Hello Las Vegas

Today final preparations are underway for the start of the 55th Annual Miss Rodeo America Pageant. Volunteers, contestants and their family and friends began converging in Las Vegas Thanksgiving Day and will continue arriving throughout the week. Miss Rodeo America Inc., is fortunate to have a wonderful volunteer base that returns to the pageant annually and helps organize and carry out all the events.

In addition to great volunteers the pageant also attracts some of the Western industries finest as pageant judges. This years judges are…

Bill Brewer
Bill Brewer of Amarillo, Texas, began a long-time career with the America Quarter Horse Association in 1971 as an Advertising Sales Representative for The America Quarter Horse Journal. In 1992 and became the AQHA’s Executive Vice President. As the Executive Vice President he worked closely with the Executive Committee and department heads in planning and coordinating the business of the world’s largest equine breed registry. In March of 2009 he retired from the AQHA after 37 years.

Diana Friend
Diana Friend of Ozawakie, Kan., served as Miss Kansas High School Rodeo in 1975 and Miss Rodeo Kansas 1979. In 1980 she became the first Kansan to win Miss Rodeo America. She’s currently the Communications and Marketing Manager for the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library. She has been a board member of the Kansas Quarter Horse Association since 1995. Diana’s given riding lessons, horsemanship clinics and is a volunteer for 4-H.

Terry Swanson, D.V.M.
Terry Swanson, D.V.M., is a practicing veterinarian at the Littleton Large Animal Clinic. He is currently the president of the Littleton Large Animal Clinic/Littleton Equine Medical Center, where he has been practicing since 1968. Through the years he’s served on numerous boards and committees for multiple professional societies he belongs to. He’s also a published author and when time allows, he still enjoys team roping.

Wanda Waters
Wanda Waters from Utopia, Texas, is an advocate for Western Heritage. She’s played an active role along with her husband in ranching and land management. On the Waters Ranch they have bread more than 600 American Quarter Horses many having high accolades in the show ring. One of their most renowned stud horses, Colonel Freckles, was inducted into the AQHA Hall of Fame in 2004.