Local News
By Jill-Ann Ouellette
The Livingston Roundup Association is looking to crown the next Miss Livingston Roundup and Miss Teen Livingston Roundup! You are invited to attend the horsemanship competition at the Park County Fairgrounds, 46 View Vista Drive, on Saturday, June 14th at 9 am which will be followed by lunch and the rest of the Queen competition at the Elks Lodge located at 106 S. 2nd Street. This includes: speeches and modeling, personal interviews, and Q&A. Miss Livingston Roundup plays an important community role as an ambassador for the sport of rodeo and the western way of life. She represents the largest and finest PRCA rodeo in Montana!
Let me introduce you to Tori Johnson, Miss Livingston Roundup 2024. Tori was crowned July 4th at the Livingston Roundup Rodeo event, which was the first year she was in the pageant. Tori grew up in Clyde Park and graduated from Shields Valley High School in 2020. She spent her childhood rodeoing, so it wasn’t too far of a stretch to enter the pageant with the horsemanship experience under her belt.
What Does It Take to Be a Successful Rodeo Queen? A Lot!
The “making” of a rodeo queen involves a rigorous process that goes beyond just beauty and grace. It encompasses a combination of skills, knowledge, personality, and rodeo expertise. Queens are judged on various criteria, including a strong emphasis on horsemanship and rodeo skills, personality, appearance, written tests, public speaking, and modeling. All of which comes in handy when they represent their communities as ambassadors for local events and organizations during their reign and the pageant is an experience that hones crucial life skills for their future.
Skills and Qualities
Horsemanship— A rodeo queen must be proficient in Western-style riding, demonstrating skills in various aspects of horsemanship. It is the ability of a horseman to ride and handle their horse properly and in balance. This ability is an asset to the horse and the rider in all events, from Western Pleasure to Barrel Racing. The western horsemanship class is designed to evaluate the rider’s ability to execute, in concert with their horse, a set of maneuvers prescribed by the judges with precision and smoothness, while exhibiting poise and confidence, and maintaining a balanced, functional, and fundamentally correct body position.
Rodeo Knowledge— A thorough understanding of rodeo events, history, and current events is vital.
Personality and Appearance— Queens must exhibit a positive and engaging personality, along with a well-maintained appearance. Becoming more confident in their own skin and being unapologetically herself is one of the best qualities a rodeo queen can have, and that is what the judges want to see. A contestant can be taught many aspects of the competition, such as appearance and horsemanship, but mentality is the basis by which each Queen differs.
Pageant and Competition
Auditions and Contests— Rodeo Queen contests typically involve auditions and competitive rounds where contestants are judged on their skills and qualities.
Written Tests— The pageant includes written tests to assess the contestants’ knowledge of rodeo and related topics.
Public Speaking— Queens are expected to be comfortable and articulate in public settings, delivering speeches, and interacting with audiences.
Modeling— Contestants are required to demonstrate their confidence and grace in modeling activities.
Beyond the Crown—What Does a Queen Do During her Reign?
Community Representation— Rodeo Queens spend their time professionally representing their title at various rodeos, parades, public events, television interviews, radio interviews, school events, and charity events in the community, throughout the state, and regionally. A rodeo queen is an ambassador not only to the sport of rodeo,but also her local sponsoring rodeo, and her community. A rodeo queen is a leader and role model for the younger title holders under her. They are also educators on the sport of rodeo and the western lifestyle.
Commitment— The position of rodeo queen is a significant commitment, requiring time, effort, and a dedication to representing the rodeo and their community for their full yearly reign.
Tori shared, “The most amazing thing this year so far has been exploring the behind-the-scenes of a rodeo. Seeing all the ins and outs of the other side has given me a new appreciation for rodeo.”
How Much Does a Rodeo Queen Make?
Rodeo queens do not get paid. Most Queens have to fund their entire year or create and organize fundraisers to help them raise money for gas, hotels, food, clothing, etc. They win a trophy belt buckle, crown, a title sash, and many other awards sponsored or donated by local businesses. It is vitally important for the community at large to embrace and support the Rodeo Queen’s duties and functions.
Little Miss and Miss Teen Livingston Roundup Pagaents
Tori extends an invite and encourages young girls to get involved and interested in the queen program, starting with the Little Miss program, which is for little ladies ages 6 to 13. They will learn arena etiquette, rodeo queen knowledge, and all around fun!
Miss Teen Livingston Roundup is for young ladies ages 14 to 16. Building on the pageant program, these young ladies’ compete in horsemanship at the arena.
Tori’s shared, “My message to future rodeo queens is that you don’t have to grow up in the lifestyle to succeed, it’s about showing up authentically as yourself, and promoting agriculture through the great sport of rodeo."
The community is invited and encouraged to support these programs for our young ladies by attending the events on June 14th at the Fairgrounds and the Elks Lodge. It will be a day full of pageantry work, glitz and glam, and education about everything girls and young ladies need to know about being a Miss Livingston Roundup in their future!