GUYMON, Okla. – A year ago this week, Emma Cameron made her first appearance at the Guymon Pioneer Days Rodeo.

She was Miss Rodeo New Mexico and part of the visiting queens program associated with the biggest annual event in the Oklahoma Panhandle. She was just one of a large contingent of ladies who shared their love of rodeo and their home states.

“It was so much fun to be there last year,” said Cameron, who was crowned Miss Rodeo America this past December during the pageant held in conjunction with the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas. “Ken and Sherry Stonecipher do such a great job of keeping us involved and taking us to community events as state queens. It’s a great experience.”

She will get a chance to relive that time when she returns to this year’s event, set for 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 3; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 4; and 2 p.m. Sunday, May 5, at Henry C. Hitch Pioneer Arena.

“That’s the one that all the state queens look forward to every year,” she said. “I’m super excited to be back as Miss Rodeo America.”

The Stoneciphers have been associated with Guymon’s rodeo for nearly three decades. Ken Stonecipher is serving as the volunteer committee’s chairman and will also emcee the rodeo with fellow ProRodeo announcer Andy Stewart. Sherry Stonecipher is the queen coordinator, and the couple has hosted visiting queens for many years.

“I’ve been in and out of Guymon for forever because I have family there, but I think last year was my first time to be at the rodeo,” said Cameron, who will be joined by 17 visiting state queens this week. “I’m glad I get to go back. It’s going to be a great weekend.”

So much has changed since her last appearance at Pioneer Days. She finished out her reign as Miss Rodeo New Mexico by traveling the Land of Enchantment and other outposts across North America. Then there were those rugged few days in the Nevada desert, where every state representative was put on high alert during the most incredible pageant of their lives.

Once she took the title, the next phase of the job came into play. She will continue her role as ProRodeo’s most visible ambassador for another seven months until the new Miss Rodeo America is crowned.

“You hit the ground running, and you have that whole last week of the (National) Finals in Vegas,” Cameron said. “Then right after the new year, you get on the road to Denver and have to learn as you go. The support system behind Miss Rodeo America makes it a really smooth, enjoyable transition, so I’ve been really grateful for that.

“You learn so much that you didn’t know, not only about rodeo and how rodeos work, but also about yourself and how you see the world and what you want to do. It’s a really phenomenal experience.”