| January 2008 This is my first entry as Miss Rodeo Arkansas! As I sit in the Northwest Arkansas Airport on Thursday, January 3, 2008, waiting on my 5:45 am flight to Ft. Myers, Florida, I think of how exciting and adventurous this year is going to be. I get the opportunity to promote the state of Arkansas and my passion of rodeo. I am flying into Ft. Myers then renting a car to drive to Brighton for the 2007 Southeastern Circuit Finals. Wait! I only thought I was leaving out at 5:45 am. We loaded the plan and got on the runway as normal, and then the pilot realized the plane’s right engine was not properly working, therefore the plane need maintenance. So with this, the plane went back to the terminal and unloaded. A few hours later they canceled my flight to Ft. Myers! Oh no! However, the next flight out would be at 10:25 am. Finally, I was able to get on and make it to Ft. Myers. After, renting a car and driving an hour and a half to Brighton, I arrived at the lodging place, Little Big Mans Marina. Miss Rodeo Florida 2007 Heather Mills, Miss Rodeo Florida 2008 Sydnye Weber, and Sydnye’s mother were all waiting on me to go eat. Thus we loaded up in the truck and went to the Seminole Casino to eat since it was right down the road. It was located next to the Fred Smith Arena, which is where the rodeo is held. I really enjoyed getting to know the girls and eating my prime rib since I hadn’t had a real meal since that morning. The next morning, we had to meet Mrs. Molleetha Gomez at the arena at 7:15 am to go to a radio interview in Okeechobee. Also going with us was 3rd in the world bull rider, Chance Smart, and contract act, trick roper, Texas Jack Fulbright. We all had a fantastic interview with WOKC-Classic Country AM radio. That Friday evening we attended the first performance of the 2007 Southeastern Circuit finals where we sold programs and 50/50 tickets before and during the rodeo. As the rodeo started, I was the first queen to get introduced horseback and the first to follow the American Flag through the grand entry. During the rodeo, I witnessed, in person, Alligator Wrestling. I was so pumped; my adrenaline was running because before the alligator was taken into the arena I was able to touch him while he was in his trailer! It was an approximately 750 pound alligator. After the performance, the other two queens and I went to help serve at the complementary contestants’ supper; where I was in charge of serving the baked beans. The next morning, the same group of us that went to the radio interview, went to Accardi-Milrot Dodge in Okeechobee to sign autographs from 10:00 am to noon. The generous dealership also catered to us a superb lunch before we had to go back to the arena and get ready for the second performance that started at 3:00 pm. Following the second performance, there was a banquet at the casino for all the contestant and personnel awards. Before the banquet started, the casino fed everyone in attendance a steak dinner. I had another first of trying Swamp Cabbage. This the heart of the fruit that is in the top of the palm trees in Florida. To harvest the cabbage the tree has to be cut down. It sure was a different taste; nothing like we have in Arkansas! During the banquet, the queens and I were introduced and then we helped to pass out the awards to the deserving contestants. After having complementary breakfast and attending church service at the arena, it was time to get ready for the third and final round at 2:00 pm. It was here already! It was another great round and kept the crowd on the edge of their seats to find out who was going to be the next Southeastern Circuit Champion cowboy or cowgirl for their respective event. To wrap things up, I want to say that Arkansas had some great cowboys competing in the finals and they all showed off their vast skills; in the Saddle Bronc riding was Jermiah Diffee, Steer Wrestling was Heath Thompson and Jason Stockton, Calf Roping was Cody James, Tony Wells, and Bill Nelson, Team Roping was Wes Kent (heading), and the Bull Riding was Justin Koon. It’s glorious to have talented cowboys from the amazing state of Arkansas. In conclusion, I made it back home on Monday and had a magnificent time in Florida as it was my first trip as Miss Rodeo Arkansas. This just makes me look forward to the other trips throughout the entire year that I will be going on to represent Arkansas and rodeo. Until next time -Dilynn |
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