50 Years of Promoting Rodeo, Agriculture & the Western Way of Life
The first Miss Rodeo Kansas Pageant was held during the 1963 Flint Hills Rodeo. Contestants were judged on the same criteria as today - Horsemanship, Appearance and Personality.
In 1981 the pageant was moved to Wichita, Kansas for the Prairie Circuit Rodeo. In 1984 the competition was held in Colby, Kansas in conjunction with the Thomas County Fair. The pageant now calls Dodge City, Kansas home and the franchise is held by Dodge City Roundup, Inc. In 1987 the scholarship award was added. The Dodge City pageant committee added the Princess contest in 1992 to help young ladies gather interest in the sport of rodeo and the Miss Rodeo Kansas Pageant. In 2006 the Princess pageant name was changed to the Miss Teen Rodeo Kansas Pageant to better reflect the age of the titleholders and their increased responsibilities.
Each Miss Rodeo Kansas has represented the program at the Miss Rodeo America Pageant. In 1979 Diana Putnam Friend became the first titleholder to bring home the prestigious title and reigned as Miss Rodeo America 1980. Twenty-eight years later Colby cowgirl Amy Wilson captured the title and proudly wore the crown of Miss Rodeo America 2008. Miss Rodeo Kansas titleholders have garnered numerous top-five and top-ten berths at the Miss Rodeo America Pageant as well as pageant category wins.
A celebration of the pageant's rich history was held in August of 2013 during the 2014 pageant in Dodge City. Many former titleholders were in attendance and they brought along memorabilia and scrapbooks to display. They also participated in the pageant's fashion show and coronation.
In 1981 the pageant was moved to Wichita, Kansas for the Prairie Circuit Rodeo. In 1984 the competition was held in Colby, Kansas in conjunction with the Thomas County Fair. The pageant now calls Dodge City, Kansas home and the franchise is held by Dodge City Roundup, Inc. In 1987 the scholarship award was added. The Dodge City pageant committee added the Princess contest in 1992 to help young ladies gather interest in the sport of rodeo and the Miss Rodeo Kansas Pageant. In 2006 the Princess pageant name was changed to the Miss Teen Rodeo Kansas Pageant to better reflect the age of the titleholders and their increased responsibilities.
Each Miss Rodeo Kansas has represented the program at the Miss Rodeo America Pageant. In 1979 Diana Putnam Friend became the first titleholder to bring home the prestigious title and reigned as Miss Rodeo America 1980. Twenty-eight years later Colby cowgirl Amy Wilson captured the title and proudly wore the crown of Miss Rodeo America 2008. Miss Rodeo Kansas titleholders have garnered numerous top-five and top-ten berths at the Miss Rodeo America Pageant as well as pageant category wins.
A celebration of the pageant's rich history was held in August of 2013 during the 2014 pageant in Dodge City. Many former titleholders were in attendance and they brought along memorabilia and scrapbooks to display. They also participated in the pageant's fashion show and coronation.
