During the 2019 Miss Rodeo Montana Pageant held this past Saturday, January 12, at the Heritage Inn in Great Falls, Montana, a field of six contestants vied for a coveted crown, and two came away victors. The new Miss Rodeo Montana 2019 is Kayla Seaman of Columbia Falls and Miss Teen Rodeo Montana 2019 is Rebecca Stroh of Harlem.

Miss Rodeo Montana (MRM) hosts an annual pageant to select two young ladies, one for the title of Miss Teen Rodeo Montana (age 14-18) and one for the title of Miss Rodeo Montana (age 19-24). To compete for one of these titles, the contestant must not only be knowledgeable about Professional Rodeo and general horsemanship, she also needs to be well-informed of current events.

The contestant must additionally know and wear current western trends and dress appropriately for pageant events, as well as speak articulately in both formal and informal situations. Finally, she should be able to share her love for the sport of rodeo and the western way of life in her own unique way.

And if she is nothing else, Stroh is certainly unique. As she was preparing her application for the pageant, Stroh considered the objectives of Miss Teen Rodeo Montana (MTRM) and what the organization looks for in young ladies who are interested in pursuing MTRM.

During her reflection, a quote from A.A. Milne's character Winnie the Pooh came to mind, "The things that make me different are the things that make me." This became the platform around which Stroh built her run for the crown. After all, what could be more unique than being a Sugarbeeter, a two-time Monkey on a Rope champion, and a female wrestler?

Stroh is a fifth generation Montana farmer/rancher from Harlem who is currently a sophomore at Chinook High School, Home of the Sugarbeeters. She is an active member in the school and in the community, participating in 4-H, FFA, and Family, Career, & Community Leaders of America (FCCLA). Her involvement in these roles and organizations enables her not only to learn and compete but to educate others about the Western way of life and the role agriculture plays in everyone's life.

"FFA and 4-H have provided so many opportunities for me to train, show, and judge horses. They have also enabled me to work with younger kids, showing them they don't need electronics and their phones to survive and that connecting with a horse is the best feeling one can get! Seeing the satisfying smiles of achievement on their faces is priceless," Stroh exclaimed.

In addition to being a member of the Science Olympiad team, the Student Council, and the Honor Roll, Stroh is also active in sports such as rodeo, track, volleyball, and wrestling. In fact, Stroh became the first female wrestler in Chinook history to compete at the state tournament. To win the crown, Stroh had to excel in the four outlined categories: appearance, personality, horsemanship and projection/presentation. Each category was worth 25% of her score, and she had to make an impression on three judges who followed her performance during the entire length of the pageant. Stroh swept all the categories except one. Fellow competitor, Morgan Kelly of Columbia Falls, took top marks in the speech category. In a field of six contestants, Stroh was also voted Most Congenial.

In her new role as Miss Teen Rodeo Montana, Stroh said she hopes not only to continue promoting the Western way of life but to organize more local pageants.

The MRM pageant is in its seventh decade, having launched in the 1940s. Presented in conjunction with the Montana Circuit Finals Rodeo, it has been held in Great Falls since 1997. MRM serves as a link between rodeo competitors, committees, sponsors, media, and the fans-educating people about the role of rodeo.

At the conclusion of the pageant, the MRM thanked their Master of Ceremonies, Barney Sheridan and their many sponsors, board members, parents and volunteers for helping to make this pageant come together. They also shared a note of gratitude to the Montana Trappers Association for the furs worn by the two winners, Stroh and Seaman.