community
Happy Trails: A Report From the Rodeo Road
By Mackenzie Carr
Miss Rodeo Oregon 2011
Hello!
Since my last article,
my schedule has
yet again been very
busy. The weekend
of March 5th and
my coronation were
finally here!
The
night was full of good music from
the Concrete Cowboys, great food--
courtesy of Spirit Mountain Casino--
and emceed by the one and only Scott
Allen. Thank you to the Concrete
Cowboys and Scott Allen for making the
evening that much more spectacular; I
am honored to call you my friends. The
dessert dash, silent and live auctions,
and blanket dance were a huge success.
Thank you to everyone who donated
items, dessert, money, and especially to
the Grand Ronde Princesses for sharing
their culture with us. Wrapping up the
whole celebration was the passing of
the crown. Thank you to Ashley Zeigler
and her family for making the long trip
to present me with my crown. It is an
honor to serve as Miss Rodeo Oregon
2011, and I will do all in my power to
make Oregon proud. Overall, it was a
great success and will help fund my
travels and my preparations for the Miss
Rodeo America Pageant. I cannot thank
everyone enough who helped make this
night possible.
After the whirlwind of my
coronation was over, I attended the
Clackamas County Fair and Canby
Mackenzie with her parents Barb and Alan
Carr at her coronation.
Rodeo Court’s Coronation on March
12th. Congratulations to Haley, Kelsey,
and Kelsey. I cannot wait to spend this
year with you and I’m so excited to have
the 2012 Miss Rodeo Oregon Pageant
during your rodeo in August. Thank you
again for having me; it was such a joy to
share in your special night.
After Canby, I was off to the
islands! On March 16th, my parents, my
sister, and I travelled to the big island
of Hawaii for the Kona Stampede in
Honaunau, Hawaii. We spent the few
days before the rodeo relaxing at the
beach, walking around downtown Kona,
In Hawaii!
shopping at the farmer’s market, and
enjoying a luau. With the weekend came
the rodeo and many fond memories. My
horse’s name was Ricky and she too
was from Oregon! Thank you to Edwin
Nobriga for letting me borrow her; she
was such a good girl. After my run-in,
I watched the rodeo in awe. Many of
the events they competed in I had never
seen before. My favorite was the Wahini
Calf Mugging. It was done by teams of
two women, one on the ground and one
on horseback. The rider came out of
the roping box and roped the calf. The
woman on foot took off as soon as the
calf was roped and flanked, more like
tackled, the calf. Once the calf was on
the ground, the rider dismounted and tied
three of the calf’s legs. Not only was
this entertaining to watch, it showed just
april26
2011
9
how tough Hawaiian women
are. Kudos to the wahinis! It
was quite a treat to see all of the
talented ropers, ranging from
ages 8 to 80 and spanning both
men and women.
After spending the
weekend at the rodeo, Kala’i
and Nahe Nobriga invited me
to spend the next two days with
them. We went on a trail ride,
spent time at the beach, did a Mackenzie visiting with a bone marrow transplant
patient at Duke Hospital in North Carolina.
little cliff diving, crawled in
we headed to Washington, D.C. and
an old lava cave, ate raw sea
urchins and abalone (called wana and spent the next day touring the city. We
opihi in Hawaiian), and went pig visited the White House, Washington
hunting. I had so much fun spending Monument, Lincoln Memorial, Vietnam
time with them in those two short Memorial, WWII Memorial, Jefferson
days. Thank you, Kala’i, Nahe, Memorial, Air and Space Museum, and
Macey, Marla, JR, and Sam for your the Holocaust Museum. It was such a
kindness and hospitality; I cannot great day, but our feet were TIRED! On
Saturday, April 9th, the three of us rode
wait to see all of you again.
Once I returned to Oregon and in the National Cherry Blossom Festival
reality, it was over to Redmond for Parade. What a treat! The crowd was
the Rodeo Royalty Roundup on huge and they were so thrilled to see
April 2nd. It was great to be able to cowgirls. I received a lot of “GO
help many of the Central and Eastern DUCKS!” while I was en route. It was a
Oregon queens with all of their great way to end a fun trip.
On April 16th, I attended the
pageantry questions and queries.
Miss NPRA Shalaina Joiner and I St. Paul Royal Court Coronation. As
talked about interviews, knowledge, always, it was such a good time; awesome
turnout and great food. Congratulations
speech,
and
appearance. The
girls were also
given a makeup
lesson, courtesy of
Mary Kay consultants.
I had a wonderful
time getting to know
the girls and cannot
wait to see them in the
future.
On April 6 th , I
was once again found
on an airplane. This Mackenzie riding with Miss Rodeo Virginia and Miss Rodeo
time I was Virginia- Colorado at the National Cherry Blossom Festival parade in
Washington DC.
bound! After arriving
in Roanoke, Miss Rodeo Virginia, Miss to Ashley, Barbara Jane, and Julie. I
Rodeo Colorado, and I spent the night in cannot wait to spend this year with you;
Dublin, Virginia, and then we were off we are going to have WAY too much
to Duke Hospital in North Carolina the fun!
On May 7 th , I will be in Vernonia
following morning. There we visited
some of the children in the bone marrow helping out at Vernonia Florist and
transplant unit. To see their enthusiasm Creatures Pet Shop. Come and stop by,
and fighting spirit was both humbling support Vernonia’s local businesses, and
and inspiring. After leaving Duke, say hello. Hope to see you there!
KELLY WESTON
503-429-6203
ARTHUR STRAND INSURANCE INC.
TOLL FREE 877-602-2345
LONG BEACH, WA 98631