Meet the Queen: New Mexico
By Wrangler Network contributor Miss Rodeo America
The Road Less Traveled
Miss Rodeo New Mexico 2017, Kyla Myers, shares her experiences as a state titleholder and what it means to take the road less traveled.
“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.”
Rodeo Queens embody beauty and elegance with the strength and resilience that cowboys are known for. Indeed, we are ambassadors for the sport of rodeo but we are all so much more as well. We represent the western lifestyle, the love for agriculture, and what it means to put others before ourselves.
My name is Kyla Myers and I have been allowed to serve as Miss Rodeo New Mexico for 2017. To say that this year has been a blessing is an understatement, and it’s an injustice to merely say it has been a learning experience. Growing up in the rodeo queen community, I thought that I would be prepared and feel ready to take on the title as Miss Rodeo New Mexico, but nothing could prepare you for the life lessons and joys that come with the honor of being a state titleholder.
I have traveled to different rodeos across the nation representing rodeo and my home state of New Mexico. You hear that the experiences we have last a lifetime and this is in fact true. But what you don’t hear is the countless stories of the lives we have touched along the way. I firmly believe that to be a rodeo queen is more than being a representative, it is serving others. There’s a saying that goes, “Whoever you meet in life, you give them something, or you take something away. It’s never an empty interaction.” We can never encounter someone and leave empty handed or walk away without leaving a part of you with that person.
The smallest of gestures and simplest of words can be the difference in someone’s life, even if it appears to be insignificant to us at the time. To travel the rodeo road and to keep others in mind can be a difficult task, especially considering the nature of path we travel. It can be easy to lose sight of others after a long trip or sleepless night of traveling to a new arena; however, as a rodeo queen we can never forget that as it is our purpose.
To take the road less traveled means to stray from what is easy and to hold tight to what is right. To work honestly, behave courageously in the face of adversity, and to be loyal to your neighbor. Being Miss Rodeo New Mexico or holding any state title position across the country is a privilege that shouldn’t be taken for granted. It is an opportunity to share rodeo and the western lifestyle we represent with those who may not have had the chance to experience it before.
As a final message to anyone reading, don’t be afraid to speak and be kind to someone who may think differently than you. Step out of your comfort zone, the easy decision isn’t always the best. And most importantly, take the road less traveled, it will make all of the difference.
