By Sue Lynn Perry
MEMPHIS, TN – Susan Rhodes of Canehill, Arkansas won the title of Miss Mid-South Rodeo Queen 2017-18 during a crowning ceremony at the Agricenter International Showplace Arena in Memphis, TN, on December 27, 2017 at the Liberty Bowl Rodeo.
Rhodes is a 24-year-old graduate of Cornell University in Ithaca, NY, with a degree in Landscape Architecture. In addition to obtaining her license as a landscape architect, Rhodes plans to pursue a future in horse training and riding lessons.
She is the daughter of Janet Martinez and the late David Rhodes.
A member of her college equestrian team for four years, Rhodes showed horses primarily in hunter and equitation classes. She served one year as assistant coach of the varsity team.
She won championships in horse judging and halter classes at the American Quarter Horse Youth World Show in 2012 and was a member of the National Champion Horse Team at the FFA Nationals in 2012.
In addition to being named queen, Rhodes also took the pageant horsemanship award, which is given to the contestant with the highest overall horsemanship score across all age divisions. She received a custom tooled saddle blanket courtesy of Van’s Leather Crafts of Byhalia, Mississippi.
Other pageant winners included Teen Miss Mid-South Rodeo Emily Hedrick 15, of Madisonville, Tennessee; Junior Miss Mid-South Rodeo Natalie King, 12, of Byhalia, Mississippi; and the Mid-South Rodeo Princess Braylee Posey, 8, of Athens, Alabama.
In addition to taking the teen crown, Hedrick also won the Highest Silent Auction Sales Award and the Pageant Coordinator’s Award for the earliest and most accurate contestant entry.
The Spirit of the Mid-South Award, voted on by the contestants, went to Morgan Flowers, 14, of Brighton, Tennessee. She received a crown-shaped ring, sponsored by Jerry and Connie Nanney of Austin, Arkansas.
The Best Photo Award went to Anna Leigh Pilkington, 12, of Hartselle, Alabama. She received a custom engraved 8 x 10 wooden frame, provided by pageant director Sue Lynn Perry of Millington, Tennessee.
All winners were awarded a tiara, trophy buckle, banner, flowers, a custom bronc halter by Van’s Leather Crafts, a gift certificate to Cowboy Corner in Southaven, Mississippi, and a gift bag of handmade items. The winner of the Miss age division receives a scholarship award.
The pageant offered competition in five age levels, including the Miss division, ages 18-25; the Teen division, ages 14-17; the Junior division, ages 10-13; the Princess division, ages 6-9; and the Sweetheart division, ages 3-6.
Contestants were judged in the categories of horsemanship, personality, and appearance. The Miss contestants also took a written test about the host event, the AutoZone Liberty Bowl Rodeo.
Pageant winners will represent the sport of rodeo for one year, appearing at other rodeos, civic events, schools, parades, award programs, cook-offs, dances, banquets and similar activities.
For more information about the Mid-South Rodeo Queen Pageant, follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/MidSouthRodeoQueenPageant.
MEMPHIS, TN – Susan Rhodes of Canehill, Arkansas won the title of Miss Mid-South Rodeo Queen 2017-18 during a crowning ceremony at the Agricenter International Showplace Arena in Memphis, TN, on December 27, 2017 at the Liberty Bowl Rodeo.
Rhodes is a 24-year-old graduate of Cornell University in Ithaca, NY, with a degree in Landscape Architecture. In addition to obtaining her license as a landscape architect, Rhodes plans to pursue a future in horse training and riding lessons.
She is the daughter of Janet Martinez and the late David Rhodes.
A member of her college equestrian team for four years, Rhodes showed horses primarily in hunter and equitation classes. She served one year as assistant coach of the varsity team.
She won championships in horse judging and halter classes at the American Quarter Horse Youth World Show in 2012 and was a member of the National Champion Horse Team at the FFA Nationals in 2012.
In addition to being named queen, Rhodes also took the pageant horsemanship award, which is given to the contestant with the highest overall horsemanship score across all age divisions. She received a custom tooled saddle blanket courtesy of Van’s Leather Crafts of Byhalia, Mississippi.
Other pageant winners included Teen Miss Mid-South Rodeo Emily Hedrick 15, of Madisonville, Tennessee; Junior Miss Mid-South Rodeo Natalie King, 12, of Byhalia, Mississippi; and the Mid-South Rodeo Princess Braylee Posey, 8, of Athens, Alabama.
In addition to taking the teen crown, Hedrick also won the Highest Silent Auction Sales Award and the Pageant Coordinator’s Award for the earliest and most accurate contestant entry.
The Spirit of the Mid-South Award, voted on by the contestants, went to Morgan Flowers, 14, of Brighton, Tennessee. She received a crown-shaped ring, sponsored by Jerry and Connie Nanney of Austin, Arkansas.
The Best Photo Award went to Anna Leigh Pilkington, 12, of Hartselle, Alabama. She received a custom engraved 8 x 10 wooden frame, provided by pageant director Sue Lynn Perry of Millington, Tennessee.
All winners were awarded a tiara, trophy buckle, banner, flowers, a custom bronc halter by Van’s Leather Crafts, a gift certificate to Cowboy Corner in Southaven, Mississippi, and a gift bag of handmade items. The winner of the Miss age division receives a scholarship award.
The pageant offered competition in five age levels, including the Miss division, ages 18-25; the Teen division, ages 14-17; the Junior division, ages 10-13; the Princess division, ages 6-9; and the Sweetheart division, ages 3-6.
Contestants were judged in the categories of horsemanship, personality, and appearance. The Miss contestants also took a written test about the host event, the AutoZone Liberty Bowl Rodeo.
Pageant winners will represent the sport of rodeo for one year, appearing at other rodeos, civic events, schools, parades, award programs, cook-offs, dances, banquets and similar activities.
For more information about the Mid-South Rodeo Queen Pageant, follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/MidSouthRodeoQueenPageant.
