About Us

Volunteer work is required of current titleholders and strongly encouraged for future titleholders. Civic service and a desire to give back is an unwritten thank you note penned to the family and community. As a role model for future generations, Miss Rodeo Missouri conveys gratitude, kindness, and humility toward people from all walks of life, since an appreciation for the grassroots values and patriotism of the western lifestyle isn’t dependent on having been raised in a rural setting.

A tree with strong roots grows tall and true; the same can be said of people. The fabric of a family binds individuals to their values and it’s important to recognize that the concept is often more than just a biological connection. It’s common to hear PRCA contestants and contract personnel referred to as a “family” because they care for and help each other as such. They acknowledge the importance of “doing unto others” as a way of life. When Miss Rodeo Missouri is inducted into this community, she is held to these same standards.

Our values dictate the direction of our lives by affecting even the smallest of choices we make. Choices become habits, habits become ideals, and ideals become our outlook.

A Miss Rodeo Missouri embodies patriotism, sportsmanship, high moral and ethical character, and humane treatment of animals and people. As a representative of her family, community, and the sport of professional rodeo, each titleholder is expected to act, speak, and dress with respect for the position and her supporters alike.

In 1936, a group of contestants walked out of a rodeo at Boston Garden and refused to compete unless the producer agreed to add their entry fees to the rodeo’s payout. The campaign was successful, and those cowboys (and one cowgirl!) dubbed themselves the Cowboys’ Turtle Association in a nod to their initial slowness at demanding fair treatment but ultimate willingness to stick their necks out. In 1945 they rebranded themselves as the Rodeo Cowboys Association, and in 1975 they became the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. With circuit systems throughout the United States and Canada, a partnership with the Mexican Rodeo Federation, and a growing number of rodeos sanctioned in Brazil, the PRCA is now recognized as the predominant governing body of professional rodeo.

Miss Rodeo Missouri appears in conjunction with each PRCA rodeo in the state of Missouri; additionally, she travels to many other states (and occasionally other countries) to promote rodeos and their respective sponsors. She often visits schools and conducts television and radio interviews prior to the event to build awareness and interest. During the rodeo, she can be found carrying sponsors’ flags or meeting with the sponsors themselves. Most importantly, she will be seen stopping to sign autographs and talk to fans young and old about the cultural significance of rodeo and the specifics of each individual event

The Miss Rodeo America and Miss Rodeo Missouri pageants place a premium on education. Each state titleholder competing in the Miss Rodeo America pageant is automatically given a $1,000 scholarship and in total, around $100,000 in scholarships are awarded annually. For many young women, this gift has changed the trajectory of their lives.

The emphasis on education and being well-rounded begins at the state (and often local) level. Miss Rodeo Missouri is expected to be knowledgeable and hold thoughtful opinions on a range of topics. She may be asked questions about the treatment of animals at rodeos, which serves as an opportunity to educate someone about the sternly enforced rules regarding animal welfare in the PRCA. She might need to discuss political figures or proposed measures in upcoming elections. Ideally, she sees herself as a part of the broader world around her and has a strong desire to continue learning.

Today’s version of rodeo is a competitive throwback to the daily duties of the ranchers who built the American West and fed a burgeoning nation by roping stray cattle and breaking wild horses. The one-on-one contests of cowboys versus livestock have traditionally been among the most popular sporting events in this country, and rodeo will always be symbolic of that pride, honesty, and brutally hard work.

Often, the disparity between city life and rural concerns can seem an impossible gap to bridge. The fan base of the PRCA is largely comprised of people who are still the foundation of America: the farmers and ranchers whose toil puts food on the dinner table. Miss Rodeo Missouri understands the correlation between the agricultural and rodeo industries; while representing the sport of rodeo she also advocates for the western way of life in a broader sense.