Best time of Summer...Junior National Hereford Expo

I was so excited about the week before me as I made my way into Grand Island, Nebraska and it did not let me down! I had such an amazing time getting to know the Queens from across the nation and spending time with them along ring side passing out awards. There were so many memories made on those long days of passing out awards. I hosted the second annual Queen's Tea which was a great success, in fact there were so many little girls that I didn't have enough goodies for everyone! We had cupcakes and candy and I talked to them about my year as Queen! The time spent with those future Queens was by far the most rewarding of the week. Being around them reminds me that there are so many great future young ladies to lead the hereford breed, and of course be the next National Queen!

Heading to Texas!

Not long after Denver I was headed south for the Fort Worth Stock show in Texas! My family has exhibited at the stock show many times, but being queen was a whole new side of Fort Worth. I was able to attend the women and men's meeting and speak to the groups at both. I got the opportunity to spend show day with all of the Texas royalty, and was able to get to know several new faces in the barn! The hereford members in Texas had open arms to me and helped me in every way they could, and I am very thankful to all of those families who did so!

Herefords in the Mile High City

I have been to Denver and experienced the scene and thrill of watching the Herefords in the yards and on the  hill, and what an experience that is! However, experiencing it as Queen was possibly even more thrilling! This could partially be due to the fact that I actually got to watch the shows all the way through, instead of having to be back in the barns watching cattle! I loved the experience of being Queen in Denver, it is truly a once in a life time experience that I will always treasure. As always, I got to interact with so many Hereford breeders, and who would turn down an opportunity like that? I was so fortunate and thankful to have the Colorado Queen, Brooke Hinojosa, assisting on all the show days both in the yards and on the hills. Without her extra hand it would have been quite a bit for one queen to take on! Overall Denver was a fun packed time, though by the end of my travel I was ready for a good night's sleep!

Keeping the crown and sash busy!

(pictured above is me attending the Opportunity sale with my "hereford Grandma")

At the beginning of December I had the opportunity to go and attend the National Hereford show in Reno, Nevada. This was my first time to be able to travel out west and attend this show. I was overjoyed with the opportunity to work with Queens and Princesses from Idaho, Oregon, and California. They were all such amazing ladies, and I truly am blessed to have had the opportunity to spend time with them. We worked together handing out awards and taking pictures at the backdrop for two days. We then had the sale, and when I say "the sale" it truly is possibly the sale of all sales. For those of you who don't know the sale is held in the Hotel/Casino. Not only that, but the cattle come out on the stage inside the hotel! Many of you have probably seen the photo of the men and women kneeling down with their cattle in one hand and show sticks in the other, well that was taken at the Western Nugget Sale. It truly gave you goose bumps to witness the view of the hereford breeders and their cattle when the curtains were raised! Following the sale I flew a red eye flight to Kansas City Missouri, and drove to Sedalia, Missouri for the Missouri Hereford Associations' Opportunity Sale. I always enjoy a trip to spend time with my hereford family in Missouri! Needless to say though, by the end of the journey I was exhausted!