The World of Rodeo Royalty

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Promoting western heritage and the sport of rodeo is a full-time job for rodeo queens at the national level. Miss Rodeo America is the first lady of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association while Miss Rodeo USA reigns over the International Professional Rodeo Association. The National High School Rodeo Association and National Little Britches Rodeo Association provide ample opportunities for cowgirls to learn the art and skill of being a brand ambassador.

During the height of rodeo queen titles the age eligibility is between 18 and 25-years-old. These young ladies are often attending college or university alumni with accomplished degrees.

Cowboy Lifestyle Network is proud to recognize former rodeo queens including: Judy Martz who was Montana’s first female governor (2001-2005) and a former Miss Rodeo Montana in 1962. Miss Rodeo Florida 2013 Jenna Smeenk as a member of the Air National Guard and having served tours in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Along with Donna Keffeler, the 1982 Miss Rodeo America for being instrumental in brand building, public relations and event coordination for Coors Rodeo.

The amount of time preparing for pageants, working on horsemanship skills, learning the rules for the rodeo’s sanctioning body, practicing public speaking and designing a wardrobe takes years of dedication and sacrifices. Rodeo queen contestants along with their parents, support network, seamstress and teachers truly are investing in educating future generations about western heritage. Cowboy Lifestyle Network continues to work closely with many rodeo queens past and present.

Often times the general public meets a rodeo queen while attending a hometown rodeo, festival or community event. Rodeo queens are the goodwill ambassadors for their respective title, local rodeo or association. The rodeo queen world involves many titles with annual pageants held on the local, regional, state and finally national level.

Young ladies compete by showcasing their horsemanship skills, speaking ability, pose, personality, knowledge of the sport of rodeo, appearance and current events by a panel of judges.

Cowboy Lifestyle Network invites you to meet the amazing young ladies behind the crown.

Gretchen Kirchmann

Gretchen Kirchmann is a veteran journalist covering a variety of events across the country each year. She founded Kirchmann Media Group in 2009 and works as a marketing consultant with a forte for the western lifestyle industry, festivals, fairs and rodeo world. Her work includes 15 national communication awards plus coverage of Nashville's CMT Awards and CMA Fanfest. A favorite assignment was attending the all cast reunion of the Dukes of Hazard in 2006 and 2007 at Dukesfest. In December you will find her covering the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo and Miss Rodeo America pageant live from Las Vegas. Her favorite color is orange, favorite song "Rocky Top" and she loves to dance especially clogging.