RodeoRoyalty.com

Representing Your Title - Will people rave or rant when you leave?

Today's rodeo royalty are often expected to be out and about during their reigns extensively promoting the rodeo they represent.  It is their job to spread the word about their rodeo, the committee responsible for the event and the community that supports the program.  The impression a titleholder makes during these appearances says a lot about them and can either make or break opportunities for future titleholders.

It is a privelage to be invited to attend a rodeo or other event.  It's an even bigger privelage if you asked to attend the event and are allowed to do so.  With this privelage comes a wide variety of responsibilities.

First and foremost you (and your parent(s)) must remember you are a GUEST and as a guest you do what you are asked and told to do by the coordinator of your visit.  You must realize that as a guest you may or may not be the center of attention, especially if the rodeo you are attending has their own queen.  It is not your place to make demands to carry flags, to have a queens run, to be in the arena to clear cattle or to do any other activity.

Every once in awhile a titleholder or her parent will not be pleased with what the queen coordinator tells them their responsibilities will be and they will go to others to whine, complain and weasel their way into getting what they want.  This causes HUGE issues as feelings get hurt, people get placed in situations they shouldn't be in and the reputation of the queen program the girl represents gets a bad name (not to mention what is thought of the girl when she leaves). 

Joyce Jensen is the coordinator of the Junction City (Kansas) rodeo queen pageant and has encountered a few frustrations with visiting royalty throughout her tenure.  While most are just minor annoyances, others are cause for further action including not allowing titleholders from specific rodeos to attend future events.  "When a queen asks to come to our rodeo and then complains about everything that we ask her to do, stirs up trouble with the other visiting royalty and then leaves early without so much as a thanks then I don't want that program back.  It's also frustrating when queens call with less than a week to go before the rodeo wanting to attend with thier horses and expecting us to have stalls or pens for them.  Our rodeo committee has enough to do already with final preparations that having to scramble to find more panels or stalls just adds to the stress of the event.  We really like to have visiting royalty at our rodeo and queen pageant but I don't think they realize the amount of work it takes to coordinate their appearance on our end."

Many titleholders, especially when they are starting out, often have no idea about the amount of work it takes to coordinate visiting royalty.  Andrea Lehman Morgan has been involved in all aspects of rodeo queen pageantry as a contestant, titleholder, judge and pageant committee member.  Her current position is that of Visiting Royalty Coordinator for the Miss Rodeo Kansas Pageant held in Dodge City, Kansas.  "When title-holders visit another rodeo, it's so very important for the ladies to reply promptly if they plan on attending. We have to make arrangements with the rodeo committee, multiple restaurants, the venues hosting events, and the places we are housing the girls. It makes everyone's job easier when queens RSVP on time and provide the requested information in a timely manner.  I also wish they would fully read the information they are sent before asking me questions as I spend a lot of time answering questions that are already answered for them."

As a visiting queen you are expected to have your attention fully on the job at hand which means you MUST leave the boyfriend at home, he has no business being at an event with you.  You are doing a JOB when you are out and about with your title.  If you were working a shift at the local burger franchise or were working a nine-to-five job in an office setting would you bring your boyfriend with you?  If you answered yes then you have a lot to learn about being professional.

And that is what being a queen is truly about.  It is about being a professional who is gracious, flexible, responsible and appreciative of the work that goes on behind the scenes on her behalf.  Act in a manner that has people raving, not ranting, about you and your title.  By doing so you'll reap endless rewards and cherished memories that will last a life time.

 

Wednesday's Words of Wisdom ~ Change is Good

Sue Lynn Perry Smith shares her Wednesday's Words of Widsom with us every first and third Wednesday of the month.  You can pick up more tidbits from Sue Lynn's Facebook group, Rodeo Queens Rule.

 In addition to death and taxes, one other thing is certain in life – that anxiety-producing, dreadful, horrible, wonderfully refreshing thing called “change.”  Everyone views life changes differently. Some folks get bored with the same old routine and look forward to experiencing a new chapter in life fairly often.  And, still others may view a routine as being less stressful and an easier approach to life.

But one truth about change is that it inherently promotes individual growth, whether by the positive aspects of change or the negative ones or both.

Change always produced a lot of anxiety for me. My family moved three times during my youth and most dreaded aspect of the change was having to begin again at a new school. The worst one of those experiences was having to change schools mid semester of my seventh grade year from North Little Rock, AR, to Ozark, AR.  It was a drastic change that seriously affected me socially and academically. I had a lot of trouble feeling as though I belonged in that community and additionally experienced difficulty in class.

Thankfully, we only lived in Ozark a short while before we moved to Millington, TN, in August 1977. It’s easy to remember the timing of the move since it was only two weeks before Elvis Presley died in neighboring Memphis, TN.

But looking back over those moving experiences, I realized that they pushed me out of my comfort zone and that had a profound effect on my early life.  I learned how to expect and manage such changes.

And since that time, there have many other changes to deal with, including starting high school, starting college, living away from home for the first time, being married, being divorced, starting new jobs and learning to live with the death of a parent.

Most changes we can manage on our own. But big changes, such as divorce, loss of a child or parent, loss of a job, can require the additional support of a friend, pastor or professional therapist.

Now, I really try to view any kind of change as an opportunity to grow and stretch outside my comfort zone.  Meaning the change may be uncomfortable at first, but the new challenge will eventually change the very fabric of who I am.  Even out of a very tragic change can bloom a new life.

So during the stable times of your life, don’t be leery of change just to maintain a stress free environment.  If after careful consideration, you think the timing is right for a change, go for it. Enjoy feeling the weight of a dusty routine fall off your shoulders and experience the exhilaration of a new challenge.

However, a caution; I don’t recommend multiple changes at one time because it can be overwhelming, but one moderate change or adjustment can be quite healthy.

Even if change is unexpected and not your choice, you can still choose to embrace it and get the most out of it, rather than allowing it to drag you down in stress.

By making friends with change, you will surely add another dimension to your life, making it fuller and more meaningful with lots of new memories to populate your mind.

 

Titleholder Spotlight ~ Molly Tullis - Miss Days of '56

Molly Tullis is the 20 year-old daughter of Pam Kunze, and Dennis Tullis.  Molly is from Mapelton, Iowa and is a junior at Briar Cliff University majoring in music education.  She enjoys competing at rodeos in breakaway roping, singing, & playing the piano.  Her reign as 2011 Miss Days of '56 will be a tribute to her late step-father Myron Kunze, as he was an avid contestant in steer wrestling, and tie-down roping at the Days of '56 PRCA Rodeo in Ponca, NE until he passed away in 2009.

The Miss Days of '56 pageant is open to young women in Nebraska and Iowa who meet further entry qualifications.  The rodeo is held at the end of June and features some of America's most notable rodeo contestants and contract personnel. 

Wednesday's Words of Wisdom ~ Withstanding the Criticism

Sue Lynn Perry Smith shares her Wednesday's Words of Widsom with us every first and third Wednesday of the month.  You can pick up more tidbits from Sue Lynn's Facebook group, Rodeo Queens Rule.

Have you ever won a title and later found yourself isolated from fellow competitors and friends?  Instead of being congratulated and supported for your accomplishment, you experienced the sting of negative energy? Maybe you even lost a good friend in the process?  If so, you are not alone. Unfortunately, this phenomenon is fairly common in competitive environments. But you don’t have to let it get you down and ruin what should be a happy time in your life.

I have a very famous nephew. He has been working professionally in the entertainment industry since age 12. He is now 30 years old and known worldwide.  One of the most interesting observations of his climb to fame has been the variety of ways people have responded to his success, including people who have known him his entire life to complete strangers.  And that model can be scaled up to include the variety of ways people respond to the success of anyone at every level from rodeo queens to pop stars.

Of course, my nephew’s family and good friends have been supportive of his success. And certainly anyone who has benefited financially from his talent has been supportive of him as well.  But there have been varying levels of dislike to downright hatred from people who barely know him or don’t know him at all. They’ve formulated their opinion based on what?  I believe their opinion is based on what they see publicly and the remainder is perhaps filled in by what they assume.  And that assumption bubbles up from their personal psychology.

There is a saying that explains that the reason people dislike you is because they either want to BE you OR they actually dislike themselves OR they see you as a threat of some kind. In terms of my nephew, one explanation is that consumers of his music may confuse their opinion of his product with their opinion of him personally. But if you don’t know him personally, how can you have an accurate opinion of him as a person? Still many people do make judgments about public figures without really knowing them well at all.   And I consider rodeo queen titleholders to be public figures.

What about criticism or rejection from a more familiar crowd – friends and family members or colleagues? Unfortunately, it is natural for weak-minded people to project their own miscalculations onto other people.

For instance, how many thousands of young people try to break into the entertainment industry every year and don’t make it.  Not because they lack talent but perhaps the timing isn’t right or they haven’t met the right person. Or perhaps they haven’t fine-tuned their act well enough yet.  Enough failures can make a person bitter about seeing others succeed. And naturally occurring personal insecurities can have the same effect. This dynamic among humans is extremely common and should be considered in advance by anyone interested in becoming a leader in any field.

Part of being a leader is facing adversity and criticism. And a good leader is not thrown off course by adverse conditions or negative energy.  In larger terms, have you ever thought about the amount of criticism the President of the United States must endure?  A candidate must have a tough skin to take on the most challenging job in the world and hear criticism from people daily that don’t understand the full scope of the job.

The same is true of many highly visible positions. Being a public figure comes with many rewards but also comes with the high price of criticism from folks who may or may not have all the facts available to formulate an accurate opinion. Yes, even serving as a rodeo queen can be difficult in terms of support from many concentric circles of concern, ranging from your family to complete strangers.

Bottom line is that you shouldn’t be discouraged if you experience negative energy from a sister or a best friend or a fellow competitor or anyone. Understand that you are not responsible for another person’s feelings and attitude. They make a choice to feel and behave as they do. Tearing you down is a poor approach to building themselves up. You were selected for a reason. You’re responsibility is to fulfill your commitment as a titleholder or leader to the best of your ability and to enjoy your time in the spotlight.

Titleholder Spotlight ~ Queens for Troops

Volunteering and giving back to the community is nothing new for most rodeo queens.  However, a group of Texas cowgirls have come together to give back to America's service men and women in a most unusual manner.  Queens for Troops was founded in February 2011 by reigning Miss Rodeo Texas Celesta Harvey,  Miss Houston Harris County Rodeo Teen Erica Lloyd and Army COL Karen Lloyd (retired).  Now Queens for Troops involves many Rodeo Queens, Fair Queens, and Beauty Queens who have joined together to say “Thank you to our Wounded Heroes” in a tangible way.

Queens for Troops will salute our military and help our wounded heroes by providing fun trail ride outings across the state of Texas and funding adapted homes for our severely wounded.  Queens for Troops has partnered with Helping a Hero which is a 501(c)(3) organization based in Houston and is the largest homebuilding organization in Texas for our severely wounded heroes.  They have no paid staff and the funds raised will go to help build homes for our wounded heroes injured in Iraq or Afghanistan. 

Helping a Hero has built homes in Houston, Fort Worth, Frisco, Waco, Beaumont, La Marque, Palacios, Jones Creek, Humble, Conroe, The Woodlands, San Antonio, Austin, Friendswood, Pearland, Katy, Sugar Land, and they continue to accept applications in the event you know of a wounded hero in need.  These homes have been built for paraplegics, quadriplegics, double amputees, triple amputees, double arm amputees, blind, burn victims, TBI, and severe PTSD.  And they have even done one home for a double amputee female soldier who lost her best friend and both legs when an anti-tank mine exploded under her HUMVEE while on a humanitarian mission in Afghanistan.

On July 20 Queens for Troops invites any current and former royalty to be on hand for a key presentation SSGTJeffery Vaughn, USA (Ret.) beginning at 11:00 a.m. in LaMarque, Texas.  Lauren Graham, reigning Miss Rodeo Texas, will beging the presentation by leading a parade to the home.  In addition to the ceremony a Bar B Que and family games will be held.

For more informaiton on how you can become involved in Queens for Troops, or perhaps you would like to begin a similar program in your state, contact Karen or Erica Lloyd through the Queens for Troops website.  Congratulations to these young  women for taking the initiative to begin such an endeavor that will leave a mark on our nation long after their reigns are completed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All photos courtesy of Queens for Troops

Rodeo History 101

Above - Meghanne Davis, Miss Rodeo Washington 2004, with ProRodeo Hall of Fame Inductee Bob Tallman at the 2004 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremonies.

While many rodeo queens can give fact after fact about current rodeo stars, arena records and other information readily available from the PRCA's media guide and current editions of the Rodeo SportsNews, few are well versed in the legends that came before today's headliners.   I'm not necessarily talking about the legends from way back when the Turtle Association was first formed, but rodeo legends from the 80's and 90's.  This is especially disappointing at the state and national level pageant where rodeo queens truly are expected to have a good grasp of rodeo's history.

On the first of every month I'll be providing a list of cowboys and cowgirls who have made their mark in rodeo history so much so that they have been selected for induction into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame.  You'll find a bio on each at the ProRodeo Hall of Fame website.  But don't stop your studying with just one source as there are many other sources of information on these and other rodeo legends including Western Horseman's "Rodeo Legends" book and rodeo historian Gail Hughbanks Woerner's website.  For ease of studying I'll be listing rodeo legends according to the category in which they were inducted into the Hall of Fame.

On July 16 the ProRodeo Hall of Fame will induct the class of 2011.  They include Burel Mulkey, Lan LaJeunesse, Keith Martin, War Paint, J.W. Stoker and the Deadwood (S.D.) Days of '76 rodeo.  The bios of the new inductees are now available on the ProRodeo Hall of Fame website and I suggest you begin delving into rodeo's rich history by learning about the Class of 2011

I hope you'll use these prompts as a way to increase your knowledge of how far the sport of rodeo has evolved and to appreciate those who entered the arena before you.  Without their efforts your job wouldn't be needed.  Best of luck to you as you pursue your rodeo queen dreams!

~ Bobbie

 

Wednesday's Words of Wisdom ~ To control adrenaline put yourelf under that stress.

Sue Lynn Perry Smith shares her Wednesday's Words of Widsom with us every first and third Wednesday of the month.  You can pick up more tidbits from Sue Lynn's Facebook group, Rodeo Queens Rule.

Have you ever tried to give a speech, recite a poem or sing a song in front of an audience only to forget the words or to find it hard to breath or experience the involuntary quivering of your legs or other body parts while on stage? If so, then you are acutely aware of how powerful an elevated adrenaline level can be and how it can affect your ability to think and perform.  So how can we regain control of our performance and not allow adrenaline to ruin a perfectly prepared presentation? The healthiest and most natural way is to face that fear head on – over and over and over – until the fear no longer exists, or is at least reduced to a manageable level.

The first step is to understand adrenaline.  Adrenaline is a naturally occurring hormone in the body that primarily serves as our “fight or flight” survival mechanism in the brain. The hormone is produced by the adrenal gland and quickly charges up the cardiovascular and pulmonary systems to handle high performance situations. This is why heart rate, breathing pattern and muscle control are affected by an elevated adrenaline level.

Here’s a an example: If we are trail riding and cross paths with a mountain lion, both the rider and the horse will experience a surge of adrenaline that pushes the body into a decision of “do I run or do I stay and fight for my survival?” Of course, the horse, being a natural flight animal, will choose to run – with or without the rider aboard. But a human, being a predator himself, may weigh the choices, depending upon whether the horse has already dumped him on the ground, whether he has a weapon nearby or any other factors available. But that adrenaline rush puts the brain into high gear to mentally and physically carry out whatever the decision is.

Unfortunately, many people have that same adrenaline rush when they are in the highly visible position of public performance. A survey was taken years ago that showed humans rank public speaking as second place only to death itself as the most feared part of life. Yet, in the arena of rodeo queen competition, public speaking is a staple of most judging agendas.  And that’s because most pageants try to “audition” their contestants for the exact job she will be doing as a titleholder. Often, rodeo queens are asked to speak publicly or to the media about their sport and their particular title.

One thing we can clear up immediately – no one has ever died from public speaking. So, logically we can tell ourselves there is no need for adrenaline to promote survival in a rodeo queen pageant. But the very personal exposure of oneself to an audience can trigger the adrenaline rush anyway.

The first step to controlling the adrenaline is to always give yourself time to write your speech, memorize it and present it multiple times publicly before the competition.  I can't tell you the number of contestants who admit to writing their speech on the WAY to the Miss Rodeo America Pageant, and it shows.  Unless you've made a last minute decision to enter a pageant you often have months to prepare your speech.

Never limit your preparation to only saying the speech to yourself in the privacy of your shower or car or bedroom. Give that speech or platform presentation or answer impromptu questions in front of as many live audiences as possible prior to the competition. You can start small and just give the speech to your family, your schoolmates, your parents’ co-workers or your best friends.

Then, I recommend calling your local civic clubs, such as Optimists, Kiwanis, Rotary and Lion’s Club and request to be put on their monthly meeting agenda to give your speech. This serves two purposes: you get a practice audience and your community gets to see what you’re doing.

Also, seek out your local Toastmasters International group. They specialize in prepping local professionals for public speaking in a corporate environment. They are usually receptive to hearing outside speech givers; plus, they will offer constructive feedback.

Have a parent or friend videotape every public performance and then take the time to watch the playback at home and critique yourself.  It’s not easy to do at first but will serve as a great self-improvement tool.

The more people you have on your “team of helpers” the more supporters you’ll have in your corner at competition time. Remember, always send a thank you note to organized groups and individuals that made time to help you.

 

While this article focuses on public speaking the same advice can be given for any aspect of pageant competition that stresses you out.  Are you aprehensive about riding a horse you've never been on?  Then ask your friends if you can ride their horses as if you are in the pageant and before the judges. Ride the patterns and ask for critique.  Have you never been interviewed?  Then ask some trusted adults to sit in front of you and begin asking you questions as if you are in a "real" interview. 

It takes great courage to face a fear. But you can do it! Be the predator – not the prey. Just keep attacking that fear repeatedly until it is tamed and you’re in control.

Photo courtesy of Barbara Rupp

When the Impromptu Isn't Impromptu

More often than not rodeo queen pageants include at least one impromptu question in which contestants are quizzed on a variety of topics.  This question may be related to rodeo, to information on their bio, or current events.  The object of this portion of the judging is to observe a contestant's ability to think on her feet and to showcase her knowledge.  As a reigning titleholder you will be put on the spot many times throughout your reign, especially if you are actively out and about promoting the rodeo you represent.  While you cannot be prepared for every question that is thrown at you there are certainly questions which will be common place and you should be prepared to answer them. Unfortunately I'm often disappointed at how unprepared many titleholders are to answer these types of questions.  Here are five questions that are commonly asked of titleholders and a suggestion on how you may answer them.

1.  What did you have to do to become Miss Rodeo Fantabulous? - The Miss Rodeo Fantabulous pageant is judged in the three main areas of Appearance, Horsemanship and Personality.  Our appearance and personality were judged during every portion of the pageant which included a personal interview with the judges, modeling during a fashion show, answering impromptu questions, photogenics and the presentation of a prepared speech on "Why I Want to be Miss Rodeo Fantabulous".  For horsemanship we demonstrated our riding skills with two set patterns, a queen's run and we had to show we could carry a flag on our horse.

2.  Tell us a little bit about yourself. - I am the 19-year old daughter of Jane and John Rodeofan from Mayberry and I attend Wonderful University where I'm studying Astrophysiology. I've been riding for many years and this is the third title I've held.  When I'm not riding or competing in rodeos I enjoy reading, gymnastics and gardening.

3.  What all have you done during your reign as Miss Rodeo Superfantastic? - This year has been so much fun for me.  I've attended many area events including the Snickerdoodle parade, the grand opening of Wally's Wonderful Tack Store and rode in the grand entry of several nearby rodeos, plus I've visited with residents of nursing homes, patients in hospitals and read to many school children in their classrooms.

4.  When I come out to the rodeo tonight, what all will I see?  When you come out to the 42nd Annual Incredible Rodeo tonight you'll see some of the best cowboys and cowgirls in the region competing in a variety of events.  The roughstock riders will be showing off their skills in the bareback riding, saddle bronc riding and bull riding and the timed event cowboys will be pitting their skills against quick calves and steers in the tie-down roping, team roping and steer wrestling.  The ladies will be competing in the fast and exciting barrel racing.  Plus there's the rodeo clowns and our specialty act is Out-of-this-World Bob and his Out-of-this-World Water Buffaloes.  Come out early to grab dinner at the cook shack and if you like to dance stay after for a concert by Cow Patty. If you can't make tonight's performance or if you just can't get enough rodeo action there will be three other performances, Thursday starting at 7:00 pm and Friday and Saturday at 7:30 pm.  Plus don't forget to attend the rodeo parade downtown starting at 9 am on Saturday morning.

5.  You've traveled alot this year as Miss Awesome Rodeo, what was your favorite event to attend?  I went to so many places this year that it's hard to pick just one.  At the Wild West Fest in Anytown we were treated to airplane rides and I really enjoyed visiting with the children at the Children's Hospital in Startown.  Of course, every rodeo I've attended has been packed with memorable moments that I will always treasure.

In addition to the above questions you can count on being asked specific questions about the rodeo you are attending/representing.  Before going to the rodeo visit their website and learn all you can about the rodeo - How many years has it been put on?  Who are the organizers?  When are the performance times? What specialty acts will visitors see?  Who is the announcer/barrel man/rodeo clown? When are the performances?  What time are the performances?  How much are tickets and where can they be purchased?  Any special facts about the stock contractor/stock/cowboys (ie - World Champions, awards won, etc.)? While you may not know everything, the basics are a must.

Once the pageant is over and you've eared the title your studying and preparation for your reign has really just begun.  Take a page from the Boy Scouts and always be prepared.  Best of luck to you as your pursue your rodeo queen dreams!

Above: Amy Wilson, Miss Rodeo Kansas 2007 and Miss Rodeo America 2008, talks with Miss Rodeo Kansas Board member Theresa Reynolds during the 2009 Miss Rodeo Kansas/Miss Teen Rodeo Kansas pageants held in Dodge City, Kansas.  During her reigns Amy travled over 150,000 miles promoting rodeo and her sponsors.  Thanks to Barbara Rupp for providing the photo for our article.

Wednesday's Words of Wisdom ~ Stress for Success

Sue Lynn Perry Smith shares her Wednesday's Words of Widsom with us every first and third Wednesday of the month.  You can pick up more tidbits from Sue Lynn's Facebook group, Rodeo Queens Rule.

I always wondered why some folks are a furnace of ambition while others are quite satisfied to spend hours watching television and squeak by on a modest wage.  While there are several possible factors, including education level, socio-economic level, energy level and family environment, I think for many folks the answer lies somewhere in their ability to manage stress and perform under pressure.

There may have been early life experiences that forged a certain relationship with stress. For instance, having to give a speech in front of a class may have proven to be too much for one child while the attention was gratifying for another child.

Or, struggling to keep good grades may have created a mouthful of fever blisters and some hair loss for one child but created a sense of accomplishment for another child.

I think these childhood responses to stress have much to do with choices made as an adult as to whether he or she will shy away from stressful situations or thrive in them.

Consider that to hold a high stakes job, such as a doctor, nurse or pharmacist, not only requires the mental toughness to get through school but also the ability to work everyday knowing that a mistake could cost a life.

Being a business owner is a highly stressful lifestyle too, from dealing with legal issues, to employee problems to customer satisfaction.  It is not for the faint of heart.

Conversely, I think some really talented folks shy away from the spotlight simply because they never conquered their fears and learned to manage stress. Or perhaps they mimic stress avoidance skills demonstrated by their parents.

I believe the ability to manage stress and perform under pressure has everything to do with a person’s likelihood of succeeding.  Yes, there are other factors, but I think you can have the education, the funding, the support, the energy and the opportunity and still fail if that ability to manage stress is not developed.

So how does this notion of stress management relate to rodeo queens? I see a very direct relationship.

One of my past titleholders, now a successful pharmacist, mentioned to me how easy her admission process seemed to be gaining entrance to the University of Tennessee College of Pharmacy.  My sister, too, is a graduate of UT Pharmacy, and testifies that it really is not easy to gain admission there due to the rigorous application and interview process.

This former queen gave much of the credit for acceptance to UT and later her graduation to her year serving as Miss Rodeo Tennessee.  I think her words were “after my reign, I have developed a new threshold for stress.”

During her reign she perfected skills on how to interview, how to prepare, how to perform, how to be independent, how to travel, how to be resourceful, how to solve problems and how to keep on smiling and serving well no matter what.

In fact, several of my past Miss Rodeo Tennessee titleholders are highly successful today. In addition to the pharmacist mentioned, the list includes a registered nurse, a veterinarian, a domestic violence shelter coordinator, a couple of business professionals and a photographer operating her own studio.

It’s all to their credit for pursuing a dream and getting the most out of that experience.  It’s no coincidence that many state and national titleholders carry their experience and developed skills right into their professional and family lives.

In a recent family discussion about our third generation of competitive horse showing, my nephew asked “why does our family show horses?”

My answer was fairly simple. “You may not make a living in the horse business, but being competitive with horses or any sport will help you develop the mental skills you need to succeed in life.

“You are learning how to be disciplined and responsible. You are learning how to prepare and train for competition. You are learning how to handle both winning and defeat. You are learning how to handle stress, and this kind of stress is not too different from the kind of stress you will experience later in life. It’s just the stakes are usually higher as you get older.

“Being able to manage your stress and perform under pressure will play a major role in your level of success as an adult.  Competing on horses gives you a place to develop those skills in a non-critical area of your life.

“And the really cool part is that while most of your friends are learning these skills through the very commonplace outlets of baseball or football or soccer or basketball, you get to learn in a very unique and special environment – on horses!”

That’s why I believe competing in the arena or on stage or on a court or a field is such a great experience for young people, even if there is no realistic future as a professional athlete. The skill of managing stress and performing under pressure will be of great value in college, on the job and in every corner of adult life.

My advice to goal setters -- don’t avoid stress. It is a natural part of any successful life. Just learn to manage it well.

Some basic tips on managing stress

• Get moving and get your blood pumping every day.
• Get a quality professional massage once monthly from a licensed massage therapist.
• Eat a balanced diet and stay hydrated.
• Get plenty of rest.
• Take breaks during the workday, training day, or study day  -- a short walk will do.
• Listen to relaxing music whenever you can.
• Humor is a great tool for managing stress. Incorporate it into your day.
• Be a person of your word.
• Learn to say no to activities.  There are only so many hours in the day and one person can't do everything.
  
• Know you’re physical and mental limits – don’t cross that line.
• If you have difficulty with anxiety or depression, seek professional guidance.
• Don’t tolerate feeling bad. Feeling strong and healthy is a priority.
• Protect and build on key relationships with family and friends.
• If you are a spiritual person, absolutely make time for worship, prayer and meditation.
• Forgiveness releases a lot of stress.
• Avoid debt!
• Be a conduit of love – give and receive.

Titleholder Spotlight ~ Kayla Honea, Miss Rodeo Range Riders

Kayla Honea is Miss Rodeo Range Riders 2010.  A native of Amarillo Texas, Kayla has been traveling this year representing Will Rogers Range Riders the oldest riding club in the United States. She is the daughter of Russell and Pamela Honea and is a graduate of Bushland High School where she was a varsity cheerleader, Association of the Future Farmers of America district officer, and a livestock evaluation team member. She has her Associates in Science from Clarendon College where she graduated with honors and plans to attend Texas Tech University in the fall and then to attend medical school to become a general practitioner in a small town. Kayla is a member of the livestock evaluation team, the reserve national champion meat science evaluation team, Vice president of Phi Theta Kappa honor society, a teacher’s assistant, administrative office assistant, elementary school literacy advocate, and an elementary TAKS tutor. She also volunteers at the Thomas E. Creek Veteran’s Hospital in Amarillo, Eveline Rivers Christmas Project Toy Run, and the Eveline Rivers Christmas Project. A cowgirl all her life she began competing in rodeo at age six and has been riding ever since. She was given a two year old colt as a high school graduation gift that was halter broke. She worked with the horse herself, now he is a finished out head horse for her and her grandfather to team rope with.  Kayla says that she loves the sport of rodeo because “it encompasses the values that she was raised with and lives by, which include strong family ideals, good moral standards, and the western way of life.” As the 2010 Miss Rodeo Range Riders Kayla will be entering the Miss Rodeo Texas pageant in June competing with ladies from all over the state of Texas for that coveted title and the opportunity to represent the sport of Rodeo and the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association.