Farm & Ranch Guide: North Dakota's Ag Newspaper

Lindy Ellis of Bismarck, N.D., was crowned the 2008 Miss Rodeo North Dakota at the Badlands PRCA Circuit Finals Rodeo on Saturday, Oct. 6, in Minot, N.D.

Ashley Andrews, current Miss Rodeo America and Bowman, N.D., native, crowned Ellis.

Ellis, 20, is the daughter of Tim and Karen Hagen and Harlan Ellis, all of Bismarck. Ellis entered the Miss Rodeo North Dakota pageant as Miss Rodeo Mandan and is currently attending Bismarck State College where is she studying business management.

Talara Jojola-Luger, Miss Rodeo North Dakota Winter Show, was the first runner up. Kalie Seltvedt, Miss Rodeo North Dakota State Fair, also competed in the pageant.

Judges for the pageant were Mike Slater, Custer, S.D.; Cindy Wilk, Huron, S.D.; and Joan Lennick, Bismarck, N.D.

Contestants competed in three equally weighted categories including horsemanship, personality, and appearance. Ellis won the personality and appearance categories. Seltvedt won the horsemanship category.

Additional awards given at the pageant included the photogenic award, speech award, written test award, scrapbook award and Miss Congeniality. Luger won the photogenic award. Ellis won awards for speech, written test and scrapbook. Seltvedt was voted Miss Congeniality by the other contestants.

Although Miss Rodeo North Dakota is not a paid position, the winner will receive gifts and prizes totaling more than $12,000. Awards include the use of a 2008 Dodge pickup, a trophy buckle, a saddle, and several other prizes donated by North Dakota businesses and sponsors.

As Miss Rodeo North Dakota, Ellis will serve as a goodwill ambassador traveling throughout the state and the nation promoting North Dakota, the Western way of life, and the professional sport of rodeo.

In addition, Ellis will appear at rodeos and fairs and will speak to many schools, groups and organizations throughout the year. In December 2008, she will travel to Las Vegas to compete for the title of Miss Rodeo America.

Comments »

Comment on this story

Comments will be approved within 48 hours