“Inspiration is extremely difficult to quantify, but countless young women over the years have returned to the Miss Dixie National Pageant to explain how a kind word, an autograph, or an appearance by Miss Dixie National encouraged them to pursue a specific goal or opportunity. Each story is unique, just as each Miss Dixie National is unique. A new titleholder is crowned each year, and each year, the new Miss Dixie National brings her specific gifts, personality, and goals to the title.” Allison Coulton, President of the Miss Rodeo Mississippi Foundation Board of Directors
This February marks the 51st year of the beloved Dixie National Rodeo in Jackson. On Saturday, January 16, the Miss Dixie National Pageant will be held at the Mississippi State Fairgrounds. Allison says, “This pageant was created to annually crown a young woman who would spend a year promoting the Dixie National Livestock Show and Rodeo. The pageant later added the Junior Miss and Sweetheart division to provide younger girls with similar opportunities to serve as a titleholder and promote the Dixie National Livestock Show and Rodeo.” As the spokesperson for the Dixie National Rodeo, Miss Dixie National takes on the role of educator, ambassador, role model, and the voice of enthusiasm and expertise for Mississippi’s largest professional rodeo.
We spoke with Allison to learn more about the Miss Dixie National Pageant and the incredible young women involved with the organization!
~ Who is Miss Dixie National?
“Practically, she is first and foremost a cowgirl; she is also a young woman aged 17-22 who has never been married or pregnant, enrolled in either high school or college, and passionate about the sport of rodeo! Miss Dixie National spends her reign promoting the sport of rodeo and the Dixie National Livestock Show and Rodeo by making promotional appearances on Jackson area radio and television stations, educational presentations at schools and hospitals, speaking to civic groups, participating in other Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) rodeos in Mississippi, and traveling to any other appearances requested by non-profit groups or the media.”
~ Will Miss Dixie National compete in the Dixie National Rodeo in February?
“Miss Dixie National does not compete in the Dixie National Rodeo in February. She rides during the opening ceremonies of the rodeo, and then dismounts her horse to go inside and answer fans' questions and sign autographs. In addition to the Dixie National Rodeo, Miss Dixie National attends a wide range of the Dixie National Livestock Show events, including the Sale of Champions and the Dixie National Parade.”
~ Tell us about the actual pageant. Where does it take place and what is expected of each contestant? Is this event open to the public?
“The annual Miss Dixie National Pageant hosts cowgirls from across the Southeast. The contestants will compete in four main judged events: horsemanship, fashion show, interview, and photogenics. Whereas beauty pageants typically judge contestants on beauty and poise, rodeo queen pageants judge contestants on their ability to be a spokesperson for the sport. At each event, the contestants are judged on their personality, appearance, speaking ability, knowledge (rodeo knowledge and current event knowledge) and horsemanship, the contestants are judged on their horsemanship ability. The pageant will be held January 16th on the Mississippi State Fairgrounds. All events except the personal interviews are open to the public.”
~ Why is it so important for these young women to share their love and passion for the sport?
“Rodeo queen titles such as the Miss Dixie National title provide young women with the opportunity to not only promote the sport they love, but also promote agriculture and the western lifestyle. Mississippi has a long heritage of agricultural production, and rodeo is directly connected to that way of life. Serving as Miss Dixie National allows young women to promote the sport they love, the industry that maintains it, and the Magnolia State. In doing so, the titleholders are afforded opportunities to travel and meet a diverse group of Mississippians as well as participate in countless activities--from speaking on the House of Representatives floor to being backstage at a Dixie National Rodeo concert--that would not be afforded to them otherwise.”
~ Who organizes the Pageant?
“The pageant is organized annually by the Miss Rodeo Mississippi Foundation. The foundation was established to preserve and promote the sport of professional rodeo, which stands for family, hard work, values, and commitment, in the state of Mississippi. The foundations mission in order to provide scholarship awards for young Mississippians to maximize their educational potential, develop their public relations skills and public speaking ability, while producing ethical, responsible, and hardworking citizens, who desire to be role models and leaders for our state and/or country.The Miss Rodeo Mississippi Foundation is the organization that annually produces the Miss Dixie National, Junior Miss Dixie National, Miss Dixie National Sweetheart, and Miss Rodeo Mississippi Pageants. The Miss Rodeo Mississippi Foundation also oversees the titleholders' reigns, and helps Miss Rodeo Mississippi prepare for the Miss Rodeo America pageant.”
Allison adds, “Two former Miss Dixie Nationals have become Miss Rodeo America, the sport’s highest rodeo queen title! More information about Miss Rodeo America can be found at missrodeo.com.”
This pageant celebrates impressive young women across the state of Mississippi. We hope to see all of you at the Miss Dixie National Pageant this Saturday, cheering on the lovely and talented contestants! For more information on the Miss Rodeo Mississippi Foundation, please visit their website here. Or, you can visit their Facebook page here!
{Blog by Mitchell Walters}
This February marks the 51st year of the beloved Dixie National Rodeo in Jackson. On Saturday, January 16, the Miss Dixie National Pageant will be held at the Mississippi State Fairgrounds. Allison says, “This pageant was created to annually crown a young woman who would spend a year promoting the Dixie National Livestock Show and Rodeo. The pageant later added the Junior Miss and Sweetheart division to provide younger girls with similar opportunities to serve as a titleholder and promote the Dixie National Livestock Show and Rodeo.” As the spokesperson for the Dixie National Rodeo, Miss Dixie National takes on the role of educator, ambassador, role model, and the voice of enthusiasm and expertise for Mississippi’s largest professional rodeo.
We spoke with Allison to learn more about the Miss Dixie National Pageant and the incredible young women involved with the organization!
~ Who is Miss Dixie National?
“Practically, she is first and foremost a cowgirl; she is also a young woman aged 17-22 who has never been married or pregnant, enrolled in either high school or college, and passionate about the sport of rodeo! Miss Dixie National spends her reign promoting the sport of rodeo and the Dixie National Livestock Show and Rodeo by making promotional appearances on Jackson area radio and television stations, educational presentations at schools and hospitals, speaking to civic groups, participating in other Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) rodeos in Mississippi, and traveling to any other appearances requested by non-profit groups or the media.”
~ Will Miss Dixie National compete in the Dixie National Rodeo in February?
“Miss Dixie National does not compete in the Dixie National Rodeo in February. She rides during the opening ceremonies of the rodeo, and then dismounts her horse to go inside and answer fans' questions and sign autographs. In addition to the Dixie National Rodeo, Miss Dixie National attends a wide range of the Dixie National Livestock Show events, including the Sale of Champions and the Dixie National Parade.”
~ Tell us about the actual pageant. Where does it take place and what is expected of each contestant? Is this event open to the public?
“The annual Miss Dixie National Pageant hosts cowgirls from across the Southeast. The contestants will compete in four main judged events: horsemanship, fashion show, interview, and photogenics. Whereas beauty pageants typically judge contestants on beauty and poise, rodeo queen pageants judge contestants on their ability to be a spokesperson for the sport. At each event, the contestants are judged on their personality, appearance, speaking ability, knowledge (rodeo knowledge and current event knowledge) and horsemanship, the contestants are judged on their horsemanship ability. The pageant will be held January 16th on the Mississippi State Fairgrounds. All events except the personal interviews are open to the public.”
~ Why is it so important for these young women to share their love and passion for the sport?
“Rodeo queen titles such as the Miss Dixie National title provide young women with the opportunity to not only promote the sport they love, but also promote agriculture and the western lifestyle. Mississippi has a long heritage of agricultural production, and rodeo is directly connected to that way of life. Serving as Miss Dixie National allows young women to promote the sport they love, the industry that maintains it, and the Magnolia State. In doing so, the titleholders are afforded opportunities to travel and meet a diverse group of Mississippians as well as participate in countless activities--from speaking on the House of Representatives floor to being backstage at a Dixie National Rodeo concert--that would not be afforded to them otherwise.”
~ Who organizes the Pageant?
“The pageant is organized annually by the Miss Rodeo Mississippi Foundation. The foundation was established to preserve and promote the sport of professional rodeo, which stands for family, hard work, values, and commitment, in the state of Mississippi. The foundations mission in order to provide scholarship awards for young Mississippians to maximize their educational potential, develop their public relations skills and public speaking ability, while producing ethical, responsible, and hardworking citizens, who desire to be role models and leaders for our state and/or country.The Miss Rodeo Mississippi Foundation is the organization that annually produces the Miss Dixie National, Junior Miss Dixie National, Miss Dixie National Sweetheart, and Miss Rodeo Mississippi Pageants. The Miss Rodeo Mississippi Foundation also oversees the titleholders' reigns, and helps Miss Rodeo Mississippi prepare for the Miss Rodeo America pageant.”
Allison adds, “Two former Miss Dixie Nationals have become Miss Rodeo America, the sport’s highest rodeo queen title! More information about Miss Rodeo America can be found at missrodeo.com.”
This pageant celebrates impressive young women across the state of Mississippi. We hope to see all of you at the Miss Dixie National Pageant this Saturday, cheering on the lovely and talented contestants! For more information on the Miss Rodeo Mississippi Foundation, please visit their website here. Or, you can visit their Facebook page here!
{Blog by Mitchell Walters}
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