MISS RODEO NEBRASKA ASSOCIATION
For more updates and photos from JoSee’s reign, visit our social media pages!
Photo Courtesy of A Moment Photography
Photo Courtesy of KC Creations Photography
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About Us
The mission of the Miss Rodeo Nebraska Association to produce a quality pageant to select young women to be official ambassadors to promote the State of Nebraska, professional rodeo and our western values and lifestyles.
The concept of Miss Rodeo America was developed in 1955 by a group of gentlemen under the name of International Rodeo Management (IRM).
The same year, the town of Burwell, Neb. selected its first Miss Rodeo Nebraska: Dallas Hunt George of Lincoln, who held the MRN title in 1955 and 1956.
She won the regional title in Omaha at the AK-SAR-BEN Rodeo in 1956 and went on to compete and win the Miss Rodeo America title in 1957.
Laura (Lolly) Cameron Klug won the MRN title in 1957. She also won the Regional title at AR-SAR-BEN and competed at the Miss Rodeo America Pageant. In 1959, she was named as the Buffalo Bill Rodeo Queen and given the title of Miss Rodeo Northwest. She then competed again at the Miss Rodeo America Pageant, where she was second runner-up.
The MRN Pageant has continued every year since its humble beginnings. The goal of it is to select a young lady with the desire and enthusiasm to serve as a goodwill ambassador for the sport of rodeo and the state of Nebraska.
In 1991, after Burwell had hosted the pageant for 36 years, the pageant was moved to North Platte so it could be presented in conjunction with Nebraska’s official state celebration, NEBRASKAland DAYS and the PRCA Buffalo Bill Rodeo.
Also in 1991, NEBRASKAland DAYS started a tradition of presenting a $1,000 scholarship to newly crowned MRNs. The MRNA Scholarship Program has continued to grow and now awards more than $5,000 in scholarship money.
In 2000, the pageant schedule was changed from three days to four days. In 2006 the Miss Rodeo Nebraska Association, Inc. expanded its program to include the Miss Teen Rodeo Nebraska Pageant.
President – Michelle Whitson, MRN 2010
Vice President – Jane Qualm
Secretary – Peggy Moorhead
Treasurer – Shari Schlichtemeier
National Director – Joni Jespersen
Assistant Director/Miss Teen Rodeo NE – Shana Simpson
MRN 2023 – Rebel Sjeklocha
Past President – Sally Haythorn
Advisory member – Lolly Klug
Advisory member – Karen Freeze
2025 MEMBERSHIP FORM
News
Requirement Updates for the 2023 Miss Rodeo Nebraska Association Pageants
To reflect the recent change made by Miss Rodeo America Inc. regarding the age requirement for contestants at the Miss Rodeo America 2023 Pageant held in Las Vegas, NV in December 2022, the Miss Rodeo Nebraska Association announced a change in age requirements for the contestants for the Miss Rodeo Nebraska 2023 Pageant to be held June 2022 during Nebraskaland Days celebration in North Platte.
The age requirement for Miss Rodeo Nebraska 2023 contestants now states:
2022 Participation Agreement for pageants held in 2022 that select a Lady-in-Waiting (2023 titleholder) who would compete in 2023 for Miss Rodeo America 2024 will agree and sign to the following on their MRA Pageant application: She will have reached 21 years of age by November 1 of this year (2023). She will have not reached 27 years of age and will have not reached 27 years of age as of December 31 of this year (2023).
In addition, the age requirements for the Miss Teen Rodeo Nebraska pageant were also adjusted to reflect the best opportunities for our competitors.
The new age requirement for Miss Teen Rodeo Nebraska 2022 contestants now states:
Contestant must not be less than 15, nor more than 18 years of age by the first day of the pageant as you compete for Miss Teen Rodeo Nebraska.
Please reach out with any questions to our Executive Board Members or Pageant Chair Cindy Petersen.
The Sponsors of Miss Rodeo Nebraska
Photo courtesy of A Moment Photography
We are so grateful to the many gracious sponsors who make the Miss Rodeo Nebraska program possible. We couldn’t do it without you! For more information about sponsorships, or to learn how to become a sponsor, contact Lacey Williams at laceyjane20@gmail.com, or Peggy Moorhead at moorhead@hersheytel.net.
PLATINUM
MISS RODEO NEBRASKA ASSOCIATION
RUBY
DIAMOND
NORTH PLATTE STOCKYARDS/ OGALLALA LIVESTOCK
WELKER FEVOLD PR
THE DANIELS FAMILY
FARM BUREAU FINANCIAL SERVICES
MARK FERRARI SPECIALTY COFFEES
THE PETTIT FAMILY
SUSAN’S VET CLINIC
GOLD
APPEARANCE SALON
TED & LOLLY KLUG
SILVER
Kay Kimberly
SCOTT D. PETERSON ATTORNEY AT LAW
WADE MORGAN’S HUNTING, FISHING – AND GUN SUPPLY
DRAUCKER FUNRAL HOME
BRONZE
21ST CENTURY EQUIPMENT LLC
CHUCKWAGON MEATS LLC
HYANNIS VETERINARY SERIVCE, INC.
FIRST NATIONAL BANK – GORDON
JESPERSEN FEELOT
KASCHKE FAMILY
MORSE DESIGNS
NEBRASKA STATE BANK
JOHNA NIEDFELT
OGALLALA AG SUPPLY LLC
OSHKOSH ACE
FROSTY & MELANIE PEETZ
SANDHILL OIL COMPANY
RALPH SAULTS
STROPE LAW
Justin, Sharleen, and Tileen Sullivan
THALKEN TITLE CO.
WOLF AUTO OGALLALA LLC
KEITH & MARY EISENZIMMER
KB CUSTOM LEATHER
COPPER
Howard and Linda Heidemann
AG-LAND ATV
CRAVEN FEED
DAWES COUNTY ABSTRACT & TITLE INC
EICHNERS SALES & SERVICE
GORDON LIVESTOCK MARKET
HINN’S HOME FURNISHINGS
HUMPHREY’S AUTO
JOHNSON WELL DRILLING
Bob Johnson
Dr. Michael & Renee Johnson
Tyler and Hazel Jordon and Family
JR’s WESTERN, INC.
MaKENZI’S BOUTIQUE
MEAD LUMBER CO
POPPE’S TRUCK & DIESEL REPAIR
SHERIDAN LIVESTOCK AUCTION
Jud & Jennifer Skavdahl
Steve and Karen Sun
SWAN CREEK STABLES L.L.C.
Dan and Karen Troyer
WAKEFIELD INSURANCE AGENCY, INC
Robert & Nancy Heidemann
Mick & Dav anne Moul
Nider Family
OGALLALA OPTIMIST CLUB
Tim & Cindy Ryan
SPONSORS
KELLEY BEAN CO, INC.
LICHTI’S INC SALES & SERVICE
Donald Maldondo
Rex & Lynette Spanel
Pageant Partners
NEBRASKAland Days
Buffalo Bill Rodeo
Mid-Plains Community College
Miss Rodeo Nebraska Association
Saddle Sponsors
Agri Affiliates
Sandhills State Bank
Event Sponsors
MUELLER ORDER BUYING
PAWNEE SPRINGS RANCH
Forms
Miss Rodeo Nebraska Membership Form
Miss Rodeo Nebraska Rule Book
Miss Rodeo Nebraska Contract
Miss Rodeo Nebraska Entry Form
Grievance Form
Miss Teen Rodeo Nebraska Rule Book
Miss Teen Rodeo Nebraska Contract
Miss Teen Rodeo Nebraska Entry Form
Grievance Form
Pageant Visiting Royalty
Visiting Royalty Form
The Royalty Scrapbook
(Photo courtesy of KC Creations Photography)
Their reigns may be over, but our former Miss Rodeo Nebraskas and Miss Teen Rodeo Nebraskas will never be forgotten. Click on the links below to see photos of previous leading ladies.