Miss Rodeo America earns respect

Thursday, Dec. 2, 1999 | 3:46 a.m.

PRCA

Shelly Williams viewed her position as Miss Rodeo America 1999 as an opportunity to educate youngsters about rodeo as well as being a respected and visible ambassador for the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association.

The former Miss Rodeo Idaho secured the prestigious title last December, winning four of the six categories in front of a packed house in the Flamingo Hilton Showroom. Thirty young ladies competed during the week-long, 44th annual event.

Williams' year-long stint as Miss Rodeo America will end this week when Miss Rodeo America 2000 is crowned on Friday.

"The biggest thing is to educate people," said the 24-year-old from the small town of Kuna, near Boise. "A lot of times people just believe things they hear because they don't know any different, so I like to go to the schools and encourage the kids to ask their parents to take them to a rodeo."

"For one thing, it really encourages family involvement. It also shows them people can have a good time doing this thing that some others portray as not very nice and not so good. The only way to get them to believe is to see it."

Williams often took a PRCA tape on animal welfare into the schools to better illustrate how well stock contractors and rodeo personnel take care of the livestock.

She says visiting the schools seemed like a natural thing for her to do.

"I seem to be a child magnet because every time I go to the schools I get along with them so well," she said. "I have an easy time speaking to them and they respond to me. That's kind of where I found my niche."

Williams, though, wanted to also make sure she was respected by the people she represented. Consequently, she spent countless hours learning about the sport as well as refining her riding skills.

"I can ride, saddle my own horse. I'm not just out there to just try and look the part," she said shortly after earning the title. "On my first night as Miss Rodeo America, the cowboys came up and congratulated me and said good job. It meant a lot to me. I want to be respected as a peer."