Michelle Morris is the first Miss Rodeo Maine in 28 years, crowned in time for last month’s Redneck Rodeo in Hebron, which was Maine’s first rodeo in more than a decade. Morris represents the sport in Maine and represents Maine at rodeo events nationwide. She also competes in barrel racing, where riders vie to be the fastest to ride a horse around three barrels in a rodeo ring. In December, she’s headed to Las Vegas for the Miss Rodeo America Pageant.

Name: Michelle Morris

Age: 21

Hometown: Litchfield

How were you crowned Miss Rodeo Maine? I attended the first ever Miss Rodeo New England Pageant, which was held in Marshfield, Mass., alongside the New England Wild West Fest, and was judged in the major categories of horsemanship, horse knowledge, appearance, speech, current event knowledge, rodeo knowledge and modeling.

What roles go with your title? A rodeo queen not only represents her state but also professional rodeo. I do a lot of traveling out of state representing Maine at many different rodeos. A rodeo queen does a lot more than attend rodeos; I do a lot of community service work such as visiting schools, hospitals, working with children and mentoring both my “little pageant sisters.” Taylor Weeks of West Gardiner, age 18, is Miss Teen Rodeo Maine 2012, and Valerie Fullerton of Monmouth, age 11, is Miss Pre-Teen Rodeo Maine 2012. Both are outstanding young ladies who dream of one day holding the title of Miss Rodeo Maine and representing Maine at the Miss Rodeo America Pageant.

Was it strange to be Miss Rodeo Maine with no Maine rodeos at the time? No it wasn’t, because I knew that Maine’s very own Redneck Rodeo, a PRCA-sanctioned rodeo, was being planned, so I knew I did have a local rodeo in Maine to look forward to. (PRCA is the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association.) But many rodeo queens travel all over the U.S. to go to rodeos anyway, and the other rodeo queens and out-of-state rodeos have welcomed me with open arms.

Have you competed in many rodeo events? The only rodeo event within the PRCA that women compete in is barrel racing, but women must hold a card with the WPRA to participate (Women’s Professional Rodeo Association). I do enjoy barrel racing, but am still competing locally until I feel I am ready to be a card-carrying member of the WPRA.

How far do you usually travel for rodeo events? Since the beginning of my reign in January I have traveled to 12 different states ranging as far away as Nevada. I am looking forward to traveling to many more states before Miss Rodeo America this December. Traveling to and attending rodeos are a lot of fun because you learn so much from the cowboys and the stock contractors at the different rodeos, you have the  opportunity to ride many different horses, but the best part is all the people you get to meet traveling to the rodeos: the fans, the cowboys and the other rodeo queens.

Did you grow up riding horses? I cannot remember a time where I did not have a horse. I spent 12 years as a 4-H horse project member and have done many different types of riding, such as Western pleasure, English pleasure, jumping, barrel racing and trick riding.

What would you tell someone who’s never been to a rodeo? I would say “to hang on tight because it’s going to be a wild ride. It only takes one rodeo to fall in love with the sport.”