Six month ago my life changed dramatically, when I took over as Miss Rodeo Wyoming. In that time I have been at events in Colorado, South Dakota, Nebraska, Florida (twice!), Minnesota, Oklahoma, Kansas, and of course Wyoming! During these trips I have gone to elementary and high schools, hospitals, met rodeo fans, had new life experiences, made great friends, and rode many new horses. I have had an incredible year so far experiencing new rodeos throughout the country. PRCA Rodeo truly is the same in every state I have experienced, but the fan experience has made the difference. Small town Abbyville had a rodeo where the whole community came out, and reminded me a bit of being back home. Big city Florida is full of those learning about rodeo and growing new fans. I have seen beautiful nights on the back of a horse, and had my boots fill with water from a downpour of rain. It is hard to believe the year is already half over with the busiest season fast approaching. I cannot wait to continue down the road for a summer season, with my first Wyoming rodeo as Miss Rodeo Wyoming in June.

With applications coming up quickly for the 2020 Miss Rodeo Wyoming pageant I will only give one piece of advice today- go for it! Competing for the title will not be a decision you regret, whether you win or lose. ​

In 2014 I started my rodeo queen journey. Initially it was just something I picked up as a hobby. I never understood all of the impact it was going to quickly have on my life. After completing my first pageant I vowed that I would never ever compete again. However, once it was time to pass down my title I realized that promoting the sport of rodeo had become a part of who I was. 
 
It wasn't until 2016 that I knew, being a state rodeo queen was my passion. I suddenly realized that being Miss Rodeo Wyoming was the ultimate dream. 
 
That’s when the fun began.  I ate, slept and breathed that dream. I took up a philosophy of what I like to call the "Three R’s” Reading. Riding and Rhinestoning. I channeled everything I had into chasing my dream. I made the conscious decision to work harder than I ever had before. This hard work and a will to accomplish a goal is often the part of rodeo queening that others don’t see or even understand.  
 
Winning the title of MRW 2018 wasn’t just a way for me to live out my dream for a year, it was a way to teach myself that I can do anything if I work hard enough for it.  
 
I will take the memories and friendships I have acquired this year with me for forever. I can’t thank everyone enough for making this year a reality. I hope that everyone has the opportunity to fulfill their dreams the way I did.  
There comes a point in life when quarterbacks have to throw their last football, bull riders take their last wrap and rodeo queens have to take the crown off their hat. My only advice, do it. Enter the rodeo, join the team, take the job, make the big move or run for the title. Don’t be afraid to work hard and let your choices change your life. I know they changed mine.   
 
Thank you for the greatest ride ever.   
 
With all my love,
​Morgan

Sometimes things don’t go the way you had hoped but you look back and realize they went exactly the way they were supposed to.

I imagined my Miss Rodeo America horsemanship run plenty of times but not many of those imaginations ended in me two handing the horse to complete the pattern.

Over the course of my rodeo queening career, I’ve had people tell me I can’t do something most of those pertaining to riding. I’ve been on horses that have bucked, kicked, reared, fallen over, runoff and just about everything in between. I’ve been bucked off, I’ve fallen off, hung over the side and stepped on a time or two. I’ve had to double grab, hang on the saddle horn or hang on for dear life. Each one of those experiences making me a better rider than before.

A lot of people have said “man if you could have had a clean run it would have made all the difference” But I think I was supposed to get that horse, on that day, at that time. Things don’t always go your way, sometimes you have to grab life by both hands, laugh it off and move on.

Attention Miss Rodeo Wyoming Contestants and Sponsors!
Changes are coming to the annual pageant program book. Miss Rodeo Wyoming sponsor, Boots and Cleats Marketing, LLC, will be designing the pageant book this year and some changes have been made for the new layout.  For additional information on the pageant program book, please visit the pageant information downloads.

Clinicians included:

• Katherine Merck, Miss Rodeo America 2016
• Morgan Wallace, Miss Rodeo Rodeo Wyoming 2018
• Abby Hayduk, Miss Rodeo Wyoming 2017 and Miss Rodeo America 2018 Top Ten Finalist
• Holly Kennedy Miss Rodeo Wyoming 2013
• Kim Romsa, Miss Rodeo Wyoming 2012 and Miss Rodeo America 2013 Top Five Finalist
• Erin Kyle Miss Rodeo Wyoming 2010
• Crystal Myers Miss Rodeo Wyoming 2007
• Pam Rivers Miss Rodeo Wyoming Association President
• Jamie Pond-Cobb, PhD student & from Wayne State University Communications and Former Miss Rodeo Wyoming Contestant
• Kathy Austin, mother of Miss Rodeo Wyoming 2015
• Christa Branch, DVM
• Guy Warpness, Moutain States Circuit President
• Tyler Willis, 2009 PRCA Bull Riding Rookie Of the Year and 2x WNFR qualifier

New to the clinic this year were the one-on-one sessions held on Friday night. The girls were given 50 minutes to work with our clinicians independently on any topic they chose. Saturday morning, horses were brought in for the girls to ride during the horsemanship rotations. They worked on elements of patterns to prepare them for upcoming pageants. Saturday afternoon was focused on clothing, rodeo knowledge, public speaking, and equine knowledge. The night wrapped up with a causal "mixer" for the girls to get to know each other and the clinicians better. The clinic continued Sunday with PRCA knowledge, modeling, clothing colors, and interview and application tips. Before the girls headed home, they were given a final opportunity to ask the former titleholders questions during the Queen panel. At that time, the parents attended a Parent Panel where they were able to talk more with the parents of former titleholders. 

Here is what some of the girls had to say about the clinic:
“The multiple horse clinics were great. I liked getting multiple perspectives.”  
“So informative, have been to many clinics this is the BEST!”  
“Fantastic quality horses! “ 
“Mixer was great fun.”
“It was an amazing clinic! I learned so much!”
“I liked the one on one sessions it really helped us to learn quicker.”
“Everyone was so warm and welcoming and it made all of the girls participating feel comfortable. It was the best clinic I have attended.”