State FFA Convention

The FFA State Convention in Bozeman was an inspiration to me.  I have never met so many well mannered, enthusiastic high school students.  For three days I was able to visit and sign autographs with FFA students from around the state.  But I have a feeling that most of them really came to my booth to brush up on their roping skills.  Luckily for me Jeff at Grizzly Saddlery in Great Falls was kind enough to lend me the Little Blue Heeler to take along for the week. 

And thanks to Garrett I started to learn a little bit of trick roping…watch out Tomas here I come!

To round out the event the keynote speaker for the awards ceremony was former Miss Rodeo America, Ashley Andrews.  I think everyone enjoyed listening to Ashley’s triumphs and trials over beating cancer and becoming Miss Rodeo America, not to mention the jokes along the way.   

Miss Rodeo Montana Coronation Gala

I can’t say I actually remember that much of my Coronation Gala because it happened so fast!  It took months of hard work to actually put the evening together and I can’t thank sponsors, donors, and my family and friends enough for all of their help.  The Hilton Garden Inn was the perfect location, with amazing food and a great atmosphere.  With the help of PRCA Announcer, Barney Sheridan, and auctioneer, Bo Carpenter of Kalispell the program and live auction went great!  I would like to say a huge thank you to the Matz Family who purchased the rocking horse my grandfather made and then gave it back for me to auction again.  I can’t tell the Matz’s how much I appreciate their support and friendship, thank you.  After the auction was over it was time to do some dancing with Shane Clouse and Stomping Ground!  We had a great evening.  The only problem was that there were so many of my favorite people all in one place, and not enough time to catch up with all of them.  I can’t thank everyone enough who was there that night to support me and my endeavors as Miss Rodeo Montana

Malmstrom “Standup” and Wild Wild West Night

Once I arrived at the Air Force Base Monday morning I was taken across the base to attend ” Wing Standup.”  Each Monday morning all of the  commanders on the base gather for a meeting to discuss whats happening on the base.  I was in the Serive Squadron’s part of the meeting to help promote the Wild Wild West Night that was coming up that Friday.  

The Wild Wild West Night was held over at ”The Club” on base, and was a night filled with poker, blackjack, craps, food, and dancing.  Every person who attended was givin $10,000 Buckaroo Bucks and was wished the best of luck at the tables.  At the end of the evening there was a live auction where you could spend your buckaroo bucks to purchase some awesome action items.  A dance with me was the final auction item, and my dance was sold for $4.7million!!!  It was a great evening, and best of all I learned how to play craps.  Vegas here I come!

 

 

Double H Hats Darby, MT

March 15th I found my self down in Darby hanging out with my friend and hatter, Jimmy Harrison of Double H Custom Hats.  Two broadcasting students from the University of Montana were working on a project which will later air on PBS.  Their segment will cover the hat making process with Jimmy and I’m in the final ”fitting” stage! But I was able to hang out at the shop all day and watch Jimmy craft hats, and really start to understand all of the work that’s put into making a hat.

   

Helmville Parade

On Friday, March 14th I had the opportunity to attend the Helmville St. Patrick’s Parade.  I’ve never been to Helmville before, so I allowed myself plenty of time to drive there.  I ended up being about an hour early, as I found out that it really isn’t that far from Missoula.

As parade time rolled around i found myself jumping into the back of Colton Couhghlin’s convertible Mustang!  With Colton in the driver’s seat, his friend Kevin Lockwood riding shotgun, and me in the backseat sporting my red fox and arctic fox vest we were sure to be the best of the parade!

Check out my sweet sunglasses!

And my sweet ride…

After the parade, which doubles back down the main street, we headed to one of the near by ranches for dinner.  And boy o boy do they know how to cook on the ranch, and feed the whole crew!  I missed the dance that followed as I had to get home and catch up on some sleep before heading to Darby to Double H Hats the next day.

Montana Trappers Booth…and Kalispell Adventures!

Friday  evening, Jennifer received a call from me, not in regards to us being at the Montana Trapper’s Association booth the next morning in Kalispell, instead I was calling to ask her if she skied.  She seemed a little bit curious as to why I would call and ask such a question like that out of the blue, but it started to make sense with the question that followed.  “Do you have plans for Sunday by chance,” I questioned her with my fingers crossed she didn’t.  She said,”no,” quickly to be followed by, “why?”  My remark was, “well you do now!” 

Jennifer and I jumped into the new (to me) Avalanche for its first “queen” trip to Kalispell.  We headed out early Saturday morning and made it to the Majestic Valley Arena for the Great Rockies Trade Show just in time for the start at 9am.  Earlier during the drive Jennifer showed, and told me about  a funny run-in she and her thumb had with a car door the previous day.  We joked about the incident and her slightly purpling finger, but she’s a trooper and toughed out the day with her throbbing finger.  We helped kids make ink animal tracks and talked to people about trapping in Montana and shared our growing knowledge of furs and trapping.  And of course, signed autographs. 

But by the time 3o’clock rolled around Jennifer’s slightly purple thumb had turned almost all blue and black, and she could barely feel the end of it?  Can you say doctor?  And that’s where we were headed.  After a couple of drives between the Columbia Falls Clinic and the Whitefish ER we got her all fixed up and feeling good as new.

The next morning we woke up and were headed for a day on the hill at Whitefish Resort to go ski!  And we were looking good!  We must also say a huge THANK YOU to the Wirtala Family for hosting Jennifer and me.  We are always well fed and have wonderful beds along with good conversation when we visit Larry, Erica, Delaney, and Travis!

Coronation Gala

Tis the Season! The Miss Rodeo Montana Coronation Gala is on the way! Some days it feels like Christmas in March due to all of the generosity and support of the Missoula Community as well as many others throughout the state who have been so willing to lend a helping hand or donate items for the live and silent auctions. Please come and Join Us!

The Miss Rodeo Montana Coronation Gala

Saturday, March 29, 2008

Hilton Garden Inn, Missoula

No Host Bar & Silent Auction open at 6:00pm

Hors d’oeuvres 6:30

Coronation Program 7:45

Live Auction 8:15

Dancing to Shane Clouse & Stomping Ground to follow the Auction

Tickets are $22 single or $220 table of 10 (advance only)

Tickets available at: Cenex Retail Counter (Missoula), Skin Chic (Downtown or Mall locations), missrodeomontana.com, or call Lynne Sholty at 406.546.9430

Queen Pictures

Miss Rodeo Montana 2008

Audrey Sholty

Miss Teen Rodeo Montana 2008

Jennifer Marshall

Miss Rodeo Montana 2008

Hello All! 

Where to begin? This past month or so has been an absolute whirl wind of adventure and fun! Becoming Miss Rodeo Montana has been a dream come true and I have enjoyed every opportunity that has come my way, along with all of the people that I have had the pleasure of crossing paths.  Among the most memorable thus far has been the two out of state trips to Rapid City, SD and San Antonio, TX. It was wonderful to experience such large rodeos; San Antonio has won the PRCA’s best large indoor rodeo for the past three years, which I must say rightfully so!   South Dakota was a blast and I en­joyed our visit to Mount Rushmore. Then in San Antonio I was able to visit the Alamo, so it appears this year is also becoming a wonderful hands-on history lesson! San Antonio was a shock to me since it was such a large city; they have over one million people there!   We don’t even have one million people in Montana! Following my trip to Texas was the NRA Finals in Billings where Jennifer , Hannah Burlingham (Miss Rodeo Western Montana Princess), and I enjoyed the rodeo action along with the concerts each night.   I even had the chance to visit with Neil McCoy. It has been a wonderful journey so far and I can’t wait for what lies ahead!

Until next time…Happy Trails!

Audrey Sholty
MRM 2008