Pocatello, Id

Hey everyone!! Sorry it's been so long, I will try to do better!! My trip to the DNCFR in Pocatello, Idaho was awesome. I had so much fun. I really got to know the other girls a lot better. The trip out there wasn't the best but hey I finally made it and that's all that matters.

On Tuesday night we all got dressed up in our beautiful dresses and went to the Kick-Off party. We were introduced and then able to mingle with all the guests. It went very well. This rodeo, for the queens, was a  little different than most of us were used to. We were given a schedule of places to go and when the vans were leaving. We were to pick where we wanted to go for the day and jump in that van. For most of the week, Iowa, Illinois, Idaho, Florida and I stayed with the best van driver EVER, Fred. He was great and told us all about Pocatello and some of it's history along the way. During the days we went to numerous places around town to help promote the rodeo and thank all the generous sponsors. We went to schools, radio stations, hospitals, and an assisted living home. At the hospital we also got to see the Air Evac helicopter. That was really cool to see and hear just how fast it could go! Something like 200 miles/hour!

On Wednesday morning before our practice for the opening, Shane Passey of Lone Wolf Boot & Saddle Repair in Arimo, Idaho presented each one of us queens with our very own custom made flag boot. They are beautiful and so thoughtful. A few years ago, he had seen a girl in a bad wreck due to not using a flag boot and has since made them for queens who come to the rodeo. Thank you so much Shane, they are awesome!

Each night we attended the rodeo. We got to help with the opening and also run sponsor flags. I got an awesome horse named Garfield from Sutton Rodeo. He was a great horse who knew his job and did it well! Now if only I can be so lucky to have ones just like him the rest of the year! Or figure out how to rig it so I can! lol

One afternoon we had a few hours of free time, very rare! Seeing is how it was April in Idaho and the mountains still had a lot of snow left, we just had to go. Heather, Miss Rodeo Florida, had never seen snow in person and really, really wanted to go. So us girls in the van bit the bullet and went with her... We are from the Midwest, we've seen plenty lol. So up to Pebble Creek we went to play in the snow. It was actually a lot of fun, probably just because we had a great time seeing Heather experience it for the first time.

On Saturday morning we had the privilege of attending and helping out with the special kids rodeo. These events are one of my favorites and every time reminds me of how lucky I am to be Miss Rodeo Missouri. I am so lucky to be able to spend an hour or so with these great kids and help put a smile on their face as well as them keeping me in stitches the whole time!! I got to be Colton's helper and rodeo with him for the morning. This was his third year to attend and he even talked a couple of his friends into coming. His favorite thing of course was riding the horses. I was also able to talk him into trying to rope the bale and take a spin on the "bucking" horse and bull. We both had a great time getting to rodeo together.

I had a great time and met a lot of really neat people out there. I want to thank everyone who had anything to do with the rodeo and my stay. It was fantastic!!!

Until next time,
Erin Watts