Mackenzie Cayford, whose road to the Miss Rodeo America pageant began with her Miss Rodeo Lakeside coronation, was one of the final ten contestants in the Miss Rodeo America 2013 pageant, which concluded on December 12 at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas, NV. “I’m so overwhelmed at this point,” Cayford said. “I’m absolutely thrilled with the experience.”
Mackenzie Cayford, whose road to the Miss Rodeo America pageant began with her Miss Rodeo Lakeside coronation, was one of the final ten contestants in the Miss Rodeo America 2013 pageant, which concluded on December 12 at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas, NV. “I’m so overwhelmed at this point,” Cayford said. “I’m absolutely thrilled with the experience.”
The Miss Rodeo America route begins with the local rodeo queen contest. A local rodeo queen must have completed her term before running for state queen. Cayford was crowned Miss Rodeo Lakeside in 2009 and was successful when she sought the Miss Rodeo California 2012 title in Oct. 2011.
The outgoing state queens compete for Miss Rodeo America, who in 2013 will be Utah’s Chenae Shiner. The Miss Rodeo America scores are based on a written test, interviews, horsemanship, appearance, a prepared speech, and responses to impromptu questions. A total of 31 state queens sought the Miss Rodeo America 2013 title.
The final ten contestants were announced on Dec. 12 before the field was narrowed down to five finalists who were asked an additional question.
The contestant check-in was on the morning of Dec. 6, and the activities included receptions and public appearances as well as the competition aspects. “It’s busy,” Cayford said. “It was a very exhausting week.”
The horsemanship competition was held on Dec. 10 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Contestants are not allowed to use their own horses. “It’s always a challenge,” Cayford said of riding a horse with which she’s not familiar. Cayford rode a paint horse mare called Saint at most of her
California rodeos, although she would use an unfamiliar horse at rodeo appearances when she traveled by air to rodeos in other states. “That’s part of being adaptable,” she said.
Cayford turned over her Miss Rodeo California crown in October. “I had so many experiences and met wonderful people,” she said. “You only get to have the crown for a year, but what you take away from it is what you give.” Cayford noted that approximately 30 state queens a year have the opportunity to participate in the Miss Rodeo America pageant. “To be part of that group, it’s almost inexplicable how much it means to me,” she said.
Although Cayford is now a former rodeo queen, she plans to join other past Miss Rodeo Lakeside titleholders in staying active in the local pageant. “I’ll continue my involvement,” she said. “I always go to support all of the contestants,” she concluded.
