Story courtesy of Miss Rodeo America
December 12, 2017
Keri Sheffield was crowned Miss Rodeo America 2018 on Sunday, December 10, in Las Vegas.
The 24-year-old from Summerfield represented her home state at the Miss Rodeo America Pageant as the 2017 Miss Rodeo Florida, becoming the first from her state to hold the coveted national title.
Sheffield holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from Berry College and currently works as an ICU nurse. She plans on continuing her education to become a nurse anesthetist and carrying out her vision of serving as a medical missionary.
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.
In addition to the title, Sheffield earned the Appearance and Personality Awards.
This year, 31 contestants represented their states in the week-long 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 Florida, Idaho, Oregon, Utah and Texas – each answered a question about the innovative ways in which they would promote rodeo, agriculture, and the Western way of life if selected as Miss Rodeo America 2018.
During her reign as the official representative of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, Sheffield will travel more than 120,000 miles and appear at more than 120 rodeo performances, as well as making 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.
Sheffield 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.
“There is an abundance of privilege and responsibility bound to the crown of Miss Rodeo America. It would afford any one of us the unique and honorable opportunity to promote the sport of rodeo and the Western way of life. It is also a deeply personal choice. I have prayed for an avenue by which I can be a living demonstration that a life is best lived when it is given selflessly to others. I have prayed for a path that can make my dreams of continuing my education a reality, which will ultimately lead me to help administer medical services as a missionary in third world countries. I have prayed for a way to lead others towards a sense of belonging and community. I have prayed for a position of leadership from which I can teach humility and simple kindness. Miss Rodeo America is, quite frankly, an answer to my prayers.”
As Miss Rodeo America 2018, Sheffield 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 2017, Lisa Lageschaar of Texas. She will be introduced for the first time in the Thomas & Mack Center during the sixth performance of the WNFR on Tuesday, December 12.
Official Pageant Results
Miss Rodeo America 2018: Keri Sheffield
First Runner-up: – Miss Rodeo Texas – Tianti Carter
Second Runner-up: – Miss Rodeo Idaho – Hunter Rackham
Third Runner-up: – Miss Rodeo Utah – McKenna Hales
Fourth Runner-up: – Miss Rodeo Oregon – Kayla Vincent
Appearance: – Miss Rodeo Florida – Keri Sheffield
Personality: – Miss Rodeo Florida – Keri Sheffield
Horsemanship: – Miss Rodeo Texas – Tianti Carter
Photogenic: – Miss Rodeo Louisiana – McKenna Greene
Speech: – Miss Rodeo Texas – Tianti Carter
Congeniality: – Miss Rodeo Wisconsin – Katelin Bradley
Written Test: – Miss Rodeo Texas – Tianti Carter
Top Ten Contestants:
- Miss Rodeo Wyoming – Abby Hayduk
- Miss Rodeo Utah – McKenna Hales
- Miss Rodeo Mississippi – Emma Jumper
- Miss Rodeo Florida – Keri Sheffield
- Miss Rodeo Texas – Tianti Carter
- Miss Rodeo Hawaii – Lorrie Ann Smith
- Miss Rodeo North Carolina – Nicole Moody
- Miss Rodeo Idaho- Hunter Rackham
- Miss Rodeo California – Brittany Phillips
- Miss Rodeo Oregon – Kayla Vincent
Other Awards
Zona Vig Scrapbook Awards:
1st Place – Miss Rodeo Missouri – McKenna Wilmes
2nd Place – Miss Rodeo Mississippi - Emma Jumper
3rd Place – Miss Rodeo Hawaii – Laurie Ann Smith
4th Place – Miss Rodeo Nevada – Kaitlin McBride
Scrapbook Cover Award – Miss Rodeo Texas – Tianti Carter
Achievement Award (given to high seller for MRA Scholarship Foundation Drawing): –
Miss Rodeo Texas – Tianti Carter
Chap Award (Scholarship from Women’s Professional Rodeo Association for contestant with unique chaps & story): Miss Rodeo Louisiana – McKenna Greene
Wrangler Jacket Award – Miss Rodeo Colorado – Kelsie Winslow
Master Beef Award – Miss Rodeo Louisiana – McKenna Greene
Wear the West Your Way Presentation of Montana Silversmith –
Miss Rodeo Hawaii – Lorrie Ann Smith
Sherry Smith Memorial Scholarship – Miss Rodeo Idaho – Hunter Rackham
Dea Family Foundation Field of Science Scholarship – Miss Rodeo Florida – Keri Sheffield
