Competing for the Crown:
Experience of striving to be Miss Rodeo Texas is important, director says

By JULIET BRISKIN | Staff writer

Tanya Harvey, Miss Rodeo Texas A&M, was crowned Miss Rodeo Texas 2004 on June 25 following a week of competition in San Antonio. During her reign she will travel throughout Texas promoting the sport of rodeo and in December she will compete for the Miss Rodeo America crown in Las Vegas during the National Finals Rodeo. -- Photo courtesy of Al Caballero

July 8, 2004 -- Since 1964, young women from across Texas have been competing for the title of Miss Rodeo Texas and the opportunity to serve as an ambassador for the sport of rodeo. This year's pageant began on June 21, at the Joe and Harry Freeman Coliseum horse barn in San Antonio where the contestants displayed their horsemanship skills.

"I think this is such and important experience for these girls," said Marjorie Murphy, Texas state pageant director. "This is a scholarship pageant so it is about education and its about agriculture. All of the girls are pretty, talented, and smart and they all ride so well."

The U.S. Marshall's Posse Drill Team provided the horses for the competition and each contestant randomly drew two horses to ride. The first ride was completed as a group, followed by an individual ride and questions from judges Doug Wayde and Sue Lynn Perry.

Throughout the week contestants gave speeches, answered impromptu questions from the judges and were individually interviewed. Scores were based on horsemanship, appearance, personality, knowledge of current events, interview skills, etiquette and public speaking ability. After all the scores were tallied, it was Tanya Harvey, Miss Rodeo Texas A&M, who took home the title Miss Rodeo Texas 2004.

"There aren't any losers here," said Murphy. "Yes, only one girl can carry the title, but the experience of competition places all these girls way ahead of the game."

Harvey, originally from San Antonio, is currently pursuing a bachelor of science degree in agriculture journalism at Texas A&M and is the editor of the university's Agrileader Magazine. She is a member of the Saddle and Sirloin Club, competes in barrel racing, and is a student senator.

Miss Rodeo Texas 2003, Lacy Billingsley of Aubrey, believes this past year has been an extremely positive learning experience.

"I traveled all over Texas and placed in the top 10 at the Miss Rodeo America competition in Las Vegas during the National Finals Rodeo," explained Billingsley. "I co-hosted a show on the Outdoor Life Network, visited nursing homes, hospitals, and attended all the stock shows and rodeos."

In the 2002 pageant, Billingsley was first runner-up, which she believes was a blessing in disguise. "You can't win every time and expect to know how to be a gracious loser," she stated. "I knew I wasn't going to win if I was sitting at home, so I came back the second year and won the title.

"My advice to all young girls is to keep trying and go for any of the dreams they have. Even if you don't reach the dreams that you originally set out for, you are going to find things along the way that were meant to be for you," added Billingsley.

The pageant is actually three pageants in one. In addition to Miss Rodeo Texas, which is for ages 19-24, there is Miss Rodeo Texas Teen for girls age 14-18 and Miss Rodeo Texas Princess for the 9-13 age group.

Rachel Oates of Nacogdoches won Miss Rodeo Texas Teen 2004, and Kimberly Woodward of Alpine took home the title of Miss Rodeo Texas Princess 2004.