Ag Expo

I left Florida headed for New Mexico. Portales, New Mexico that is. It is home to many things, Eastern New Mexico University, dairies, ranches and farms. It is also home to the Ag Expo; where businesses from the area convine to trade business cards and other information for work and for play. I had to opportunity to talk with the agricultural community about rodeo from the Forklift Enterprise booth.

After signing from autographs for future queens, I made my way back to Las Cruces. There is no place like home!

Fun in Florida

I sure had Fun in Florida! Being a part of the 123rd Silver Spurs Rodeo in Kissimmee, FL was an experience of a lifetime. Who would have thought that within five days of being in the everglades that I would catch an armadillo, go hog hunting, see wild alligators and swamp creatures, ride Cracker horses and be a part of the biggest rodeo east of the Mississippi River and experience it all as a queen!!! I will be the first to tell you if you have never been to Florida, it is nothing like New Mexico. I saw more rivers, lakes, ponds, and swimming pools than I could ever imagine; it was enough that a New Mexican rancher/farmer would be jealous! But then when you think of the swamp animals that come along with the water and muck, I just as soon live in the desert (for now!) More than a dozen states were represented in Florida, and we all agreed that the hospitality could not have been any better! Miss Rodeo Arizona, Casey Rose, and I stayed with Miss Rodeo Florida, Syndye Weber, and her family; we had the best time!! Not only did we feel like we were a part of the Weber family, but we had more laughs than you could have at a family reunion! Needless to say, most of the jokes were pointed at me; my emotions tend to be worn on my sleeve, which obviously is hilarious to others I've come to find out. Ha! Ha! (To the Weber's: We'll see who gets the last laugh!) On top of the many recreational activities that were planned for the visiting queens, we had the opportunity to visit a few schools and talk with them about the sport of rodeo. It got a little crazy when the girls displayed their technique of riding bulls and broncs! Thankfully, no one was injured! :) We ventured from inside the classroom to in front of the television. The local news did a special on the rodeo and had us add a little flare and sparkle to the broadcast! It was very very cool! As the rodeo wrapped up the weekend on a Sunday afternoon the Webers', Casey Rose, and myself sat around the dining room table to take in the weeks events over some homemade key lime pie. While I sat there taking in the moment, I was criticized for not cutting the pie more precisely, "presentation is everything", Marybeth Weber pointed out to me. Some food for thought, a good pie will always be a good pie if it is made a mess of, but a good pie will be a great pie when it is presented well!



I branded the beach! Cocoa Beach, FL

Our group at Gatorland!

"No really Casey, they named the biggest alligator at Gatorland after me!"

I told ya so! Should have put some money on it!

Definitely a 'Kodak moment'!

This is where I'm from.....you know where there is no water! Ha Ha

I'm sure you're thinking, 'poor hog, couldn't have someone else sat on him?'

Well, he was a bigg'en. Almost 300lbs!

And we had to drag him out of the marsh!

We even had to load him!? Do they not know we are queens? Oh well.

I say, "I roped him! I roped me an armadillo!"