8th grade she was diagnosed with ADHD. This diagnoses is what led her to her passion for horses today. Khalilah started with Gaited horses then transitioned to Quarter horses to compete in rodeo. Currently, her grade Quarter Horse named Oops (4 years old) is who she spends most of my time with. Along side horses, she is what her mother refers to as Doctor Dolittle, as she owns 3 ferrets, two dogs and dabble in the saltwater aquarium hobby. As you probably could guess with all the animals she wishes to pursue a Conservation Veterinarian in the near future.
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What made you decide to run for Miss Rodeo Michigan?
Miss Rodeo Michigan Association has made a come back for the 2023 year! The current program has pushed to make sure they can have a sustainable organization for young ladies who would like to represent their state and the PRCA. With the goals and passion of the team I was chosen to represent for this year to jump start the evolution to come for this pageant. As I have a passion of pushing boundaries, I felt this was another step to diversifying the Rodeo queen world on a national level. As I hope to inspire more people of different Ethnicities and races to pursue the same!
What are you looking forward to the most this year? 
There are a few this I am looking forward to like making new friends, traveling, and gaining experience in the western industry. The biggest one of them all will be education throughout my travels to different states and cultures. I’m hopes to return home each time with a piece of knowledge from one of my fellow state queens home!
What is your personal platform that you will be promoting during your year as Miss Rodeo Michigan?
For my year as Miss Rodeo Michigan, I will be promoting Building Diverse Bridges. Building Diverse Bridges came to me when so many community members would express “I’ve never seen a black cowgirl” or “ I go to the grocery store and that is where my food comes from”. Promoting agriculture as a Rodeo Queen to communities that have been secluded from experiencing the ins and outs of farming. So, my goal is to educate, Build the bridge from the agricultural community to the urban community. Detroit has programs doing an amazing job with building green spaces and now I want to build onto the production/farmer Rancher knowledge. I was always taught you don’t know what you don’t know! So why not educated the unknown?
What is one piece of advice you would give to someone starting out in the rodeo queen industry?
To look back at the few years I’ve been studying in the rodeo queen world, the most honest and heart felt advice I can give to a young woman wanting to start would be don’t give up. I ran for a title and happened to win a trophy bracelet in a category that reminded me of this. Things may get hard, things may become stressful but the largest statement you can make as a rodeo queen is to get knocked down and to come back stronger. Keep going!

Kendra Klosterman is 25-years-old and grew up just outside of Breckenridge, MN. She recently graduated from North Dakota State University with her Master's in Business Administration (MBA), and she plans on using her degrees in a way that brings together her love of agriculture, the western way of life, communications, and the business world. Kendra loves enlightening the public on agriculture and our western heritage, and believes everyone should have an understanding of the industry, its history, and what it takes to put food on our tables.

What made you decide to run for Miss Rodeo Minnesota?
While furthering my education, I discovered that I really have a passion for public relations pertaining to agriculture and livestock. Serving as a state title holder in the rodeo queen industry is a perfect match for that passion! 
What are you looking forward to the most this year? 
All of the people that I will get to meet! I absolutely love meeting new people and getting to share conversations with them! I am also extremely excited about attending out-of-state rodeos and learning more about rodeo and agriculture across the country!
What is your personal platform that you will be promoting during your year as Miss Rodeo Minnesota?
My platform is to “Engage, Enlighten, Encourage.” It’s about being present in the moment, engaging with the people around you, creating meaningful conversations, and inspiring others to do the same! Growing up with a multi-generational farming background has provided me with so many opportunities that not everyone gets the privilege of having. I love striking up conversations with people and creating a space where they can ask questions about our industry, while also having the opportunity to share their knowledge gained through their unique life experiences as well!
What is one piece of advice you would give to someone starting out in the rodeo queen industry?
To do it scared. It’s the best advice that I received, and I think about it all the time when I encounter new situations. Putting yourself out there, especially to be judged, is a scary thing – even more so if you haven’t done it before or only a handful of times. You study and prepare, but there’s always going to be things that you don’t know and that make you nervous. That’s okay! Do it scared! I guarantee you’ll be glad you did!

Rachel Gagliardi is from Raleigh, North Carolina and is currently a student at North Caroline State University College of Veterinary Medicine. She is pursuing her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine and a PhD in Comparative Biomedical Sciences. She grew up competing in rodeos and was a multi-event cowgirl, competing in barrel racing, pole bending, goat tying, and breakaway roping. Rachel currently has three horses, Shorty, Sissy, and Lola, and a dog name Chutney! In addition to riding horses, she enjoys all things outdoors, traveling, and reading. 
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What made you decide to run for Miss Rodeo North Carolina?
I chose to run for Miss Rodeo North Carolina because I’m passionate about advocating for the sport of rodeo. It is my goal to reach as many people as possible to teach them about rodeo and our western community. I want to make everyone feel welcome and encourage them to give rodeo a try, whether that be spectating, taking horseback riding lessons, or competing.
What are you looking forward to the most this year? 
I’m most looking forward to impacting my community in North Carolina as well as future generations of cowboys and cowgirls across the nation.
What is your personal platform that you will be promoting during your year as Miss Rodeo North Carolina?
My platform “Embrace You!” is based on celebrating individuality by welcoming everyone into the rodeo community and western lifestyle. As a first-generation cowgirl, I understand how daunting it can be to enter a community or try a hobby with no knowledge or experience. The rodeo community welcomed me with open arms and taught me many valuable skills and life lessons. My goal is to pay it forward, by welcoming everyone to give rodeo a try – by attending a rodeo performance, taking a
horseback riding lesson, or learning about how we care for our incredible athletes!
What is one piece of advice you would give to someone starting out in the rodeo queen industry?
One piece of advice I would give to someone serving as a rodeo queen is to be yourself! Everyone brings something unique to the community and by using your talents and working together with other queens we can all amplify our impact to advocate for
rodeo.

Lindsey Miller hails from the northern edge of North Dakota on her family farm near Flaxton, North Dakota. She is the daughter of Steve and Denise Miller and the oldest of four children. In her free time, you can find Lindsey announcing local youth rodeos and 4-H events, as well as barrel racing, cowboy mounted shooting, and searching for unique western finds at the thrift stores hidden in the gems of North Dakota. 
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What made you decide to run for Miss Rodeo North Dakota?
After I won my first rodeo queen title I knew I one day wanted to be Miss Rodeo North Dakota. Before I became a rodeo queen I was quite shy and had low confidence in myself, after I discovered my new found passion a fire was lit inside my soul and I discovered a new level of confidence and passion. As, I got older and closer to running for Miss Rodeo North Dakota I decided I wanted to follow through with it to help share my personal story of confidence and passion while promoting a sport that I grew up in and truly believe has made me the young lady I am today.
What are you looking forward to the most this year? 
First and foremost, I simply look forward to living my dream of being Miss Rodeo North Dakota for the year. However, to be more specific I am looking forward to attending our North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame Season Premiere in April. This is the time that our Hall of Fame opens back up for the season and you can look at the updated exhibits. We do have a Rodeo Royalty Exhibit for Miss Rodeo North Dakota and in there it includes a list of all past Miss Rodeo North Dakotas and a headshot/ biography of the current one. I have visited this display countless times and to have my very own biography and headshot showcased for the entirety of 2023 is such an honor. Every time I visited the display I would imagine that moment and how much a young girl would look at my picture and want to be a Miss Rodeo North Dakota just like I did. It leaves you feeling humbled and honored. The Miss Rodeo North Dakota legacy is one that I’ve greatly admired and to be making my own mark on it is absolutely priceless. All in all, I look forward to cherishing this year, while making genuine connections promoting the legendary state of North Dakota, sport of professional rodeo, and our great western heritage. 
What is your personal platform that you will be promoting during your year as Miss Rodeo North Dakota?
My personal platform is “Find your light” where I encourage people of all ages to seek their passion and confidence in life just as I found mine through becoming a rodeo queen. I look forward to promoting this across North Dakota and beyond with my recently published Children’s book, The Girl in Lime Green Jeans.
What is one piece of advice you would give to someone starting out in the rodeo queen industry?
The one piece of advice I would give any young lady starting out in the rodeo queen industry is to stay true to your roots. You may feel the need to change as you progress, but always stay true to who you are and where you come from. Lastly, know why you want to be a rodeo queen and never lose sight of that. Work hard and never give up- your goals and dreams are possible it just takes hard work and determination!

Alex Fuller is 24 years old, from Culleoka, TN. She is a life-long horse woman who comes from a family of reining horse riders. When she is not riding her 12-year-old mare, Lil Spook, Alex is traveling the country as a Sales Representative for FarmVet, a Tennessee based company.

What made you decide to run for Miss Rodeo Tennessee?
​Ms. Sue Lynn, the National Director for Rodeo Pageantry, has been a role model to me for a long time and encouraged me to run for Miss Rodeo TN for years now. I finally had the opportunity to truly dedicate my time to the role to the best of my abilities this year. In addition, after watching my good friend and role model, Laura Sumrall, Miss Rodeo Mississippi 2015, compete and represent within her role, I’ve been inspired to do the same. I wanted to run for Miss Rodeo TN to have the opportunity to be a role model for other horse women of all ages and encourage them to have confidence, take risks, and try new things within the rodeo and western world.
What are you looking forward to the most this year? 
Though I’ve traveled to many places through my work with FarmVet, this role that I have taken on will allow me to see more of the country and make new connections within the western and rodeo world. One of my goals for this year is to promote rodeo and put forth a good example of what it means to be part of this industry through proper equine husbandry and agricultural management.
What is your personal platform that you will be promoting during your year as Miss Rodeo Tennessee?
I’m taking some time to develop this area of my platform and I want to fully develop my ideas before kick starting my platform and before making it known to the public.
What is one piece of advice you would give to someone starting out in the rodeo queen industry?
Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there! Step out of your comfort zone and try something new! Western riding and the western industry has been a part of me for my entire life. This competition is about representing something you love. I love horses and I love what this role represents in its entirety. It is okay to step out of our comfort zone and represent Miss Rodeo Tennessee because the role is more than just rodeo. This role represents the entire western industry and what it means to be a cowgirl.​