The Last Chance Stampede in Helena!

Well, last Thursday I headed down to Helena early in the morning to meet up with Megan for the Last Chance Stampede. I got to Helena first thing Thursday morning for a "kiddie parade" where about a hundred little kids dressed up for their own parade and compete for various prizes. I got to meet the Last Chance Stampede Queen, Libby, see Kirsten, Miss Big Sky Pro Rodeo Queen again, and of course my favorite queen, Megan.

After the kiddie parade Kirsten and I met up with Sue and Bailey Thompson, who were gracious enough to bring all three of us girls horses. My horse "Kody" is owned by Sonny and Bev Stiger, who were also nice enough to let us stay with them at their house and we really appreciate it.

The Helena rodeo is a three night rodeo and before each performance the queens and sponsor flags get to do a walk-by, then all the flags for the National Anthem, and then a queen buzz so it was pretty neat how much arena time we got this rodeo compared to some of the others.

The last night of the rodeo my parents got to come up and see how everything was going. This was the first rodeo where I mom didn't come the whole time and I did fairly well considering I had Sue, Bailey, and Megan to help me out whenever I needed anything, and I Thank you. It is different without your mother with you and we are slowly "weaning" each other off before I go to college.

Thanks to Sue, Bailey and Megan!

Another cool thing that happened the last night of the rodeo was Fred Whitfield came to the rodeo and it was really cool to see someone of the caliber at the rodeo. He didn't win but he was a true sportsman about the whole thing and seemed like a nice guy.
Next I am headed down to Great Falls for the Big Sky Pro Rodeo and Pageant. I am very excited because I was the State Fair Princess last year and this year Miss Rodeo America, Ashley Andrews is coming and I am very excited to meet her!!

Until then,

Lorissa Harris

Shelby Rodeo!

Well, this last weekend I was in Shelby for their fair and rodeo. It was a long five hour drive, but well worth it when we eventually got there. I met up with Kirsten Svennungsen, the Big Sky Pro Rodeo Princess, and got all lined up with my horse. The Brown's were gracious enough to bring me a horse, and their sons BJ and Jack didn't waste any time helping me out and I really appreciate all they did for me and "Jake" and I got along great!
Each night the rodeo started at 7:30 p.m. which was GREAT because, temp's that weekend soared up to 100 degrees during the day and by evening it got pretty cool and really nice toward the middle of the rodeo.

Lorissa, Kirsten and Tasha "working the arena".

On Saturday, Kirsten and I headed down to the parade, where I got to meet a lot of great people who were just thrilled we were both there. After the parade my mother and I met up with Lynne and Audrey Sholty for some lunch and had a great time catching up and talking about how my summer is going. We were then ready for the rodeo again! This time before the rodeo we carried all the sponsor flags before the National Anthem. I went first which meant I was going to be carrying two flags. My 2nd flag was the huge Wrangler flag and as I finish unwrapping it they are already calling me, so as I headed into the arena and the flag gets tangled in between my arm and the pole! I eventually got it free but it took me second!! I'm sure I'll have way more funny little things like that happen before my summer is over!

Lynn and Audrey Shotly with me at the Rodeo







Next, I head over to Helena for the Last Chance Stampede. I will get to see Megan and hear all about her wild adventures and then after that we are headed to Great Falls, for the Big Sky Pro Rodeo Roundup!

Until then,

Lorissa Harris
MTRM 07'

CM Russell Stampede Rodeo

Sorry its been a little while since I have updated my blog we are getting a new roof put on our house and our internet has been down. I headed down to Stanford July 14 for the Kiddie rodeo and had quite a crowd and tons of kids for the rodeo. Marsha Cleary was in charge and did a wonderful job, and Jennika O'Neil came down to help out and I really appreciate it.

Lorissa's #1 fan "Ridley" a Stanford local youngster

After the kiddie rodeo I helped out with their auction of all the quick draw drawings. My job was to walk them around the stage while they were being auctioned off. They all sold really well and the people in Stanford were so nice and friendly which made things that much better.

The next morning Jennika and I got up early to work slack and had a great time. Dr. John Gee was gracious enough to bring me a horse named "Sammy" and we got along great!
The rodeo that day started at 1:30 and I was excited because I got to see Megan and catch up on all the rodeo's we had been to without each other. We all had a great time together and I really enjoyed my stay in Stanford at the Sundowner Hotel and Thank everyone who helped out!

Dr. John Gee & Jennika

"Working the arena"

Next, I am off to Shelby for their Fair and rodeo and then next weekend I'll be in Helena with Megan again!!

Until then,

Lorissa Harris
MTRM 07'

Vaughn/ The 4th in Red Lodge

"Local Rodeo Fans" - Haelee, Cambrie and Bridger stopped to visit after the Rodeo.

Busy, Busy, Busy is the best way to describe my last week and a half. I started June 29 and 30th in Vaughn for their first PRCA. The JS rodeo Company did a wonderful job and I had a great time with Kirsten, Miss Big Sky Pro Rodeo Princess, Jennika O'Neil and Bailey Thompson. The second night of the rodeo we did have a something interesting happen. Bailey, Kirsten, and I were all in the arena for calf roping when one of the saddle bronc horses flipped over in the chute and had to be let out. They let the horse out and it came running blind around the arena.

The pick-up men were trying to rope it and get it out of the arena when it came running straight for us. I was the the middle and Kirsten was on the receiving end of getting bumped by the horse. I remember closing my eyes and hoping nothing bad happened. Luckily nothing bad happened and everyone was ok. Like my mother always says, it's a live show and anything can happen. My mother and I also got to stay with Jody which was so much fun getting to talk and get to know her even better and see all of Gary's buckles, he has a ton a pick-up man buckles and it was such a blast!

Lorissa & Jody before the Rodeo.

We left early Sunday morning and headed home for some more clothes and then I was off to Red Lodge for the 4th. I stayed with my Queen mom # 2 Deb Brettin and had such a wonderful time. Early Monday morning the Home of Champions Rodeo Queen Ceily Highberger and I got to work slack and it was like being at a mini NFR. There were so many top cowboys and cowgirls there it was like seeing your favorite celebrities up close. We then headed off to the parade with the held daily at noon. On the 2nd there is also a kiddie rodeo and then rodeo at 6 p.m. for the 2nd and 3rd. On the Fourth the rodeo was at 3. On the 3rd there was also a MTV star that appeared at the Red Lodge Rodeo, Johnny Knoxville and he even participated in the wild horse race!

Tasha Wieferich, Brookman Rodeo Company was so sweet to let me ride her horses for the Home of Champions Rodeo, Thank you so VERY much!After three days of HOT weather and rodeo, the Home of Champions pageant took place. On July 6, we set everything up in the Bull-n-Bear and then the contestants took their written test and had their orientation. Sue Thompson and Kristy Stuart were the judges and it was really cool to get to meet Kirsty,because she was Miss Rodeo Montana 2001 and 5th runner up at Miss Rodeo America and super nice.

Then on July 7th, the Home of Champions Royalty Ceily, Sare and I headed down to Fromberg for the parade and autograph signing. While we were there I also got to see Marg Taylor who made my chaps and I also got to meet Birdie Askin Johnston who was married to the late Dick Johnston a World Champion Bronc rider. So it was a great opportunity and you just never know who you are going to meet.

Later that night was the public speaking portion of the competition. Each contestant was asked two impromptu questions and had to do a commercial/speech on the Home Of Champions Rodeo. I got to ask the reining royalty some questions and tell everyone more about Miss Teen Rodeo Montana and my duties as Miss Teen. There was also a live auction and I had my eye on a pair of blue Luchese Boots. My mom helped me out bidding and I got a pair of boots valued at $500 for $150!! I was pretty excited and can't wait to wear them.

Also, the new Miss Home Of Champions Rodeo Queen is Alyson Grinestaff, so a BIG Congrats to her!! While in Red Lodge I also got a message from Mariah Rys-Sikora that while at Silver State she was the 2nd runner up in the Queen Contest so great job Mariah representing Montana!!

So, this week I'm going to relax a little bit and take my clothes to the dry cleaners and get ready for this weekend. I am off to Stanford Saturday for a kiddie rodeo and then rodeo on Sunday.

Until then,
Lorissa Harris