Hello again!!!
Out of all the fun events I've been to this year, the NRA, Northern Rodeo Association, tops it off. Lesli and I met a lot of new people and had a blast carrying flags each night at the rodeo. Oh, and of course watching three amazing concerts!! Trailer Choir, Sawyer Brown, and Josh Gracin all put on awesome concerts. The NRA was held February 19th-21st.My family and I left at 11:30 from my school and headed straight for Billings. It would be a tight schedule, but if we got there by 5 I could make the production meeting and be able to ride at that night's rodeo. Perfect timing! We arrived at 4:45. I was already dressed and ready ride. I was ushered to the "Green Doored Room", where the production meeting was held, by one of the other queen's mother. While I sat and listened to how the show would work, my parents tacked up my horse. Gotta love mom and dad!! :) The production meeting got over so I headed out to warm up my horse, Hank. Now Hank is usually a very laid back horse, but while in the production meeting Ty had mentioned a few nerve racking topics! Such as a fog machine or a spotlight!! These things Hank had never witnessed before, but he never did let me down! Hank handled everything like a champ and I had a GREAT first night.
It was now Friday and after getting my beauty sleep I headed to Elysian School to put on a kiddie rodeo with Lesli and a few other rodeo gals... and guy. We met up there with Elizabeth Roberts, Missoula Stampede Jr. Little Miss, Jamie, a flag bearer for the rodeo, and finally Scott Cameron, the rodeo clown. We demonstrated two rodeo events, Barrels and Saddle Bronc Riding. The kids had a great time and so did I. They were so fun to be around and asked tons of good questions. After having fun at the kiddie rodeo, we sat down and had a fabulous lunch with the kids. I sat with the 2nd graders. They were so nice and made me laugh a lot!! When lunch got over we signed autographs... and other objects! I signed my first shoe, backpack, and even a girl's jeans!!! It was so much fun and the kids were very polite!We now headed for the MATE Show, Montana Agri - Trade Exposition. There Elizabeth, Lesli, and I hung out at the Nutra-Lix booth as well as the SOCO booth. Both being the main sponsors of the NRA. There we signed autographs, talked with people, and passed out notebooks. But sadly we didn't have much time there because Lesli and I had to get over to 105.9 The Bar, a local radio station. At the radio station we met up with Jack Seymour who interviewed us. It was tons of fun and Jack even said that he would try to get Lesli and I to introduce Josh Gracin!!! I was so excited after that interview! We said our thanks to Jack, signed him an autograph, got a free shirt :), and drove back to our hotels. I got ready for the rodeo and then went back over to the Metra Park to tack up my lovely pony Hank. Now Hank really isn't a pony, he's just very VERY small, and was very VERY furry at the time. After attending another production meeting, we went in for the rodeo. It was expected to be a bigger rodeo that night and it was!!
After carrying flags, Elizabeth and Callie Roberts, Lesli, Scott, and I headed up to the autograph booth, it was a huge hit!! Thank you to Karen Yost who set up our school visit as well as the autograph booth. Sawyer Brown performed that night and I stayed for a little, but was very tired after my long, fun day. So we drove back to the hotel and put my hat up for the night... literally. Saturday was the last day of the NRA. I woke up and met Linda, the teen advisor, for breakfast. We went to a little, but very popular cafe in Billings. We waited for a little while , but it was all worth the wait!! The food was delicious! Now I was stuffed, but Linda and I headed to Lou Tauberts for sponsor visits. We met up with Lesli and then next drove to Al's Bootery. From there I got with Lesli and we went to City Brew and had coffee with Linda and her husband. It was very nice and the coffee was really good!! I'm pretty sure Lesli is now addicted to City Brew :). After being treated like royalty we headed back over to the Metra for the Mate Show. Again we were at the Nutra-Lix booth as well as SOCO. I thought it would be just like the day before but I thought wrong... We had an interesting visitor that day at the Nutra-Lix booth. A lady stopped by with her pet bunny! His name was Rocky and was treated like a king!! Lesli and I both signed autographs for him and then we chatted about his life. It was a very interesting experience, but one that was filled with fun. It came time again to saddle up our horses and head over for that night's show. This night's performance was a little different. They had carved NRA into the dirt of the arena and filled it with gasoline!!! When it was time to start the rodeo flames blasted up spelling out NRA!! It was very cool. After the rodeo we went back to the autograh booth. As usual there were a lot of fans!!
Just then I heard them introduce Josh Gracin!!! It was a bummer that Lesli and I couldn't do it but the fact that we were watching Josh Gracin was exciting enough!!! Being royalty we had passes to go down on the arena floor an watch up close. We were so close to Josh Gracin! I had a blast and I'm so glad I stayed for that night's concert! Now it was even later than usual so I was exhausted! I drove back to the hotel and fell fast asleep.
The NRA was such a good time. If you haven't been there I would highly suggest it!! It was great seeing Lesli again as well as all the visiting royalty. I can't wait for the next rodeo I attend!!! Thanks for listening, well I guess reading!! Hope to see you all around!!
Dream Big,
Sam
