Dixie National 2010

Hello rodeo fans! The last time we spoke I was just leaving the Starkville Rotary Classic rodeo and boy what a fun time I had there! Between the Starkville Rotary performances, I had the opportunity to ride in the annual Dixie National parade! Even though it was more than a little cold, I was so happy to be able to ride along side, Kelli Jackson, Miss Rodeo America; Vanessa Ratliff, Jr. Miss Dixie National; Amber Schaffer, Miss Dixie National; Hannah Clair Chisholm, Miss Rodeo Mississippi Princess; Kate Sprabery, Jr. Miss Rodeo Mississippi; and Hillary Hobby Teen Miss Rodeo Mississippi. The parade was exhilarating and I had a blast.

I officially arrived at the Dixie National rodeo on Sunday for the first of two performances that day. I was elated as the thought of riding in the coliseum crossed my mind. It was just four years earlier where I had stood as a 4-H’er showing my cattle and dreaming of one day riding in on horseback as my state’s first lady of rodeo and now the time had finally come. I walked down the arena and met Shawn Calhoun (PRCA pickup man and friend) who had a horse waiting for me to ride in the grand entry. As I entered the arena, making my queen’s run, a flood of emotions overtook me as I looked up in the stands and saw my friends and family cheering me on.

The Dixie National rodeo is not only famous for bringing in famous cowboys and cowgirls but also big name musical acts. This year some of the artists to grace the Jackson dirt were Darryl Worrley, Randy Houser, Tanya Tucker and Lady Antebellum! These are all incredibly talented artist and very nice people as well. It was such a rush to be able to see up close these amazing people who I had only seen on television. I don’t want to brag but I was even able to have my picture taken with Lady Antebellum! The crowd was amazing and after those amazing shows, they were pumped up for more high jumpin’, rope throwin’ rodeo action!

I had such a wonderful time at the Dixie Nationals and I would like to send a special thank you to Cindy Keyes and Teresa Ratliff for all of their love and support throughout the week, they also made a beautiful shirt and an amazing vest to match my chaps and I am so very grateful to them for all of their hard work! Allison Coulton for scheduling some amazing events for us to attend while we were at Dixie, Shaun Calhoun for making sure that I had a great horse to ride in the grand entry at every performance and Donna Sprabery for being like a second mom to me! I had a blast at Dixie and I can’t wait to send you more stories from the rodeo road! Happy trails!