Wednesday

Bridge Day

The annual Bridge Day was celebrated in Glendive on September 9. Chantell, Miss Montana's Outstanding Teen and I painted faces of many, many children and also spoke and performed.
Ryan Doll helped us by selling raffle tickets for the winter get-away to Big Sky for skiing and accommodations at the Huntley Lodge.
It was a beautiful day!

Photo Days


A new scholarship sponsor this year is SRSC Crissafulli Pumps.
As contestants we spent a beautiful morning with Miss Montana 2006, Christie Hageman, shooting pictures for the annual calendar which will feature the entire class of Miss Montana 2007 Scholarship Program contestants and various equipment of the company and its work force.
I am looking forward to helping Laura at the tradeshows this winter.

Medora Musical!


A Dream Come True!...August 26

Beef Fondue-western style: What is this? It's beef steak seared quickly on a pitchfork and served to thousands, who would later attend the Medora Musical, on the terrace overlooking the majestic badlands, the stage and the town. Before the musical, we dined at the steak fry and enjoyed the evening atmosphere before I dashed off for sound and stage checks to be the pre-show.
I remember going to the Medora Musical when I was a little girl. I sat at the edge of my seat entranced by the show before me. I wanted so badly to be the one on that stage performing! During one part of the musical the Burning Hills singers invite all the children to the stage. My parents urged my sister and me to join the other children, but we were too shy and stayed glued to our seats as most of the other children joined the performers on stage.

Who would have thought that I would someday return and dance in the pre-show as Miss Montana? But that is exactly what happened!
Sunday evening my unlikely dream of performing on that stage came true. I danced under the spotlights in the beautiful Burning Hills Amphitheatre. It was a perfect summer evening and I was awed by the beauty of the Teddy Roosevelt Park Badlands in North Dakota.

I performed a lyrical dance to “Beauty from Pain,” a jazz number to Nat King Cole’s “LOVE,” and spoke for a few minutes about the Miss Montana program and my integrity platform REACH.

My mother, grandmother, and dear friend Ardie were there to share in this special treat. It was also my mother’s birthday so I considered it very special to dance for her there. As I looked to the audience from the stage, I couldn’t help but remember sitting in those same seats as that shy young girl – full of awe and big dreams.
Another highlight was getting to meet the Medora Musical cast and crew. I was able to spend some time with them prior to the show and they were all so friendly and encouraging about my performance. After I performed, I joined the audience and was mesmerized by the rest of the show and the high caliber of the performers. I loved every minute of it and it was especially fun to have met them personally. I feel so blessed to have had this experience!

Portland & Vancouver Trip: August 21-23

After driving home from the Hope Project at the Yellowstone Club in the Gallatin Canyon, I caught an early flight out of Lewistown and met up with my director Avice for a trip to Portland. We were picked up at the airport by Lois Elaine, who had served on our judges panel. We then had lunch on the river with the famous, Uncle Ed, a man as delightful as his lovely wife. We had a wonderful lunch at Beaches where the cuisine and service were amazing! There was a “Welcome Miss Montana” sign at the entrance! Uncle Ed requested that a crown be placed on my head. Beaches has a lovely view of the river and we watched barges and boats go by as we dined at their special table.
After lunch we drove to the Pendleton store at the mill in Washougal, Washington. I tried on some very beautiful clothes. I now have a several sweaters, walking trousers, and a great vest; I feel much more prepared for fall’s cooler weather! Lois Elaine and Susan at Pendleton were amazingly generous in sponsoring a black wool dress coat for me. It is so beautiful and lady-like; I am so excited to wear it with the gorgeous scarf! It will be so nice to have while I am traveling across Montana in the cold winter months and for many years ahead. I feel like Audrey Hepburn in it.
After a tour and meeting with the dean at the International Air and Hospitality Academy in Vancouver, we rode in a taxi to our hotel in downtown Portland. Later that evening we met with Cami who was doing business in Portland and the three of us took the MAX to Beaverton Creek where Avice's sister, Joan, met us and treated us to dinner at the Red Lobster.
After a workout in the hotel workout center, Joan picked Avice and me up at the hotel for our drive to Gresham. I tried on many lovely evening gowns at Dee’s Studio Ltd with the gracious help of Suzie. There were some very beautiful gowns there. I felt like I was a little girl playing dress up while I tried on one beautiful gown after another! Lois Elaine showed her big heart by offering to buy me a beautiful gown. She has been so incredibly kind to me and I am eternally grateful for her support!
After lunch at a cute bistro across the street from Dee's, we drove to Nordstroms in Washington Square at Tigard were I had a makeup consultation with MAC makeup. My makeup artist, Ashley, did wonders! I felt so beautiful after she had finished my makeup. Upstairs in the couture department, I tried on several St. John ensembles. We then went to the Cheesecake Factory for dinner. It was my first time eating at one, and I thoroughly enjoyed every bite!
The next morning after a run and a cup of coffee from Starbucks, we visited the downtown Portland Nordstroms and window shopped at St. John, Banana Republic, and other boutiques. We then took the MAX line to the airport and to board our Big Sky Airlines flight homeward.
We flew over many acres of forest and grass fires burning in Montana and Idaho. The airports were busy with crews from other states helping to extinguish these fires. Seeing them brought back memories of my past two summers as a BLM fire fighter.
I immensely enjoyed my trip to Portland. Portland is such a beautiful city and full of exciting things. I was also so amazed by the kind people that I have been meeting. The generosity and support that I have encountered in people, like Lois Elaine, makes me feel so blessed. I am such a lucky girl!

Montana Highway Patrol: Hope Project Golf Classic

Hope Project Golf Tournament…July 20th

For the MHP Hope Project Golf Tournament I traveled to the beautiful Yellowstone Club in the Gallatin Canyon near Big Sky and West Yellowstone. The tournament, dinner, and auction were to raise money for the Hope Project. I have been designated as an official spokeswoman for this year for the Bears that Care, the Montana Highway Patrol.
During the tournament I was stationed at the 3rd hole. I had been told earlier that there had been some real bear sightings, especially at the 3rd hole. So when I was dropped off there I was given a can of bear spray! I was a little nervous, but I had no encounters with any bears! Instead I had only a gorgeous view of the mountains sprawling before me. When we were leaving I even saw a moose and its baby!
After everyone finished their golf games we enjoyed a delicious dinner followed by an auction and awards with several special guests. Montana's Attorney General Mike McGrath and Governor Brian Schweitzer, and several Hope Project wish recipients and their families were in attendance. Governor Schweitzer and I handed out awards and then had pictures taken with the recipients and their families. The recipients were all smiles at being the special guests at an event that helps sponsor the wishes that make their dreams come true!

Montana Fair & Expo: Billings

At the Montana Fair and Expo held at Metra Park in Billings, I got to perform twice on the community stage on the last weekend, August 17 & 18. I put together a few new dances for the occasion and it was fun to try them out! The last day my mom and little sister came to watch and to also do some school shopping. I talked my little sister into riding on the “zipper” with me. She was a little nervous, but we had a blast!
On Saturday evening I was introduced at the rodeo. But at this rodeo I got to ride on a more than a buckboard! I was pulled into the arena by Texas Thunder! The wagon was pulled by eight beautiful, large black horses. They then performed many difficult maneuvers to the amazement of the crowd and me. The driver then turned and told me to hang on tight. The horses then raced into a gallop around and around the arena and then out the gates for a grand exit. What a ride! I was just glad that I had pinned my crown on nice and tight!

Dawson County Fair - August 10 & 11

I got to return to Glendive for the county fair. It felt like going home. After having competed three times in Glendive for Miss Montana, Glendive has begun to feel like home. I have met so many amazing people there and it was such a joy to have the chance to see them again. It was fun to visit with them when I wasn’t under the stressful circumstances of competing. It was also fun to return to Glendive as Miss Montana, having been there so often with the hopes of achieving that dream.
On Friday, I spent the morning and afternoon helping to hand out ribbons at the 4-H judging. It was great to see the kids showing their animals and seeing how all of their hard work and dedication to their projects had paid off.
That afternoon I performed a few dances and spoke at the community stage. I had a few special guests in the audience, my three Miss Montana Little Sisters, each from my past years of competing! It was so exciting to get to visit with them after my performance.

Friday evening I was driven into the rodeo arena on a horse-drawn buckboard. It was quite the bumpy ride! Once in the arena I drew the lucky raffle ticket for a trip for two people to the National Rodeo Finals in Las Vegas!
On Saturday I helped out at the first ever Water Olympics at the Glendive pool. Kids were given the chance to compete in all sorts of fun water games at the chance to receive prizes and candy. Later in the day I was a judge in the diving contest. I saw some beautiful dives and some impressive cannon balls!
Saturday afternoon I again performed at the community stage. Once again I got to see some of my past little sisters! It has been so much fun to watch how they have grown up over the past three years!
Saturday evening I got to announce who had won the kiss the pig contest! The sheriff was the unlucky….I mean lucky winner! I applied a lovely shade of cherry red lipstick on his lips and in return got an imprint of that on my cheek! I then explained to him that the pig was in the other corner and that he had better hurry over or he’ll make the pig jealous! He then placed a lovely peck on the pig! I’m just glad that he didn’t decide to give me a kiss after that! I then helped with the livestock auction where I was a ring man ---woman---- during the auction.
I had such a lovely time in Glendive! While I was there I stayed with Ardie, who had been my host mom at last year’s competition. She is such an amazing and sweet lady. I enjoyed coming home and staying up late visiting with her. She is not only an amazing hostess but a wonderful friend. She lives by Mikoshika State Park, so in the mornings I go for runs through the beautiful badlands. I am always treated to breath taking sunrises and glimpses of deer and many rabbits.

Our program's photographer, Dorothy, was able to snap many photos for the local sponsors.

DQ & Miracle Treat Day: August 9

August 9th was Miracle Treat Day when Dairy Queen franchises give all the profit from their blizzards to help the Children’s Miracle Network. I got to help out with this fundraiser by visiting and helping at five Diary Queens in Billings! It was fun to visit with the customers and to bring them their delicious treats.
There were many people who came in and told me that they were getting a blizzard just for Miracle Treat Day. It was so encouraging seeing people eager to help out this worthy cause. I was also given a special treat at the end of the day, a cookie dough blizzard…my favorite!

Shakespeare in the Park

Ooops, I almost forgot, one of my first and very special events this year.....Shakespeare in the Park…July 5th

It was a warm summer evening perfect for an evening outside. There was quite the group gathered to be entertained by the work of Shakespeare, still enchanting even right now in present day in Lewistown, Montana. The play was held at the fairgrounds in Lewistown and had quite the turnout. It was fun to gather under the big cottonwood trees and enjoy a beautiful summer evening while watching the Shakespeare players put on a wonderful performance!

After the play I attended the cast party. My neighbor Kitty put together quite the feast for all the players and guests. It was fun getting to know that real people who had so exquisitely played their Shakespearean characters. What a fun evening!

Monday

Girls Rock! August 4th

On Saturday I was in Columbus where I was given the opportunity to be at the Girlz Rock event. I had such a great time there! I am still a little shaky about public speaking, but I can feel it getting easier with each event that I attend. Plus the positive attitudes of the girls and volunteers in attendance helped to quiet my nerves!
After I was done speaking I got to watch the fashion show put on by the young ladies of Columbus and the Stillwater area. There were some adorable outfits! But really the smiles and fun that the models were having outshined what they were wearing.
Mrs. Montana, was also a speaker at Girlz Rock. I got the chance to get to know her a little better. It was lots of fun getting to visit with Leah. After the event we signed autographs and took pictures with the girls. It was a blast!
I not only had a lot of fun, but was also very encouraged to see so many girls attending such a great event.

Girls truly rock!