In the mean time and between time...

I just glanced down at my planner to make a Spring Break schedule and in big letters on Monday, the first thing you'll see is "SLEEP IN!!" While my Spring Break is about to be filled with photo shoots, work, riding and volunteering, I don't mind a bit because I am absolutely in love with what I do!

I get to come to work and watch the sun go down behind a stadium that tells a story of 70 years of tradition. I wish those bleachers could talk because the stories they could tell would be quite amazing. My job as the Parsons Stadium social media marketer, helping the secretary with upcoming events and behind the scenes work has given me the opportunity to work closely with the rodeo board and stay current with events.

This past month has been filled with a little bit of Nashville, TN, local events and lots of school work. Let me first disclose that I am not complaining because I love attending the University of Arkansas and I know it will pay off but this semester has been a true challenge to keep up with all of my classes. I can usually get away with a few easy classes and few harder ones. This semester, they are all hard and time consuming!

While Nashville was not rodeo related; I was requested by the National Rural Electric Cooperative to be a chaperon for some 47 high school students from across the United States. In 2010-2011 I was honored by being the Arkansas representative and enjoy returning to play a part in making it a memorable trip for the current representatives! I was able to catch up with some great friends of mine and play a part in the NRECA National Convention by carrying the American flag in front of some 14,000 (I was corrected) cooperative members.

Several weeks ago I attended the Springdale Chamber of Commerce After Hours, hosted at the Parson's Stadium Community Building. It was a great evening of networking and visiting with influential members of the community as they enjoyed refreshments, food and prize drawings.

On March 8th, I was excited to take part in the 4th Annual Denim & Diamonds Gala held at Cherokee Casino it included a night of entertainment, live and silent auction and a steak dinner! There was some 270 plus in attendance and over $28,000 was raised to benefit the scholarship and youth funds presented by the Rodeo of the Ozarks and Springdale Benevolent Foundation. It was encouraging to see so many people willing to support the youth of their communities and help build the future of agriculture. During the event, Miss Rodeo Old Fort Days, Jessica, and myself sold iPad raffle tickets and visited with attendees as they arrived. Very few things can match a good time catching up with great friends!

With Sponsor, David Edwards, owner of
Lone Creek Performance Horses!

Last Friday, I took a day to thank a few of my sponsors and stopped in at the Pea Ridge Vet Clinic, Pea Ridge Arvest and ended the day with a trail ride at Rush Springs Ranch. At the ranch, we tested out a few new trails created by owner, Russ Van Elk. If you are looking for something to do with your kids on their spring break, be sure to check out Rush Springs as they have trail rides, buggy tours, camp grounds, extreme off roading tracks and anything in between!

In the mean time and in between time, I will be headed to Springfield on Saturday for Horsefest plus April has so much in store! Happy Spring Y'all!

Rain, Rain...

This weekend I had a full schedule including attending the parade and helping with the stick horse races at Highfill Hay Daze, signing autographs at the Apple Festival in Lincoln and attending the Ozark Fall Carnival at Parson's arena. At 6am Saturday I awoke by thunder and had to put buckets underneath the roof leaks... that was a sure sign that Saturday was not going to go as planned. But I am NOT complaining about rain. As Luke Bryan put it, "Rain is a Good Thing"! Instead I spent the rainy day getting ahead on homework for the week and working on projects around the house. As a result, my weekly post is not going to be what I had planned. 

Even though I was unable to attend public events this past weekend, my duties are evident throughout the week. Being a rodeo queen extends a privilege of being a role model and taking every opportunity to promote the positive aspects of rodeo. Paisley is my boyfriend's  4 year old niece who tends to like the idea of riding a horse but is a bit nervous about actually getting close. That being said, if I was 3 foot tall looking up at giant animal, I'd be a bit timid as well. But when I asked her if she wanted to ride with me, she nodded her head without a hesitation. In a matter of minutes Paisley was manning the reins while I led her around as she named the different parts of the saddle and bridle I had just told her about (reins, stirrup, horns, seat, bit).


The next day (Thursday) an 8 year old boy, Collin, who is moving in next to the arena, kept watching us while we rode. When I started cooling Maximus off, Collin asked his parents if he could come up to the fence. I walked up and offered for him to pet Max then offered a ride (with his parents' permission of course). Collin was almost too confident so I had to warn him that you can never be too careful around a horse, especially one you don't know. The boy helped me cool off max, as I led him around, and he told me all about life! I'll be looking forward to seeing him around the arena once they get moved in.

It is truly an honor to be able to teach kids about horses, first hand. Even if it is just one or two, it is a difference made nonetheless.