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