Hey Y’all !!..... Just kidding… our wonderful Chaperones Kate and Hello everyone!! Vanessa were fortunate enough to have a lovely host home family that took us in at As I sit here at the vast but beautiful Pine Cheyenne and went out of their way to Creek Rodeo Grounds in NT and reflect on make sure we were enjoying the huge, jam packed month that was… ourselves. Once Georgie and Kate had I once again feel incredibly humbled and arrived, we headed on down to the fortunate to have been given this headline concert that was on, the amazing opportunity as Miss Rodeo Australia! Kenny Chesney! My month kicked off by jet setting to the The following day was time to pull out my big USA to attend the 120th ‘Daddy favourite colour for ‘Pink Day’ in support of ‘Em All’ Cheyenne Frontier Days of Breast Cancer! We had another great Rodeo in Wyoming alongside Warwick day starting with the huge street parade Rodeo Queen Georgie Stower. This in the town centre. It was absolutely journey will definitely go down as one of incredible. We were surrounded by horses the best experiences of my life so far! and carriages, decorated floats, soldiers We were extremely well looked after by marching, people dressed up walking and the CFD Rodeo Queen Committee and dancing as well as musical choirs! treated like pure Royalty the whole time! I The parade went for roughly 2 hours and was super excited to get to the grounds and a huge pat on the back should go out to meet the other American State Queens as everyone that contributes to its success well as the beautiful Miss Rodeo America with all the time and effort that was put in Katherine Merck! We kicked off the day to every float and participant. After the by attending the mind blowing US Parade we headed back to Military air show, which was incredible to the Cheyenne Frontier Days grounds for a watch, the skill and precision of those lovely V.I.P luncheon before attending the pilots is nothing short of miraculous. On very special Challenge Rodeo which was returning to the grounds we run especially for children with special had onstage Queen Introductions and my needs. The children had the opportunity to favourite thing of all was the feel like they were participating in a thrilling ‘Fly Bys’ on horseback at full real life rodeo by having rides on gallop straight past the crowd. We were horseback, riding the bucking horse and then invited behind the scenes to the bull (drums) and roping the dummy as announcer’s box and I had the pleasure of well as having a chat and photos with all having a chat with will- the representing Rodeo Queens. This was known rodeo announcer, Andy very special for me and certainly made Stewart and greeting the crowd right their day I’m sure! Next it was time to before heading back down to the Garden head up to the sponsor’s boxes to for autograph signings. Georgie and I and mingle and sign autographs and of course watch a bit of the Rodeo action. I attention when I stated a big G’Day even found myself a few fellow Aussies to before introducing myself! Americans just chat to. I was also fortunate enough to be love us Aussies! asked as a guest to ‘On the Couch’ Show Next we headed back to the CFD Grounds hosted Andy Stewart. As I waited back with the other lovely Queens to grab our stage for Andy to introduce the show and chaps to get ready for another thrilling Fly get started, I had the privilege of meeting By on horseback! This time was super the very well-known and successful Bronc special for me as I had the honour of Rider Heith DeMoss whom was also leading out the other Queens followed by starring on the show. Heith is a great Warwick Rodeo Queen Georgie Stower cowboy, role model and all-round great in front of a huge crowd of over 20,000 guy. We hope to see him and his family people! We then headed back up to visit Australia and compete at our Pro- the sponsor’s boxes to mingle and sign Tour Rodeos very soon! Andy introduced more autographs. I also got to catch up me and I went out on stage and had a great with the talented and fun Comedy Rodeo chat on the couch about how rodeo Clown Cody Sosbee! To finish off the day originated in Australia, my personal we headed over to the Garden again for connection with rodeo and the contrasting autograph signings for all the rodeo fans. differences between Australian and However that was cut short as we had to American Rodeo. That was a great finish vacate the area due to a destructive HAIL to the day for me. storm that ripped through the grounds! I By the time day three had rolled around I have never seen hail before so this was was slowly starting to get into some sort of certainly an experience for me considering a normal sleep pattern even with the super I thought someone was throwing ice at me! early starts! The perfect way to start an Before we knew it day four had rolled early morning was to attend the Cheyenne around and it was time to get down to the Frontier Days famous Pancake centre of town again for another Street breakfast! The whole community heads Parade. I was extremely honoured to lead on down to the town centre square and the out the Parade on a BIG beautiful black committee hosts a great morning of live gelding called Ledge! I really did want to music and thousands of pancakes for pack him in my suitcase and bring him everyone to enjoy! All of the representing home with me. Following the parade we Queens and myself had the opportunity to had a great morning chatting with jump up in the wagons and help flip Sponsors and the super fun and happy go and throw the Pancakes to the person on lucky CFD Head Committee. We also got the ground that catches them and takes to watch current Miss Frontier Jonna them to the servers. Over 10,000 people and the retiring Chairman of the CFD lined up to get their share of the pancake Rodeo committee participate in their brekky. I must say they were very yummy dunking ceremony. This is where they pancakes… although I can’t say I’m a fan dunk each other in a trough full of water of ham/bacon with my maple syrup and before Jonna hands over her Crown and pancakes. After breakfast all the Title to the lovely Lady in waiting Rylee Queens had autograph signings to attend Anderson. The rest of the day was spent before getting up on stage and behind the scenes with sponsors and introducing ourselves to the crowd. It getting a bit of Rodeo spectating in…as I certainly grabbed the crowd’s couldn’t miss watching my ultimate American Barrel Racing idols! We Ferguson and Jake Whalan finished the day with more attending schools in Cloncurry. The autograph signing in the Garden area and children did a great job at dressing up and then treated ourselves to the night head getting into the true Cloncurry Rodeo liner concert FLORIDA GEORGIA spirit. I had also previously organised for LINE!! OMG they were amazing!! the children to do a Rodeo themed Finally the exhilarating Champions of colouring in competition and the winners Champions day was here and it was the received free entry to the rodeo! There last day of the huge 120thCheyenne were some great entries and very creative Frontier Days Rodeo! We headed down to pieces!! the grounds nice and early to attend the That afternoon we rode in the ‘Rodeo very moving Cowboy Church held in the Royalty’ themed Mardi Gras through the arena by Ronny and Beckie Mayer! streets of Cloncurry. The whole Following Cowboy Church we went and community got on board putting in such a enjoyed the finals day at the Daddy great effort with all of their floats! I rode of Em all! The finalist my trusty barrel racing pony Banjo bearing competitors certainly stepped up and kept the Australian Flag followed by our two us on the edge of our seats until the last Rodeo Queen Entrants bearing the Curry second and showed a crowd of over 20 000 Merry Muster Flag and our Major Sponsor people why they were at the Daddy Flag, Glencore Ernest Henry Mining. The of Em all!! It was a truly unforgettable Mardi Gras finished in the centre of town Finals. As the day came to an end, where we announced the float winners as it proved to be quite an well as the most exciting part.... I got to emotional farewell all round as we had just crown our new 2016 CURRY made so many new friends and had the MERRY MUSTER RODEO QUEEEN best week with them and before we knew and 2016 CHARITY QUEEN! it was time to say goodbye! I would just Congratulations Kate Taylor whom was like to say a huge thank you from the crowned our 2016 Rodeo Queen and also bottom of my heart to all of the committee Emma Scott for being Crowned members, volunteers, the other Queens and Charity Queen! I am proud of both girls as of course our fabulous host home! You all they both did an outstanding job and I did went above and beyond to make our trip not envy to be a judge at all.