Saturday in Mason City, Iowa

On Saturday morning, I slept in and I liked it! I know there will not be alot of sleeping this year so I took advantage of it while I could.

For lunch I went across the parking lot to a place called "Taco Time" Everybody had been raving about this place and how great the food is. So being from Colorado where green chili is served with just about everything, and having parents that took us out to eat Mexican food every Friday night, I figured I better see what the rage was all about.
Well I must say I was very disappointed. It was worse than any Mexican food I had ever had. I could have made better myself. I had no idea what the fuss was all about, or why the place was packed at lunch time. "Have these people ever been out of Iowa for real Mexican food", I kept thinking to myself with each bite of my food that clearly came out of a can.

These was no rain on Saturday, which made me smile.
I got to the rodeo grounds early and made my rounds talking and visiting with people.

I ran the American flag and the NFPB flag again this night and helped with mutton busting. Girls won mutton busting both nights, I think girls are just better at alot of things! Another great night of bull riding and cowboy poker was behind us. Don set up a table for in the arena again and I signed autographs and talked to kids.

These girls tried to get into the mutton busting, but it filled up so quick. They where so sweet.

Then I had a group of high school aged boys that send their moms over to get my autograph!

Their moms made them come meet me. Ha it was so cute, they where so shy.

This kid missed his Senior Prom that night, so he could come help behind the chutes.

Iowa has some good people.

On my way out I met a very sweet lady and her cute dog. Tara Jackson and I had to stop and visit her.

She put clothes on her dog and Tara and I laughed and laughed. I figured I better pose with it!

When else will I see a fluffy dog in sunglasses?!

After many long goodbyes and hugs, we all parted ways. I really enjoyed my time with all these people and kept thinking about how sad I am going to be when my year is over. Already so sad and only on my first event!

Almost everybody hit the road to head home, I stayed the night and got up early to drive home.

About 9 hours later, I made it back to Erie, Colorado. I was happy to see my dog and tell my family all about my first bull riding.

I snapped this shot as I left town.....

98.7 Kiss FM and the Friday night bull riding!

As we walked into the radio station, I got some text messages from my friends saying they had 98.7fm turned-on on their computers and that J Brooks had been announcing that the Queen would be arriving soon.
At 8:30 I went on live with J Brooks and we talked about winning the title, where I would be traveling this year, and all the details about the bull riding in Mason City. J was really nice to me and it was a great first radio interview.

As Don drove me back to the Days Inn, it started to rain and yes it rained all day!
I sat myself down at the complimentary breakfast at Days Inn and watched the news about the Missouri couple who had just won the lotto. Made me want to start playing! I met some nice people who where in town on business and I invited them to the bull riding that evening.

Right when I got back to my room and changed my clothes, I got a call from Dusty and Clint, they where next door at Perkins and told me I had to join them. I ran in the rain and it was fun!
So I ate some more breakfast and chatted with the guys. Well then it was to work we went. Clint needed to buy shavings for the trailers for the bulls on the ride home. So we went to a huge farm store, it was amazing, like Walmart but for farmers! Being in a huge store with these guys was like shopping with 4 year olds. They kept trying to run each other over with the cart.

We took the shavings back to the fairgrounds and spread them out in trailers. Then everybody sat around an talked while it slowly drizzled rain. I hopped back in the truck with Clint to go back to the hotel, when he got a call someone needed starch! To walmart we went, and I taught Clint how to use the self-checkout! Such a gentleman, he always opened the door for me. Thanks Clint

Back at the hotel, I got "all dolled up", as the guys put it. I was so excited as I drove in pouring rain to the arena! My first night was sure to be amazing.

I met with Don and his wife Sharon, Sharon ran the ticket sales and Don, well he just ran around. It's a lot of work to put on a bull riding, but they made it look effortless.
I was blessed with a great big Palomino horse to ride. He was a good boy. I ran the NFPB flag and then the American Flag. It was amazing!
After I put the horse away, I quick ran to the meeting spot Dusty and I had made, he met me there and it was into the arena we went for our act. I was pretending to be a Nashville Recording Artist, and he was the goofy clown who hated my singing. We had a fun time and at the end I got a big ole shotgun and shot him! best part of the weekend for sure.

Next I helped with the mutton busting, walked around and greeted fans, sat and talked with Don and Sharon, cringed with Tara Jackson during the cowboy poker and made new friends. At the end Don set up a table in the arena and Chris Pyle the announcer, told everyone to come meet the queen. Many children came to meet me, it was great!

Before headed back to the hotel, I quickly realized I was not in Vegas anymore because every fast food place was closed, luckily I found a Burger King that was still open for a few more minutes. At the hotel, everyone's trucks where gone, they where all out partying. Clint and I texted each other and decided we where both too old to go out and party!!

My first night was great and I hit the hay, excited for Saturday...

Into Iowa I go

My drive thru Eastern Colorado and Nebraska was a good one, I beat the rain storms the whole way. The rain hit Colorado so bad the whole time I was gone, so I was so happy I did not hit it once during my drive.

Many times I saw wild turkeys on the side of the road in Nebraska, I made a comment on my Facebook that you would never see that in Vegas! Some of my Vegas friends made comments that they do see a lot of Wild Turkey in Vegas, but its the liquid type! Can you imagine wild turkeys wondering the strip....

I drove about 13 hours when I made it to Des Moines, IA. Even though it was only 2 more hours to Mason City, I decided to stop and rest. I stayed at a cute family owned old hotel and they had a 13 year old bassett hound dog that greated me when I got there, so I knew it was going to be a good place!

The next morning I completed my drive thru Iowa and I arrived in Mason City. I had reseved a room at the Days Inn, which happened to be the place where everyone else was staying. I checked into my room, got some lunch and unpacked my car. I went over to the fairgrounds and met up with everybody. Clint and Tara where watering their bulls and Dusty Myers, Adam Proctor and Jeff Walkowe where watching!
Frank and Jeff Walkowe had brought bulls as well and once the aminals where all taken care of, we went into the arena and set up chairs. After we put up hundreds of metal chairs, we then zip tied all the chairs together to meet fire code. I met with Don Sapp, he is on the North Iowa Fairboard and puts on the bull riding every year. We went over all the details for my radio interview the next morning and he offered to drive me. I was excited to have a driver, I felt like real royalty!

After we where all done at the arena, I went to dinner with Clint, Tara, Dusty, Jeff, and Adam.

The next morning I was going to meet Don at 8am in front of the hotel, at 7:55am the front desk called and told me he was there and ready to go. I quick put on my hat and ran down to meet him.
After many turns down one way streets thru downtown Mason City we arrived at 98.7 Kiss FM. I was glad Don was driving, I would have been lost for sure....

Colorado Hometown News

After my wonderful photoshoot, I spent the next 2 days getting ready to leave for Iowa. I packed some things and then packed some more. The less I tried to pack the more I seemed to pack! Funny how that happens.

On Monday morning I had a phone interview with Doug Pike of Colorado Hometown News.
He wrote up a great article on me. I used some pictures from Dave Purcell.

coloradohometownweekly

I also had Dave add the text to my photo so I could print some temporary autograph sheets to take to Iowa. I had them printed on Tuesday night at Office Max in Thornton, Co and they only charged me half price! That was so nice, thank you Office Max!

I was so excited to get up Wed. morning and hit the road!

After I hugged my parents and kissed the kids and filled up on coffee, I made a detour into town to get the paper and see my newspaper article. Then it was toward Iowa I went...

A day with Dave Purcell

After a great Saturday in Greeley, I was looking forward to Sunday because I was meeting with a photographer!
I met Dave Purcell a few years ago at a Denver Photographers Meet-up Event. He was one of the super nice guys who offered to shoot me again and help me anyway he could.
He did the headshot I used for the Miss NFPB Contestant photos and all the photos I used when I ran for Miss Rodeo Nevada.

Dave is one of those guys who just emails me and says" Hi Rach, what can I do for you?"
Someone you definatly need in your life! Someone who is willing to help!

Dave and his friend picked me up and we hit my hometown!
Dave invited my mom to join in a few pics....

These are taken at our house, as well as the pic of the top of my blog.

Next we headed down the road to one of my favorite old barns. I have done so many photoshoots here with friends, so it was fun to have pictures of myself here.

Here is one of the favorites that I used for my temporary autograph sheets.

It has gotten good reviews so far!

I had so much fun that day and then I used Dave's pics for the Erie Review Article

Colorado Hometown News

Dave has a really fun logo

Be sure to check him out on his Flick site

Dave's Flick Site

You can also see more pictures of me on there and see the nice comments people have left about his work.

So if you are ever in need of a great photographer, be sure to look Dave up!

Thanks Dave, You are great!