Miss Rodeo America to be part of visiting-queen program in Estes Park
ESTES PARK, Colo. – The pageantry of rodeo is an interesting mixture of culture, the Western lifestyle and world-class competition.
It comes together in the most magnificent of ways during Rooftop Rodeo, set for 7 p.m. Friday, July 5-Wednesday, July 10, at Granny May Arena inside the Estes Park Fairgrounds.
From wild horses and bulls to athletic feats done horseback to the beauty and grace of royalty, there is much to see in a two-hour show in the middle of this mountainous community at the edge of the Rocky Mountain National Park. It’s a popular destination, with more than 4 million visitors annually.
Hundreds of those will be in town for Rooftop Rodeo, including five visiting queens. They come from as far away as Kentucky and as close as Colorado, and they bring a variety of backgrounds with them.
Miss Rodeo Colorado Georgia Strimenos is 22 years old from Larkspur, Colorado, who has a degree from the University of Wyoming. She is traveling to ProRodeos across her home state and beyond to raise awareness to the game and the Western lifestyle.
Miss Rodeo Nebraska JoSee Stalls was raised on a ranch outside Ogallala, Nebraska, near her state’s Panhandle region, not far from the northeastern corner of Colorado. She also is 22 years old and has a degree from the University of Wyoming.
Miss Rodeo Missouri is Jordan Todd, a 25-year-old graduate of the University of Central Missouri who is working toward her juris doctorate degree from the University of Missouri School of Law.
Miss Rodeo Kentucky Zoey Norris is a 22-year-old student at the University of Kentucky. She is from Breeding, Kentucky.
The crown jewel of royalty is Miss Rodeo America Emma Cameron, who earned her title this past December after serving as the 2023 Miss Rodeo New Mexico. She is the official ambassador of ProRodeo.
“You hit the ground running, and you have that whole last week of the (National) Finals in Vegas,” Cameron said of her busy schedule. “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.”
The visiting queens will be joined by eight young ladies who are vying for Rooftop Rodeo royalty. Four will be in competition for Miss Rooftop Rodeo and attendant, four are vying for princess and two are hopefuls for wrangler.
All will have a chance to grow mature while also looking up to the ladies who have already earned major titles. The pageant system is set up as the perfect intermediary for the rough-and-tumble competition and the poise and refinement of women who love the sport and the Western lifestyle.
Gates for Rooftop Rodeo open at 5 p.m. Friday, July 5-Wednesday, July 10, with the preshow beginning at 6:30 p.m. and the rodeo beginning at 7 p.m. For more information about Rooftop Rodeo, which is a Town of Estes Park signature event, or to order tickets online, log on to www.RooftopRodeo.com. Other ticket inquiries may be made by contacting the Town of Estes Park Events office at events@estes.org or (970) 586-6104.