MRWA celebrates 2023 queen
MRWA celebrates 2023 queen
Sheridan – Miss Rodeo Wyoming 2023 Reata Cook hosted her coronation celebration Nov. 5 at the Sheridan Best Western. Evening activities included a dinner, silent and live auction and live music by Tris Munsick and the Innocents. Reata will officially take over the crown on Jan. 1, 2023.
Pageant
The Miss Rodeo Wyoming Association (MRWA) on Aug. 18 announced Reata was crowned Miss Rodeo Wyoming during the Wyoming State Fair. She is the fifth Miss Sheridan WYO queen to hold the position of Miss Rodeo Wyoming.
She competed against Miss Historic Rodeo Jackson Hole Jordan Lutz and Miss Laramie Jubilee Alex Wheeler. Reata won the categories of Social Media/Promotional Video; Miss Congeniality; Photogenic Award; Speech Award; and the Horsemanship Award.
She notes she has been around the rodeo queen industry since before she could walk. Her mom and aunt had previously held the Sheridan County Rodeo Queen title in the 90s and both had competed for the title of Miss Rodeo Wyoming. With her family’s involvement in the rodeo queen industry, Reata always knew it was something she wanted to do.
“I’ve been around rodeo queening since I was born,” she says. “I became the Sheridan WYO Junior Princess in 2012, the Sheridan WYO Senior Princess in 2018 and then Miss Sheridan WYO in 2022.”
“Through this journey, I’ve looked up to a variety of women who have come before me, specifically the women who came from the Miss Sheridan WYO title to go on to compete and win Miss Rodeo Wyoming – Maggie Engels Myers, 2005; Allie Bass Sowerwine, 2008; Kimberly Kuhn Romsa, 2012; and Hannah Ostheimer, 2019,” says Reata. “All four of these ladies have served a big impact and purpose in my rodeo queen journey.”
During the pageant, Reata competed in personal interviews, horsemanship, modeling and speeches. She notes she worked really hard and put a lot of preparation into competing at the pageant.
“I took a lot of time designing my outfits, putting together my scrapbook and of course hours upon hours working on my horsemanship,” she adds. “Horsemanship was one of my favorite parts about the pageant.”
Reata competed with her four-year-old Quarter Horse named Charles. After being crowned Miss Rodeo Wyoming, Reata jokes some of her family members have said her horse should now be called Sir Charles.
She is excited to get to ride him at some of her events throughout her reign, but will be utilizing stock contractor horses throughout her year in preparation for the horsemanship competition at the 2024 Miss Rodeo America Pageant.
Coronation event
During Reata’s lady-in-waiting period, she was able to host a fundraising event for her year. Roughly 260 people attended the event, and she notes it took a lot of planning, but it was a fun-filled event and she was very thankful for those who attended and who helped her plan the event to make it a success.
“Wow, my Sheridan community really came out to support me and follow me in this big journey I’ve been chasing since I was really little,” she says. “I had so much help from my family, close friends and of course the Sheridan WYO board and the MRWA.”
“It was crazy how much work was put into my coronation. The night went by so fast. Before we knew it, we were already tearing it down,” she adds. “But now, it’s go time. My focus will be on my year, traveling, rodeos and preparation for the Miss Rodeo America Pageant.”
Year ahead
As Miss Rodeo Wyoming, Reata will be traveling throughout the state representing the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA), MRWA and the Cowboy State. She notes she has several stops she’s looking forward to as queen.
“As Miss Sheridan WYO, I only got to travel to some closer rodeos – the Cody Stampede, Thermopolis Cowboy Rendezvous PRCA Rodeo, Sheridan WYO Rodeo and the Cheyenne Frontier Days parade, but as Miss Rodeo Wyoming, I’m really looking forward to riding in the grand entry of the Cheyenne Frontier Days – it’s a bucket list rodeo for a lot of queens,” she says. “I’m also looking forward to traveling around Wyoming to some of our smaller rodeos because they really encompass our state values – being a state with a small population and a hometown feeling, I’m excited to experience some of those hometown rodeos and feel the Wyoming love.”
Other notable stops for Reata include the National Western Stock Show and Rodeo in Denver, Colo., Pendleton Roundup and potentially the Calgary Stampede for the University of Wyoming luncheon.
Reata encourages others to compete for Miss Rodeo Wyoming by saying, “Running for all the titles I’ve held has really furthered lifelong skills. Through my different rodeo queen titles, I’ve bettered myself. I encourage girls who are interested in running to reach out to girls who have held titles before and never be afraid to ask questions. It’s been helpful to me to have mentors who have come before me, who have done it all and are standing by me today.”
Miss Rodeo Wyoming 2022 Madelaine McElwee will be competing in the 2023 Miss Rodeo America Pageant Nov. 27-Dec. 4 at the South Point Hotel, Casino and Spa in conjunction with the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo Dec. 1-10.
Reata’s coronation served as her official fundraiser for her year. Businesses from throughout the state are welcomed to support her year through several different sponsorship levels and benefits. For more information, visit missrodeowyoming.com.
The Wyoming Livestock Roundup wishes both ladies the best of luck in their future endeavors.
Brittany Gunn is the editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.
