OklahomaHorses Magazine September 2021

September/October 2021 • OklahomaHorses 21 Miss Rodeo Oklahoma K ylie Myers says she grew up in the best of both worlds, attending school in the city but also spend- ing plenty of time at her grandparents’ farm riding horses and learning the western way of life. Today, the 23-year-old from Moore, Oklahoma, holds the title of Miss Rodeo Oklahoma, which she considers to be an incredible honor. Myers’ first mentor in the rodeo world was her grandma, who rode on a drill team and taught Myers much about horses and riding. However, Myers would become even more involved with horses and rodeo because of a 4-H leader named Betty Baker. After Baker took Myers under her wing, Myers began to show, competing in junior rodeo events such as barrel racing, pole bending, and goat tying and competing in rodeo pageants. Baker passed away in 2013, but Myers remains close to her mentor’s family, in- cluding Baker’s granddaughters, Kallie Sue Baker and Reba Lasater. Myers credits the Baker family with continuing to be a great support system for her. In 2007, Myers won her first pageant title, becoming the Miss Will Rogers Stam- pede Princess, and then in 2009, she won the title of Miss Rodeo Oklahoma Princess. Although she stepped away from rodeo pageants for a while, Myers decided to go back to competing in 2019 to run for Miss Rodeo Oklahoma. In the state pageant, Myers won in ap- pearance, horsemanship, speech, personali- ty, written test, and congeniality, capturing the title of Miss Rodeo Oklahoma 2020. However, because many rodeo events were canceled in the COVID-19 pandemic, Myers’ reign was extended for an additional year. As Miss Rodeo Oklahoma, Myers has traveled to rodeos all over the United States, representing our great state. “A typical rodeo week for me differs,” said Myers. “I’m able to put together my own schedule for the most part, but I do prioritize pro rodeos in Oklahoma. If there’s nothing going on in our state, then I’m able to go to other states.” Sometimes Myers is gone for as long as a month, traveling to rodeos throughout the country. She does various things at each rodeo performance, such as carrying spon- sor flags or the American flag in the grand entry, clearing cattle out of the arena to get ready for timed events, or aiding the rodeo committee in whatever way she can. “I go wherever I’m needed most to lend a helping hand,” said Myers. Myers stressed that this entire experience has been invaluable in teaching her skills by Casie Bazay Kylie Myers Blends City and Country Roots