Kara Hackney - Miss Rodeo Kansas 2013
Growing up in Western Kansas near Hays, Kara has grown fond of its wide open spaces. She is the daughter of Barbara Rupp and the-late Jerry Hackney and was brought up on land that has been in her family since 1919. Dedication and a strong work ethic are some of many traits Kara has learned from life on the farm, where it is up to her mother, her brother, and Kara to manage their herd of Polled Hereford cattle.
Competing in rodeo pageants since she was eleven years old, Kara has held the titles of Plainville Rodeo Princess 2004, Ellis County Rodeo Princess 2004, Jayhawker Rodeo Princess 2006, Ellis County Rodeo Queen 2007 and Miss Teen Rodeo Kansas 2009. Promoting rodeo and the western way of life has become a true passion of hers. Whether nearly swimming in a rodeo arena or being about blown away by the Kansas wind, Kara enjoys rodeos no matter what the weather may be.
Kara is currently a student at Fort Hays State University but is taking the year off to concentrate on her duites as Miss Rodeo Kansas. As a 2009 graduate of Ellis High School, Kara stayed actively involved as FFA President, 4-H Vice President, Student Council Secretary, and National Honor Society Secretary/Treasurer. She also held the title of 2007-2008 Kansas FFA Northwest District Vice President, and she was a four-year member of the cheerleading squad and track team, serving as the 2007-2008 Cheerleading Co-Captain. In July of 2008, she was named a Universal Cheerleaders Association (UCA) All Star Cheerleader. Also a member of the Forensics team, Kara was a three-time qualifier for State Speech and Drama, placing 6th in Informative her sophomore year and 5th in Informative her junior year. She was also a member of SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions); KAYS; and LINK Crew, a group dedicated to helping freshman through their first year of high school and teaching them leadership skills.
In her free time, Kara enjoys riding her American Quarter Horses, Little Peppy's Senor "Peppy" and DH Poco Image "Dusty," and working with her AKC Pembroke Welsh Corgi, "Corley," as well public speaking and staying actively involved in her community.
Never one to take a moment for granted, Kara enjoys capturing life through photography and cowboy poetry. When not taking part in the rodeo, you will likely find her near the arena with her camera in hand! Her biggest dream is to become Miss Rodeo America and to serve as the spokeswoman of professional rodeo.
"Rodeo truly is a sport different from any other. Better yet, it's beyond a sport--it's a way of life. The cowboys and cowgirls are not simply out there to perform; they are competing to earn money to raise their families, get them to the next rodeo, and to many, it's to get them one step closer to becoming a PRCA World Champion. Out in the arena are men and women continuing the western tradition and the cowboy way of life, some of the physically and mentally toughest, hardest working, and most dedicated people around. Beyond the dollar signs and gold buckles, rodeo allows everyone to make lifelong friendships, something that no buck off or missed calf can take away. Look back behind the chutes sometime and you can see competitors cheering each other on and yelling out points of advice. Perhaps a Bible will rest on a table, just beside a cowboy knelt in prayer. Athletic tape serves as the temporary fix as each cowboy tapes up his injuries. Ever see a cowboy, sore from broken bones and bruises, get bucked off a raging bull and immediately hop up and hobble out of the arena? Rodeo and its members are the true epitome of sportsmanship, faith, true grit, and determination, something that I am more than proud to promote across the state of Kansas and the rest of this great land."
Kara was a top ten finalist at the 2014 Miss Rodeo America Pageant, was co-winner of the Cowgirl Catch Phrase contest and received the $500 Beyond Beauty: Selfless Spirit in Service Scholarship.
Competing in rodeo pageants since she was eleven years old, Kara has held the titles of Plainville Rodeo Princess 2004, Ellis County Rodeo Princess 2004, Jayhawker Rodeo Princess 2006, Ellis County Rodeo Queen 2007 and Miss Teen Rodeo Kansas 2009. Promoting rodeo and the western way of life has become a true passion of hers. Whether nearly swimming in a rodeo arena or being about blown away by the Kansas wind, Kara enjoys rodeos no matter what the weather may be.
Kara is currently a student at Fort Hays State University but is taking the year off to concentrate on her duites as Miss Rodeo Kansas. As a 2009 graduate of Ellis High School, Kara stayed actively involved as FFA President, 4-H Vice President, Student Council Secretary, and National Honor Society Secretary/Treasurer. She also held the title of 2007-2008 Kansas FFA Northwest District Vice President, and she was a four-year member of the cheerleading squad and track team, serving as the 2007-2008 Cheerleading Co-Captain. In July of 2008, she was named a Universal Cheerleaders Association (UCA) All Star Cheerleader. Also a member of the Forensics team, Kara was a three-time qualifier for State Speech and Drama, placing 6th in Informative her sophomore year and 5th in Informative her junior year. She was also a member of SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions); KAYS; and LINK Crew, a group dedicated to helping freshman through their first year of high school and teaching them leadership skills.
In her free time, Kara enjoys riding her American Quarter Horses, Little Peppy's Senor "Peppy" and DH Poco Image "Dusty," and working with her AKC Pembroke Welsh Corgi, "Corley," as well public speaking and staying actively involved in her community.
Never one to take a moment for granted, Kara enjoys capturing life through photography and cowboy poetry. When not taking part in the rodeo, you will likely find her near the arena with her camera in hand! Her biggest dream is to become Miss Rodeo America and to serve as the spokeswoman of professional rodeo.
"Rodeo truly is a sport different from any other. Better yet, it's beyond a sport--it's a way of life. The cowboys and cowgirls are not simply out there to perform; they are competing to earn money to raise their families, get them to the next rodeo, and to many, it's to get them one step closer to becoming a PRCA World Champion. Out in the arena are men and women continuing the western tradition and the cowboy way of life, some of the physically and mentally toughest, hardest working, and most dedicated people around. Beyond the dollar signs and gold buckles, rodeo allows everyone to make lifelong friendships, something that no buck off or missed calf can take away. Look back behind the chutes sometime and you can see competitors cheering each other on and yelling out points of advice. Perhaps a Bible will rest on a table, just beside a cowboy knelt in prayer. Athletic tape serves as the temporary fix as each cowboy tapes up his injuries. Ever see a cowboy, sore from broken bones and bruises, get bucked off a raging bull and immediately hop up and hobble out of the arena? Rodeo and its members are the true epitome of sportsmanship, faith, true grit, and determination, something that I am more than proud to promote across the state of Kansas and the rest of this great land."
Kara was a top ten finalist at the 2014 Miss Rodeo America Pageant, was co-winner of the Cowgirl Catch Phrase contest and received the $500 Beyond Beauty: Selfless Spirit in Service Scholarship.
