Idaho's Miss Little Bit Rodeo has big plans
By Susan Dudasik, Horse Quarterly correspondent
Friday, May 11, 2007 5:59 PM CDT
SALMON, Idaho — Whether competing at rodeos, buzzing around the arena or doing public appearances, 11-year-old BreAnna Olson is serious about her responsibilities as Miss Lil Bit Rodeo Idaho, since for her rodeo is more than a passing phase.
Olson began her rodeo career at age 4 when she trotted a retired roping horse around the barrels. Today she competes in barrels, poles, reining, roping, goat tying — and, of course, rodeo queening.
Olson is definitely carrying on the family tradition as most of her mother, Kim’s, family have been involved in rodeo. Her grandfather Kent Koeppen is a rodeo pickup man and her uncle Kurtis Koeppen is a regional college rodeo champion saddle bronc rider and rides in the PRCA team roping and saddle bronc riding. Her grandmother, Joyce Caywood, is a rodeo photographer, and both her mother and aunt grew up barrel racing and rodeoing.
“One of the neatest things about rodeo is how everyone is like a family,” Olson said. “People remember me, remember my family and are always nice to me. I think it’s fun to go to the rodeos and meet people that know my grandpa or uncle or remember my aunt. Rodeo people are just nice, they are good people, they know horses and they help me learn more about them and about rodeos.”
Miss Lil Bit Rodeo Idaho isn’t Olson’s first title. That was being selected as the Pioneer Days Rodeo Princess for 2005 in St. Anthony. After that, she was the Western Days Sweetheart 2006 in Twin Falls, and last summer the first attendant title for the Salmon River Days Royalty in her hometown of Salmon.
She doesn’t plan to compete in any queening contests this year, except perhaps the one in Salmon, because she wants to dedicate herself to representing her Miss Lil Bit Idaho title and plans on being on the road a lot promoting queening and the sport of rodeo. Also, Olson currently has three horses she’s working with and is starting to do breakaway roping.
As part of her official duties, Olson does a variety of public appearances at rodeos, parades and other venues. She’s also expected to do interviews and work with the media, not an easy task for an 11-year-old, but she’s learning.
“I really like to talk on the radio,” Olson said. “I have gotten to do quite a bit of that as the Western Days Sweetheart and Miss Lil Bit Rodeo Idaho. The TV is scarier, though, because then people can see me when I’m talking.”
Recently she attended the Dodge Circuit Rodeo Finals in Pocatello where she signed autographs and made appearances at the vendor booths and during the rodeo.
Another part of Olson’s duties is to help out at clinics by sharing her experiences. Competing in queening contests is more than looking pretty and galloping around the arena waving at the crowd. Contestants are judged on their horsemanship skills, public speaking and modeling as well as their knowledge of equine science and current events.
“I am getting ready for a clinic in Rigby,” Olson said. “I have had more autograph sheets printed and am studying some current horse questions to be ready to help out. I am also making up practice questions to help myself and girls prepare for this year’s contests.”
When asked what she learned about herself from her rodeo queening experiences, she replied, “I learned that it takes a lot of practice and guts, especially to talk in front of people and give speeches, and you have to study a lot to rodeo queen. I have learned that I can do just about anything I put my mind to. I can get a flying lead change, and I can keep a smile on my face and talk to strangers about rodeo even when I have a bad headache.”
For Olson, queening is not just a passing phase.
“I would like to run for the state title of Miss Jr. Rodeo Idaho and maybe some bigger titles around the state,” she said. “Most of the bigger rodeos have more fun things you can do to promote and help out with, like my state rodeo at Gooding. Someday I would like to win the State High School Rodeo title, then I could have a chance for scholarships, a saddle, and a chance to win the National title.”
But her ambitions don’t end there.
“I would like to become Miss Rodeo America and a wonderful barrel racer and roper,” Olsen said. “I want to go to school to be a teacher so that I can work with kids, and have my summers free to rope, barrel race and rodeo. I might also like to be a rodeo announcer or rodeo DJ (disk jockey) for the music.”
Olson’s advice for others interested in rodeo queening: “It is fun and exciting! Set goals for yourself and if you work hard, you can achieve them. Treat your horse like your best friend because he’s an important part of your queening.”
For those interested in learning more about the various rodeo royalty programs or to have Olson for a public appearance, contact her at lilbitrodeoid@hotmail.com.
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