Personal Interviews

This afternoon the contestants completed the Personal Interview portion of the pageant. Here at the Miss Rodeo Oregon Pageant our personal interviews are completed one-on-one. Meaning one judge chats with one contestant. They also took their Rodeo Knowledge Test and are now off to St.Paul for the Hall of Fame BBQ!

Meet MRO Contestant--Celeste Hillock

Q & A with MRO Contestant, Celeste Hillock of Enterprise...

What has been your favorite event/thing about pageant this far?
The pageant has been so fun this far! While all the events have been very fun the last couple days I would have to say that my favorite thing about the pageant has been getting to know the other contestants and judges. Getting to know the other contestants has been so much fun. From helping each other get dressed to being goofy during our dance practice has been so much fun! The judges have also been great to meet. They have so much encouragement and advice for us that it has been great just talking to them!

Has anything fun/silly/interesting happened to you so far at pageant?
The funniest and silliest thing that has happened so far is definitely the first dance practice we had on Sunday night. Learning the dance with the other girls and just goofing around while trying to be in sync was a very interesting experience. During part of the dance Jackie and I were swing dancing while trying to do a turn I just happened to catch my hand in her hair and almost pulled her down! While I just felt really bad to catch her hair it was a pretty fun time!

Celeste at Pageant Orientation, Sunday 6/29

What is an interesting fact about you that not many people know?
An interesting fact about me is that I absolutely love to knit. Some people like to call me an old lady but I think it is a lot of fun and very relaxing to me. It’s a great way to be creative and make up items while knitting and making presents for other people.

What would you like to say to those at home that are part of your support crew?
I would just like to say thank you, thank you, thank you! Wallowa County, Joseph Chamber, everybody who listened to my speech and my family and friends I would just like to thank you so much for all of your support and encouragement. All of your support has encouraged me to do my best. Thank you so much!

MRO Contestant - Jackie Gibson

Between Personal Interviews a few of our contestants sat down to answer some questions...you'll be hearing from more of them throughout the next couple days.





Q & A with MRO Contestant, Jackie Gibson of Milwaukie.

What has been your favorite event/thing about pageant this far?
I would have to say the dance practice has been my favorite. Even though I have two left feet! It has been very entertaining learning the steps and having fun with the other contestants.

Has anything fun/silly/interesting happened to you so far at pageant?
Oh, the car rides coming and going in between events. We are riding in a brand new mini van that has way to many gadgets and buttons to figure out. It is very high tech! We couldn’t even figure out how to roll down the windows!

Jacke Gibson at Pageant Orientation, Sunday 6/29

What is an interesting fact about you that not many people know?
I can moon walk! Yes, Moon Walk, like Michael Jackson! It’s a talent that rarely comes in handy but is definitely interesting.

What would you like to say to those at home that are part of your support crew?
I love you all! And Thank You so much for all of your support this week and the past couple years. I know I wouldn’t be here with out you. Cant wait to see all of your smiling faces Wednesday! Love you and keep sending the good vibes :-)!

Horsemanship 2009

The morning began by the girls taking in the hospitality of Bankers Cup, a coffee shop here in St. Paul. Thanks to their generous donation the contestants, judges and our chaperones were able to have a complimentary pastry and a cup of Joe. They then headed down to the St. Paul Rodeo Arena for the horsemanship competition. Here all 4 contestants competed in 2 rounds of horsemanship and carried a sponsor flag for our panel of Judges. The first round was completed riding draw horses with a set pattern, and the 2nd round was a 2-minute freestyle reining pattern on their own horse. All did a fantastic job!

All contestants rode in former Miss Rodeo Oregon saddles that are custom made by Bob Roy of The Dalles. This year we will be presenting our 8th Bob Roy Saddle. If you haven’t seen his work make sure to stop our 2008 Miss Rodeo Oregon, Nichole Andrews when she is riding by and check it out!

Many volunteers pulled together to help pull off the event. Thank you to Past President, Bry Taylor for emceeing, MaryAnn Zelinski for singing our National Anthem and to the many helping hands at the gate and in the paddock area.

But we couldn’t have done it without the help of a special guy. A BIG thanks to Sonny Hansen who supplied the draw horses for this year’s competition. This is the third year Sonny has provided us with top notch stock and we appreciate him going out of his way to make sure his horses are here, clean and ready to go.

A LOOK AHEAD—TONIGHT!
St. Paul Hall of Fame BBQ, St. Paul Rodeo Arena, 5PM—TICKET REQUIRED THROUGH ST.PAUL RODEO OFFICE.

Meet Our 09 Pageant Judges

We are very excited to have 3 very qualified judges to assist in selecting our 2009 Miss Rodeo Oregon.

Arlene Worley – Idaho
Arlene is a life member of the PRCA. She was a rodeo secretary, timer, and flag carrier. She worked for many Rodeo Stock Contractors, such as Cotton Rosser, Mike Cervi, Christensen Bros., Harley Tucker and Joe Kelsey.
She has been a member of Miss Rodeo America Inc. for 20 years. During those 20 years she has served in many categories. She served on the Executive Board of Directors for six years and was the Executive Vice President for three years. She was the National Director for Nevada for 4 years. She is currently serving on the National Advisory Council.
She has judged many State Pageants as well as many local Rodeo Queen contests. Some of the State Pageants that she has judged includes Nevada, Arizona (x2), South Dakota, Idaho (X2), Utah, and California (x2).
She is honored to be chosen to judge the Miss Rodeo Oregon Pageant.


Jim Peer – Utah
Jim has been affiliated with Miss Rodeo America Inc., (MRAI) for the past eleven years. During this time with MRAI he has served as Chairman for the awards breakfast, Co-Chairman for the fashion show, worked along side the Horsemanship Committee, and was the Chauffeur for the MRAI judges for the last four years. He has served on the MRAI Executive Board for three years and has been a member of the Miss Rodeo America Advisory Council for seven years.

Jim has been a member of the Weber County Sheriff’s Mounted Posse for twenty years, during which time he has served as Captain, Treasurer and Lieutenant. Jim also enjoys spending time helping with JR Posse Horse clubs.

Jim has also been involved with local rodeo events. He has served as Chairman for Ogden’s Pioneer Days, Co-Chairman for Miss Rodeo Ogden and Miss Rodeo Utah for five years. He also served on the Pioneer Days Heritage Foundation for three years.
Jim has also been a judge for high school and state rodeo pageants in Utah, Nevada, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, and Florida.
He enjoys golf and is an avid horseman.


Frances A. Engel (Frankie) – California
She is a third generation California ranching and rodeo family, married for 45 years to Ray Engel; Rancher, retired Fire Chief, and Rodeo Producer for the Clements Stampede. She has had a lifetime involvement in rodeo; from production and promotion to Queen Contest Coordinator and a PRCA timer.

She has two children; son Robert, a Captain with the California Department of Forestry, and daughter Rayanne, who was the 1994 Miss Rodeo California.

She has judged numerous local, High School and College rodeo queen contests. She is a past judge for Miss Grand National, Miss Reno Rodeo, Miss Rodeo Oregon, Miss Rodeo Arizona, Miss Rodeo Washington, and Miss Rodeo Idaho. She has been a Miss Rodeo California Board Member, and chaperone since 1995 and is the current National Director for California to Miss Rodeo America.

Professionally, she is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, recently retired as Coordinator of a County Mental Health Clinic. She is currently a psychotherapist in private practice specializing in the fields of trauma recovery, as well as, child and adolescent issues. She also is a carded judge for Western States Equestrian Drill Team Competitions and has shown Australian Cattle Dogs.

It's Offically Began!

It's off and running...the 2009 Miss Rodeo Oregon Pageant has officially begun! Early this afternoon contestants began checking in to our new host hotel, the "Shilo Inn" in Newberg and were greated by our members and executive board at our pageant orientation. Their were some quick introductions and information given and then it was a quick goodbye to families and friends and off to the first event, The Gold Buckle Gala. The event was again hosted by St. Paul Resident, Elaine Smith (grandma to our 2005 MRO, Camie Johnston) and it went off without a hitch. Here the contestants competed in their first judged event, a live "mock" media interview with Fox 12's Kimberly Maus and our organization acknowledge our gracious and supportive sponsors.



All contestants received the following scenario just prior to the event: It is 4th of July 2009. As the current Miss Rodeo Oregon you have been attending all of Oregon's premier rodeos during the "Cowboy Christmas" holiday. While at St. Paul Rodeo a TV crew snags you walking by for a live interview. The news anchor is interested in the sport of rodeo and what fans can expect to see this weekend in St.Paul.

All four did an outstanding job and the audience quickly realized what a tough competition it was going to be.

A HUGE thank you to Elaine Smith for hosting us, Molly & Jerry Hall, Sally Johnston, Amber Riesterer, Diane Overstreet and Susan Rudberg for helping to make the event a success and Kimberly Maus for interviewing our contestants.

A LOOK AHEAD:
Monday, June 30th
Breakfast Social, Bankers Cup-St.Paul, 8 AM--Open to the Public
Horsemanship, St. Paul Rodeo Arena, 10 AM--Open to the Public
Personal Interviews, Shilo Inn--CLOSED