Following her dream, Kelsey Parmenter got her first horse when she was 11, later bought two more and just last week, was crowned Miss Rodeo of the Ozarks 2013.
“It’s a lot of work. I’m super excited,” the new queen said.
“I’ve always dreamed about and wanted to be a part of rodeos. My family is not a rodeo family,” she said, adding that she saved all her money from birthday and Christmas gifts since she was 9 years old. Her parents bought her first horse when she was 11.
“He was more like a pet, a companion animal. Then, I started riding more, learning from friends, researching and learning on my own,” she said of horsemanship.
“I’ve been in a couple of rodeo queen contests,” she said, and was crowned first runner up in Miss Rodeo State Fair 2012 and Teen Miss Rodeo Arkansas 2011.
A rodeo queen contest judges young ladies on appearance, personality and horsemanship,Parmenter explained. She said the contest lasted for four days during which each contestant is watched and judged on her interaction with people as well as with horses.
“There were interviews, a speech, impromptu questions,” she said. “You’re monitored the entire time. There were public appearances at a retirement home, an exceptional kids’ rodeo … you have to be able to ride, be knowledgeable about anything about horses and rodeos.”
There were six contestants in the Miss Rodeo of the Ozarks 2013 pageant.
“I will have a fundraiser soon.
We are responsible for all of our financial obligations. I will travel to several rodeos and community events and be in parades. I will help spread the word about rodeos and horses,” Parmenter said.
“I had to sell my horses in order to go to college,” she said. “I had them about three years; that was so sad.” They were buckskin quarter horses - Remington and Kimber.
It has been Kelsey’s lifelong dream to inspire young people to chase their dreams regardless of their financial status or upbringing.
“Neither her dad or I had experience with horses but she was drawn to them at a very young age and started setting her goals.
Her dream has finally come true,” Christy Brown, Kelsey’s mother, said.
Now attending the University of Arkansas, Miss Parmenter attended Arkansas Tech University for a year and a half. She is majoring in business marketing and management and plans to include classes from an agri program.
Parmenter, 20, of Pea Ridge, graduated from Pea Ridge High School in May of 2011. She is the daughter of Brian Parmenter and Christy Brown of Pea Ridge.
News, Pages 1 on 07/10/2013