KERI SHEFFIELD OF FLORIDA CROWNED 2018 MISS
RODEO AMERICA
Keri Sheffield was crowned Miss Rodeo America
2018 on Sunday, December 10, in Las Vegas.
The 24-year-old from Summerfield represented
her home state at the Miss Rodeo America Pageant as the 2017 Miss Rodeo Florida,
becoming the first from her state to hold the coveted national title.
Sheffield holds a Bachelor of Science degree in
Nursing from Berry College and currently works as an ICU nurse. She plans on
continuing her education to become a nurse anesthetist and carrying out her
vision of serving as a medical missionary.
The Landstrom’s Black Hills Gold crown is
accompanied by more than $20,000 in educational scholarships and prizes
including a wardrobe of Wrangler jeans and shirts, an assortment of Montana
Silversmiths jewelry, and a selection of Justin Boots.
In addition to the title, Sheffield earned the Appearance
and Personality Awards.
This year, 31 contestants represented their
states in the week-long national pageant consisting of a horsemanship
competition, a written test on equine science and rodeo knowledge, extensive
interviews, extemporaneous speaking, and a fashion show. The top five contestants
– from Florida, Idaho, Oregon, Utah and Texas – each answered a question about the
innovative ways in which they would promote rodeo, agriculture, and the Western
way of life if selected as Miss Rodeo America 2018.
During her reign as the official representative
of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, Sheffield will travel more than
120,000 miles and appear at more than 120 rodeo performances, as well as making
appearances at schools, civic groups and other special events in order to
educate the public and create awareness about the sport of rodeo, its sponsors,
and its opportunities.
Sheffield will also serve as a spokesperson at
a variety of promotional events and model in commercial advertisements for Western
clothiers, publications, sponsors and other service providers to the Western
industry.
“There is an abundance of privilege and
responsibility bound to the crown of Miss Rodeo America. It would afford any
one of us the unique and honorable opportunity to promote the sport of rodeo
and the Western way of life. It is also a deeply personal choice. I have prayed
for an avenue by which I can be a living demonstration that a life is best
lived when it is given selflessly to others. I have prayed for a path that can
make my dreams of continuing my education a reality, which will ultimately lead
me to help administer medical services as a missionary in third world
countries. I have prayed for a way to lead others towards a sense of belonging
and community. I have prayed for a position of leadership from which I can
teach humility and simple kindness. Miss Rodeo America is, quite frankly, an
answer to my prayers.”
As Miss Rodeo America 2018, Sheffield will
begin her duties by attending press conferences immediately following her
coronation and spend the remainder of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo
attending appearances with Miss Rodeo America 2017, Lisa Lageschaar of Texas. She
will be introduced for the first time in the Thomas & Mack Center during
the sixth performance of the WNFR on Tuesday, December 12.