Northern student represents MT in Miss Rodeo America Pageant

A local Montana State University-Northern student, Laramie Pursley, 22, competed in the Miss Rodeo America Pageant last month in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Pursley said she did not place at this pageant, but that she did gain confidence throughout the process of competing at a national level.

"It's a very competitive competition," she said. "Just the skills I've gained and the confidence I've built, the preparing in speaking and interviewing, horsemanship, the whole wardrobe - everything was a great experience."

The contestants for Miss Rodeo America were judged on appearance, personality, horsemanship and knowledge and presentation.

"I felt like I did the best I could prepare (for)," she added.

Pursley grew up on a farm near Zurich and went to high school in Chinook.

"Since I was little I have been involved with horses - and then I did high school rodeos and open rodeos," she said.

Pursley traveled all over the state for horsemanship practice.

She said some of her favorite parts about competing for the Miss Rodeo America title was showing off everything she had practiced and "working toward something."

Pursley also said she traveled all over the state during her reign as the 2014 Miss Rodeo Montana to attend various rodeos and speak at schools.

Pursley attends Northern and is a member of the university's rodeo team. She will be graduating in May with a degree in agricultural operations technology with a business minor. She said she plans to either get a master's degree in agriculture business or find a job promoting agriculture in Montana once she graduates.

Jaye Dee Han, national director of Miss Rodeo Montana, said that Pursley has grown as a representative for Montana throughout her time as Miss Rodeo Montana.

"I was so impressed with her at (Miss Rodeo America). She was regal, elegant and knowledgeable. She did a fabulous job," she said.

Han said that pageants help young women to gain confidence.

"I think that we help to produce quality adults," she added.

The 2015 Miss Rodeo Montana competition will be held Jan. 14 - Jan. 17 in Great Falls. Pursley will be handing down her title to the next queen.

According to http://www.missrodeomontana.com, there will be four contestants running for the 2015 Miss Rodeo Montana title:

• Cassidy "Shay" O'Neil, 19, of Livingston

• Hanna Heckman, 21, of Great Falls

• Holly Byler, 22, of Molt

and

• Lindsay Garpestad, 21, of Simms.

For more information on Miss Rodeo Montana, visit http://www.missrodeomontana.com.