Kennadee Riggs, of Queen Creek, AZ was crowned as Miss Rodeo America 2023 on Sunday, December 4th at the South Point Hotel and Casino.
The 22 year-old represented her home state at the Miss Rodeo America Pageant as the 2022 Miss Rodeo Arizona, becoming the 5th from her state to hold the coveted national title.
Having grown up under the western skies, Kennadee has carried on the legacy of her cowgirl bloodlines as a member of the Cowgirls Historical Foundation while working for the Arizona Farm Bureau and Cowboy Lifestyle Network. She served an 18-month church mission in Brazil, Arizona, and Oklahoma, and is currently a student at Arizona State University pursuing journalism. She loves volunteering as an English teacher to Brazilians, runs The Kindness Journal Podcast, and enjoys managing social media while using it to spread light.
The Landstrom’s Black Hills Gold crown is accompanied by more than $20,000 in educational scholarships and prizes including a wardrobe of Wrangler jeans and shirts, an assortment of Montana Silversmiths jewelry, and a selection of Justin Boots and Greeley Hat Works hats.
In addition to the title, Kennadee earned the Appearance, Personality and Horsemanship Awards, and was the recipient of the Roxann Harris Memorial Competitive Spirit Scholarship.
This year, twenty-eight contestants represented their states in the weeklong national pageant consisting of a horsemanship competition, a written test on equine science and rodeo knowledge, extensive interviews, extemporaneous speaking, and a fashion show. The top five contestants – from Washington, South Dakota, Colorado, Louisiana, and Arizona – each answered a question about how she would use her platform to educate and promote the values of rural America as Miss Rodeo America 2023.
During her reign as the official representative of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, Kennadee
will travel around 50,000 miles and appear at nearly 100 rodeo performances, as well as make appearances at schools, civic groups and other special events in order to educate the public and create awareness about the sport of rodeo, its sponsors, and its opportunities.
Kennadee will also serve as a spokesperson at a variety of promotional events and model in commercial
advertisements for western clothiers, publications, sponsors and other service providers to the western
industry.
As Miss Rodeo America 2023, Kennadee will begin her duties by attending press conferences immediately following her coronation and spend the remainder of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo attending appearances with Miss Rodeo America 2022, Hailey Fredericksen of Colorado. She will be introduced for the first time in the Thomas & Mack Center during the sixth performance of the WNFR on Tuesday, December 6.
Official Results of the 2023 Miss Rodeo America Pageant
First Runner-up: Miss Rodeo South Dakota – Adrianne Schaunaman
Second Runner-up: Miss Rodeo Washington – Lexy Hibbs
Third Runner-up: Miss Rodeo Colorado – Ashley Baller
Fourth Runner-up: Miss Rodeo Louisiana – Sydney Albritton
Appearance: Miss Rodeo Arizona – Kennadee Riggs
Personality: Miss Rodeo Arizona – Kennadee Riggs
Horsemanship: Miss Rodeo Arizona – Kennadee Riggs
Photogenic: Miss Rodeo South Dakota – Adrianne Schaunaman
Speech: Miss Rodeo South Dakota – Adrianne Schaunaman
Written Test: Miss Rodeo Washington – Lexy Hibbs
Arlene Kensinger Memorial Congeniality Award: Miss Rodeo Hawaii – Noel Tancayo
Top Ten Contestants
- Miss Rodeo Washington – Lexy Hibbs
- Miss Rodeo New Mexico – Jamee Middagh
- Miss Rodeo South Dakota – Adrianne Schaunaman
- Miss Rodeo Kentucky – Morgan Askins
- Miss Rodeo Colorado – Ashley Baller
- Miss Rodeo Nebraska – Bailey Lehr
- Miss Rodeo Louisiana – Sydney Albritton
- Miss Rodeo North Dakota – Elise Burwell
- Miss Rodeo Arizona – Kennadee Riggs
- Miss Rodeo Oregon – Avalon Irwin
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