Back to Tribune2000.com
Burwell Sends Off Miss Rodeo Nebraska in
Style
Misty DeLashmutt
Imagine a seventeen hour day where your every move is scrutinized, scheduled and compared.
Multiple that by seven and you have a day in the life of a Miss Rodeo America Pageant contestant.
Burwell native Erin Robbins will represent the state of Nebraska in the Miss Rodeo America Pageant, a glamorous prelude to the National Finals Rodeo held in Las Vegas.
"Our day begins at 5:15 am and can last as late as 1:00 am.," said Erin. "We usually have three clothing changes throughout the day as well as multiple pageant, media and other events. There isn't much time for sleep and there is a whole lot of smiling involved."
The Miss Rodeo America pageant, in its fifty-third year, is a week long competition to select one young woman to represent and promote the sport of rodeo.
This year, twenty seven cowgirls, ages 19-25, will compete for the right to wear the crown of Miss Rodeo America.
Sunday, November 18, a community send off for Miss Rodeo Nebraska, Erin Robbins was held at the Burwell Legion Club.
The event was organized by Jodee Burnham, Teresa Seidel and Darlene Tetschner.
Jodee Burnham explained the purpose of the event. "It is such an honor to have someone from Burwell representing Nebraska in the Miss Rodeo America pageant. We wanted to do something to honor our hometown girl, Erin, and to give her a proper send off."
The event featured a dinner, with Kobe beef raised by the Morgan Ranch and donated by M/R Cattle Company, a style show by Erin previewing all the outfits she will wear while competing for Miss Rodeo America, an impromptu question and answer session and a speech.
Miss 2008 Miss Rodeo Nebraska Kristen Schott of Battle Creek and Miss Teen Rodeo Nebraska Tammy Moorhead of Ogallala helped with the event.
"This event gives Erin the opportunity to practice for the competition and also allows everyone attending the chance to view a little of what goes on during the pageant," said Burnham. "We also are having an auction with items donated from people in the community and across the state with the proceeds to help Erin with travel expenses."
The Miss Rodeo America pageant begins December 1 and officially concludes December 8 with the formal coronation ceremony.
Contestants at the week long pageant are judged in the categories of personality, appearance and horsemanship. Each contestant demonstrates her skills in public speaking, personal interview, horsemanship, knowledge of rodeo and general equine science, current event awareness, photogenic qualities, visual poise and overall professionalism.
Erin Robbins has represented the sport of rodeo as the 2007 Miss Rodeo Nebraska throughout the year, attending as many as thirty multiple day rodeos and hundreds of community events and functions.
Erin is the daughter of Marty and Linda Robbins of Burwell.