The Wildest Richest Rodeo In The West

Reno Nevada, June 21...

It has been three days now since returning home from the Reno Rodeo and only now am I starting to catch my breath. Saturday morning we were up before the chickens to travel to Reno for the parade. It was by far the largest parade I have ever been in. The staging area alone took up 6 square blocks and the streets were lined with vocal parade watchers. There were 6 announcer booths along the parade route and people cheered loudly as Cody and I passed. Some shouted things like, "Oregon Rocks" while others battled back and forth for their favorite Oregon Universities. "GO DUCKS and GO BEAV"S" I don't think I have ever been more proud of Oregon.
After the parade Patricia Ulch (Reno's visiting royatly advisor) asked me to come along with the rest of the visiting royatly to make an appearance at a new western store, Rogers to sign autographs. This was a lot of fun as I was able to get to visit with some of the girls. Megan Lucke Miss Reno Rodeo was a gracious hostess. I also met Anna Bavor Miss Rodeo Nevada as well as Chris Wade Miss Wilderness Circuit. Later that afternoon we met up again to attend the Reno Rodeo sponsorship dinner. Afterwards we attended the rodeo where we were asked to help sell raffle tickets for the Flag Team. I was honored to be allowed to ride in the D Bar M Stage coach during a break in action where world famous announcer Bob Tallman introduced me along with several other visiting queens like Miss Rodeo California. The highlight of my night was however helping out with the mutton bustin. The little kids had a wonderful time and all were given hats and gift bags from Justin Boots for participating.

By-the-way I took a picture with my favorite cowboy...well at least with his trailer. Trevor Brazil if your out there I would really love to take a picture with you!

We are off and running this weekend to St. Paul and the Miss Rodeo Oregon 2009 Pageant. Good Luck to all of the contestants!
See you there...

Staheli Jo Wilkinson
2008 Junior Miss Rodeo Oregon

Sisters Rodeo and Parade

My first PRCA rodeo of the year was last weekend in Sisters. June 13th and 14th were jam packed with action. I attended the rodeo performance Friday night where I finally got to spend a little time with Oregon's first lady of rodeo, Nicole Andrews. Oregon can be proud she is real cowgirl...nice ride Nicole. Riding in the arena with all of the other royalty was a kick in the pants, I especially loved coming around the last corner and and looking up to see myself on the jumbo-tron. It makes you feel like a rock star!
Saturday morning we got up at 4:00 a.m. to get ready for the parade. Koodos to Cody who is now on the road to recovery from his previous conditon of flowerpackitis. He was a real trooper and handled every situation like the champion he is.
We did run-ins for the afternoon and evening performances where we (Ashley Ekstrom, MTRO) signed tons of autographs. People kept asking us if we were sisters and we couldn't resist telling them we were.
We left Sisters at 7:30 p.m. and drove through the night to get home just 1/2 hour before I had to be up to help my family push cows on the mountain. We left home that morning after my mom cooked us all breakfast at 3:oo a.m. and didn't get home that day until 4:00 p.m. I was so tired that at one point my grandpa told me to get off and catch a short nap while we waited for the cows to mother up. I curled up on the closest rock and slept for a few minutes, not what I would call beauty sleep but it certainly did help. We had to ride for 4 days straight all with early mornings and long days in the saddle. I do love the mountain and spending time with my dad as his little cowgirl but can't wait to get on the road again. See you down the trail...

Staheli Jo Wilkinson
2008 Junior Miss Rodeo Oregon