Miss Rodeo America 2011

McKenzie Haley

The 56th annual Miss Rodeo America concluded with a coronation ceremony at the ORLEANS Hotel and Casino.  28 States so magnificently represented by such remarkable ladies who exemplar the sport of professional rodeo. The pageant is held in conjunction with the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, Nevada. Reigning in each State Rodeo Queens to compete for the coveted crown of Miss Rodeo America through competition in the areas of  horsemanship, personality, appearance, rodeo knowledge and presentation.


Debbie Dilley, Miss Rodeo America Scholarship Foundation President said, “The Miss Rodeo America Scholarship Foundation is very excited to be in a position to give an increase in scholarship money.  The young women in this pageant are very deserving of all educational funds they can receive. The foundation is supported by very generous donors and members of the Miss Rodeo America organization who have made this possible.”

“I am thrilled about the increase in scholarship awards at the 2011 Miss Rodeo America Pageant" stated Kelli Jackson, Miss Rodeo America 2010 earlier during the week long activities.  Kelli represented the crown of American Rodeo across the nation including a trip to Australia  working with the Australia Professional Rodeo Association this past August. Kelli during her trip to Australia also carried a special handcrafted spur set as a gift for the up coming Miss Rodeo Australia and received "Man from Snow River" award.

"I appreciate the Scholarship Foundation's continued commitment to expanding the scholarship opportunities for the Miss Rodeo America Pageant finalists and Miss Rodeo America," concluded Kelli.

After a week of reviewing, judging and observing Miss Rodeo South Dakota McKenzie Haley was name Miss Rodeo American 2011 ending the 2010 term held by Miss Kellie Jackson of Mississippi.

Miss Haley is the 22-year-old daughter of Jim and Tracie Haley of Winner, South Dakota. Haley, whose prizes include a $20,000 scholarship, will spend the next year as the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association’s first lady, traveling to nearly 100 PRCA-sanctioned events around the country.

Miss Haley was a senior at Black Hills State University majoring in Elementary Education when she was crowned Miss Rodeo South Dakota. She had won the categories of horsemanship, appearance, personality, speech and miss congeniality for South Dakota. She has plans for a Masters in School Psychology.

Starting a young age, Miss Haley had an interest in horses and rodeo. She has held the titles of Jr. Miss Rodeo South Dakota 2004, 2005-2006 South Dakota High School Rodeo Queen and Miss Black Hills Stock Show & Rodeo 2009. She was an active in 4-H and high school rodeo, competing in barrel racing, pole bending and goat tying and qualified for the state finals in three times.

When not studying, Miss Haley enjoys many outdoor activities including camping, hiking, in addition to exercising and riding horses. Amongst spending quality time with friends and family she has worked volunteering at a local church youth group and mentored students in the Black Hills State University Teammate program.

Earlier this year, Miss Haley proved her dedication representing Rodeo when she was invited to the Dodge National Circuit Finals Rodeo in Pocatello, Idaho along with Miss Rodeo Nebraska. The two driving alone on the interstate where caught in a late spring blizzard blinding the highway with snow. The two ladies pushed forth weaving through the snow stuck traffic as they traveled across Wyoming as they headed for Idaho. "We kept on trucking and made it to Pocatello just in time for the kick-off party," stated Miss Haley.

As McKenzie Haley now takes the crown honored as Miss Rodeo America, America is so honor to have such an exemplified ambassador to represented our nation and the sport of Professional Rodeo.

Earlier in the pageant, Miss Rodeo Oklahoma, Chassity Sisco won the people's choice Award. Miss Rodeo Texas, Celesta Harvey from San Antonio was in the top ten final contestants who also had the top raffle sales. Additionally, during the pageant auction raising money for the scholarship programs, Celesta auction her purse for $2000 towards the Miss Rodeo American Foundation Auction.


Category Winners:

Photogenic            - South Dakota
Speech                  - South Dakota
Congeniality           - Hawaii
Reana Wadhams    - Spirit Award- Nevada
Written Test           - Utah
Appearance           - South Dakota
Personality             - South Dakota
Horsemanship        - California
Scrapbook              - Montana
Chaps (WPRA)       - Nebraska
People's Choice      - Oklahoma
Top Raffles Sales   - Texas

Top 10:
Texas,  Nebraska,  Colorado,  Oregon, Iowa, Utah,
Washington, California,  South Dakota, Nevada

Forth   Runner    Up received by Kasie Pigg, Miss Rodeo Colorado.
Third   Runner    Up received by Michelle Boeshart, Miss Rodeo Nebraska
Second Runner  Up received by  Martina Wardle, Miss Rodeo Utah
First    Runner    Up received by  Markie Battaglia, Miss Rodeo California

2011 Miss Rodeo America from South Dakota- McKenzie Haley

Celebrities included Caitlyn McPhee Miss Rodeo Australia 2010 in the audience as she completes her tour in Canada and the United States with the Wrangler National Finals before returning to Australia.

Congratulations  to McKenzie Haley Miss Rodeo American 2011 and  to all of those who participate in the competition. The many volunteers, sponsors and members of the Miss Rodeo America makes this organization possible. This years sponsors included   ABSORBINE, The Horse World's Most Trusted Name - AMERICAN QUARTER HORSE ASSOCIATION,  BAILEY HAT COMPANY,  The BONEFROG CREATIVE Group,  CHAMBERS BELTS,   COURT'S SADDLERY,  DODGE,  JUSTIN BOOT COMPANY,  LANDSTROM'S ORIGINAL BLACK HILLS GOLD CREATIONS,  LAS VEGAS EVENTS, MONTANA SILVERSMITHS, ORLEANS HOTEL & CASINO,  The PETER STONE COMPANY, PROFESSIONAL RODEO COWBOYS ASSOCIATION,  REATA RANCH GEAR, RED WILK CONSTRUCTION  and  WRANGLER JEANS.