Arleta’s December Update
Well, we are now in the New Year and I am very excited for all the adventures I will have the opportunity to experience. I had a wonderful Christmas with my family and friends. It was great to be able to visit and get updated on their lives. They sat me down and said, “Arleta, we need to do a question and answer period.” Ha ha! They started asking me a bunch of questions to learn what my job as Miss Rodeo Canada entails. It was awesome to be able to share with them what my new duties are. They are very excited to learn about all the opportunities I have in 2012.
I got to go down to Las Vegas to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo at the beginning of December. This was a trip I was most excited for after winning my title, as I have never been to the WNFR before. Being able to ride in every grand entry, hand out the go-round buckles to the cowboys & cowgirls and visiting with all the old time competitors before every rodeo made my trip something I will never forget.
I keep getting asked what part of the trip was my favourite part. You know it’s hard to pick, as everything was so incredible. Being able to ride every night representing Canada was a huge honour and definitely a highlight of my trip, but I would have to say that going to the Gold Card Room every night before the performance, visiting with all the old competitors and hearing their amazing stories of past rodeo adventures was my favourite part. They all welcomed me with open arms and really made me feel at home. Wayne Brooks and I handed out different door prizes every night and we always had a great meal donated to us from various hotels in the Boyd Gaming group of companies. Boyd Gaming sure did an awesome job hosting the Gold Card Room each night.
Just about every day I got to go to different trade shows around the city and visit the Roper, Stetson, Wrangler, and Montana Silversmiths booths to do autograph signings. Most times I had one or two cowboys with me signing as well. It was a thrill to have everyone so excited to see someone from Canada down there. I had lots of folks saying I have a really cool Canadian accent, and that I didn’t say “eh” as much as most Canadians they had met!
I also got to go and watch most of the Miss Rodeo America Pageant. It was very interesting to see how they run their competition. They had 28 ladies running for the title so as you can imagine, it is a much bigger production then we have in Canada! I got to know Mackenzie Haley (Miss Rodeo America 2011) quite well as we worked together everyday doing different events. She was getting ready to pass down her title to the new Miss Rodeo America 2012; I heard nothing but great comments about the incredible work Mackenzie did during her reign. I truly believe this as she was a very warm, welcoming young lady that loved what she was doing!
Overall, the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo was something I will never forget and an experience I am so grateful to have had. Now, I’m off to the National Western Stock Show in Denver on January 12th and will there representing Canada. At the end of the month I will be attending the Feeder Associations of Alberta Convention in Red Deer, Alberta and the Country Road RV Show and Sale in Olds, Alberta.
I hope everyone had an amazing Christmas and I wish you all a happy New Year! 