Winner woman named Miss Rodeo America 2011 at National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas

Talk about it

LAS VEGAS — A Winner native was crowned Miss Rodeo America 2011 Saturday night at the annual contest held in conjunction with the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas.

McKenzie Haley competed in the areas of horsemanship, personality, appearance and rodeo knowledge and presentation throughout the weeklong competition.

Haley said hearing her name called as the winner of the event was very emotional. “Knowing that all your hard work has paid off is fantastic, and I was totally taken back and so thankful,” she said Sunday in a telephone interview with The Daily Republic.

She bested 27 other girls from states around the country to win the title, taking home top honors in appearance, personality, photogenic and speech.

Haley, a 2006 Winner High School graduate, is a student at Black Hills State University and pursuing a bachelor’s degree in elementary education but will be taking a year off while she holds the title.

“I will be traveling coast to coast to make appearances,” she said. “It will be very exciting.”

The last Miss Rodeo America from South Dakota was Leslie Patten White in 1985.

Tags: mckenzie haley, miss rodeo america, news, winner