Jan. 1, 2017 – Memphis, TN
Simone Taylor, a 20-year-old student at the University of Tennessee at Martin, was crowned 2017 Miss Rodeo Tennessee during an in-arena ceremony at the AutoZone Liberty Bowl Pro Rodeo in Memphis, TN, on Dec. 27, 2016. . She is the daughter of Chuck and Amy Taylor of Lexington, TN.
Taylor is spending this year promoting the professional rodeo industry and its parent cattle industry. She will represent the state of Tennessee in the Miss Rodeo America Pageant, held as a weeklong prelude to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas in December.
An equestrian since childhood, Taylor grew up riding a pony and learned to appreciate winning on horseback. Her grandparents showed American Quarter Horses and won at the All American Quarter Horse Congress Show. Taylor took up barrel racing in 2014 and joined the UTM rodeo team as a barrel racer in the Ozark Division.
Taylor made her first foray into rodeo royalty when she competed in and won the Miss UTM Rodeo Pageant in 2016.
Succeeding in school is a top priority for Taylor. She graduated salutatorian from Lexington High School in Lexington, TN with a 99.986 GPA. In the honors program at UTM, Taylor is double majoring in Agriculture Business and the Pre-Veterinary program.
As part of the Agriculture Business program at UTM, Taylor has acquired her Master of Beef Advocacy and enjoys promoting the relationship between rodeo and the beef cattle industry.
“Two things I love are rodeo and the cattle industry,” says Taylor. “I believe every cowgirl should be educated in both fields.
“While attending UTM in the ag department, I have done everything from create my own business plan for a cow-calf operation to processing and castrating calves.
“These moments sparked my interest in the cattle industry, and as a rodeo queen it is my duty not only to be knowledgeable about all things rodeo but to also understand and appreciate where our food is coming from.”
When she’s not riding, Taylor enjoys reading, spending time with her dogs and working around the barn.
Miss Rodeo Tennessee National Director Sue Lynn Perry is looking forward to opportunities for Taylor in 2017. “Each titleholder brings a unique perspective and skill set to the job of Miss Rodeo Tennessee every year,” says Perry.
“Simone’s educational background in agriculture fits in nicely with the queen’s ever-expanding role as an advocate for rodeo and agriculture.”
As many state rodeo queen titleholders do, Taylor hopes to parlay her experience as Miss Rodeo Tennessee and her education into a successful career in the agricultural industry. Her dream is to qualify for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in barrel racing someday.
For more information about Miss Rodeo Tennessee, follow on Facebook or email rodeotenn@aol.com.
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Simone Taylor, a 20-year-old student at the University of Tennessee at Martin, was crowned 2017 Miss Rodeo Tennessee during an in-arena ceremony at the AutoZone Liberty Bowl Pro Rodeo in Memphis, TN, on Dec. 27, 2016. . She is the daughter of Chuck and Amy Taylor of Lexington, TN.
Taylor is spending this year promoting the professional rodeo industry and its parent cattle industry. She will represent the state of Tennessee in the Miss Rodeo America Pageant, held as a weeklong prelude to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas in December.
An equestrian since childhood, Taylor grew up riding a pony and learned to appreciate winning on horseback. Her grandparents showed American Quarter Horses and won at the All American Quarter Horse Congress Show. Taylor took up barrel racing in 2014 and joined the UTM rodeo team as a barrel racer in the Ozark Division.
Taylor made her first foray into rodeo royalty when she competed in and won the Miss UTM Rodeo Pageant in 2016.
Succeeding in school is a top priority for Taylor. She graduated salutatorian from Lexington High School in Lexington, TN with a 99.986 GPA. In the honors program at UTM, Taylor is double majoring in Agriculture Business and the Pre-Veterinary program.
As part of the Agriculture Business program at UTM, Taylor has acquired her Master of Beef Advocacy and enjoys promoting the relationship between rodeo and the beef cattle industry.
“Two things I love are rodeo and the cattle industry,” says Taylor. “I believe every cowgirl should be educated in both fields.
“While attending UTM in the ag department, I have done everything from create my own business plan for a cow-calf operation to processing and castrating calves.
“These moments sparked my interest in the cattle industry, and as a rodeo queen it is my duty not only to be knowledgeable about all things rodeo but to also understand and appreciate where our food is coming from.”
When she’s not riding, Taylor enjoys reading, spending time with her dogs and working around the barn.
Miss Rodeo Tennessee National Director Sue Lynn Perry is looking forward to opportunities for Taylor in 2017. “Each titleholder brings a unique perspective and skill set to the job of Miss Rodeo Tennessee every year,” says Perry.
“Simone’s educational background in agriculture fits in nicely with the queen’s ever-expanding role as an advocate for rodeo and agriculture.”
As many state rodeo queen titleholders do, Taylor hopes to parlay her experience as Miss Rodeo Tennessee and her education into a successful career in the agricultural industry. Her dream is to qualify for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in barrel racing someday.
For more information about Miss Rodeo Tennessee, follow on Facebook or email rodeotenn@aol.com.
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