Life in the Rodeo

By: Nicole Schrock, Miss Rodeo Oregon

For me, rodeo and agriculture go hand in hand. Both represent our western heritage, a way of life, and most importantly, family. Family is what got me involved in the sport of rodeo in the first place and it’s what kept me coming back year after year. My love of the sport began at a young age. As a young girl in 4-H, I remember sneaking over to the rodeo arena to watch the cowboys rope, the powerful bulls and majestic horses buck with all their might, and the cowgirls chase their dreams three barrels at a time. Rodeo was an amazing adventure in my eyes, and it was an adventure that I had the honor of taking with my community and my family.

Now, I didn’t come from a rodeo family, but we all found a way to get involved and give back to our community. Neighbors were sponsors, friends volunteers, and when it all came together, I had found myself a large extended family; one that became an invaluable support system for years to come. As I grew older, my fascination with the sport became a desire to do more, and to find a way to be a part of it. In 2007 I ran for local fair and rodeo queen, and won the title. To this day, I still remember how nervous I was competing for my first queen title. Thankfully, my cousin Dayle Ann, who was the very first Benton County Fair and Rodeo Queen, and who mentored me for the role, was there to offer her support and encouragement. To this day, I still count her as a role model for all the help she gave me in getting ready; I never could have done it without her. It was an amazing year of self-growth for me, and I got to be a part of a sport that I loved. 

I carried my family and my communities’ support with me from my first queen title in 2007 until my last one in 2013, Miss Rodeo Oregon. Being Miss Rodeo Oregon has been the highlight of my life. It has given me the opportunity to promote the sport of rodeo, my beautiful home state, and the agricultural lifestyle to people from all walks of life. Last year, as I crisscrossed the countryside in my travels as a rodeo queen, my eyes were opened to a whole new world of farming and agriculture outside of my state. As I learned and experienced all these amazing adventures, I was able to come home and share those stories with my family and community. My year ended on a stage in Las Vegas, NV, at the Miss Rodeo America Pageant where I was honored to place 2nd Runner Up.

Rodeo is a family oriented sport, one that encourages its contestants to help one another out…even if they are competing against each other. This is the image I have of Rodeo, and it’s the same image I have of the farmers and agricultural industry in my community. My family allowed me the opportunity to have this great adventure as a rodeo queen. Being a rodeo queen allowed me to share my enthusiasm of rodeo and agriculture with people from the country and city alike. This, in turn, brought me many opportunities I would have never dreamed possible. And, thanks to those opportunities, here I am, excited to be a part this great company and able to share my story with even more people, people from all over the world! Thank you!
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Enjoy Nicole’s year-end Miss Rodeo Oregon video: