Former Miss San Benito, Alyssa Abercrombie, one of five
contestants in Salinas Rodeo
Alyssa Abercrombie, an 18-year-old Paicines resident who won the
2009 Miss San Benito Rodeo contest, will be one of five contestants
vying for the title of Miss California Rodeo Salinas later this
month.
”
I’ve always looked at it as something bigger than I could
possibly imagine,
”
she said.
”
When I won San Benito, I saw that it was possible that I could
be a queen and maybe move on to a bigger title.
”
Former Miss San Benito, Alyssa Abercrombie, one of five contestants in Salinas Rodeo
Alyssa Abercrombie, an 18-year-old Paicines resident who won the 2009 Miss San Benito Rodeo contest, will be one of five contestants vying for the title of Miss California Rodeo Salinas later this month.
“I’ve always looked at it as something bigger than I could possibly imagine,” she said. “When I won San Benito, I saw that it was possible that I could be a queen and maybe move on to a bigger title.”
The 2010 San Benito High School graduate said she is comfortable with the horsemanship aspect of the competition, as she has been riding horses since she was 2.
“I think I’ll be OK with the stage performance,” she said. “All the questions they’re going to ask are rodeo-related and I’ve been around that all my life.
Abercrombie will compete for two days against Miss Mother Lode Round-Up, Miss Springville Lions Club, Miss Loma Serena Stables and Miss Rodeo Oakdale. The women will be judged on horsemanship, personality, appearance and scholastics. The winner will receive a $2,500 scholarship, a gold and silver trophy belt buckle, a gold and silver tiara, the use of a two-horse trailer for one year and other prizes.
Miss California Rodeo will travel to rodeos, parades and other promotional events as an official ambassador of the event.
Jamie Fowles, the 2000 Miss San Benito Rodeo and now an organizer of the local event, said she encouraged Abercrombie to pursue the Salinas crown because “she has an amazing personality.”
“She’s very positive and outgoing and she’s an amazing horse rider,” Fowles said. She’s all-around amazing. I have a lot of hope for her.”
Abercrombie will compete on Wednesday, July 20 and Thursday, July 21. Miss California Rodeo Salinas will be presented on that second evening and begin her reign.
“It’s a really big commitment to compete at this level,” Fowles said. “A lot of girls don’t do it since the contest raised the age to 18. Alyssa’s at Cuesta College (in San Luis Obispo) so she’s close enough that she’ll be able to perform her duties if chosen.”
Abercrombie, who plans to transfer to Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo to study ag business, said competing in Salinas presents different challenges than the local competition at Bolado Park.
“Being in Miss San Benito, you know everyone,” she said. “I’m the sixth generation of my family here, so I’ve been part of it all my life. I’m not going into it (in Salinas) knowing anybody, so you’re not exactly in your comfort zone. I need to know a lot more things, from the history of the Salinas Rodeo to horse diseases and tack.”
Her family, particularly her parents Pat and Laurie, has supported her throughout her quest for the San Benito and Salinas rodeo titles, she said.
“They’ve always been behind me,” she said. “They are really familiar with rodeo. Rodeo’s been around me since I was born; my dad was a big contestant. They’ve taught me a lot and without them I wouldn’t be here.”
The California Rodeo Salinas will take place July 21-24 at the Salinas Sports Complex, 1034 North Main St. For more information, visit www.CARodeo.com or call 831-775-3100.
San Benito represents
Six former Miss San Benito winners have been crowned Miss California Rodeo Salinas (known as sweethearts of the rodeo prior to 1977). They are:
1949 Joanne Phillips Erickson
1955 Diane Rose Rodrigues
1993 Lisa Fuentes
1994 Tina Garbini Mansmith
2000 Shannon Renz
2007 Amanda Jacobsen Johnson
