BY KENDAL RAE JENSEN

Kassadee Jo Jones has made history as the only Miss Rodeo Utah to serve two consecutive years as the ambassador of the sport of rodeo for our state. She says this has given her unique experiences and opportunities that no other crown holder has encountered.

Her rodeo queen career started much differently than most. She knew she wanted to be a part of the sport but wanted to choose an event where she could spend equal amounts of time on and off the horse. She now laughs that she spends more time on a horse than anywhere else. She has made our state proud and represented us very well, appearing at more events and rodeos than any other Miss Rodeo Utah in our state’s history.

She is now preparing to represent Utah at the Miss Rodeo America 2022 pageant in Las Vegas, Nevada, this coming December. Through her hard work and preparation, she has learned many life skills that will serve her far beyond the crown.

She said that one of her most cherished memories from her reign has been serving as the current Miss Rodeo Utah at the 2022 pageant. She said that watching each of the contestants form forever friendships and lend helping hands to each other throughout the week was an experience that she will never forget.

The culmination of that week-long pageant brought her to the fateful night of July 24th, 2021, where her successor would be chosen. The lights of the Ogden Pioneer Days Rodeo stadium shone down on a line of 14 beautiful cowgirls decked in rhinestones, sequins, and felt cowboy hats; one of those hats would be crowned shortly with the coveted Miss Rodeo Utah crown and the wearer would serve as Lady in Waiting until the beginning of her reign in 2022. As Roger Mooney’s voice boomed through the loudspeakers, announcing the winner of each category, it became apparent just how fiercely competitive and closely judged each of the contestants were this year.

These talented young women competed in a grueling week-long pageant which consisted of prepared, impromptu, and extemporaneous public speaking, rounds of horsemanship competition, personal interviews, modeling, photogenics, and dozens of public appearances, including nightly rodeo performances, the MRU fashion show, the Special Kids Rodeo, and the Ogden Pioneer Days Parade. As the events of the week unfolded, their skills and beauty were on full display. For one of the ladies, her little girl dreams were soon to become reality.

As the announcer called the names of each runner up, tensions rose, tears welled in parents’ and supporters’ eyes and each of the girls clasped each other hand in hand…….and your Miss Rodeo Utah 2022 is……Bradie Jill Jones.

Bradie is the 26-year-old daughter of Bryce and Cara Jones of Henefer, Utah. She will serve as Lady in Waiting until her reign starts January 1, 2022. At that time, she will follow in Kassadee’s footsteps, traveling the state of Utah and the United States, representing Utah and the sport of rodeo.

She has already achieved many things in and out of the arena. She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Utah and will resume law school after her reign is finished. She has worked as a rodeo reporter for The Cowboy Channel and is currently serving as the media director for the Utah Department of Food and Agriculture.

Bradie also had an unorthodox start as a rodeo queen. At the age of 10, she had a traumatic horse accident and swore off riding. It wasn’t until 13 years later, as she was preparing to graduate college, that she recognized her dream of being a rodeo queen had never been realized, and she didn’t want to live with that regret. After much hard work and perseverance over the next three years, she won the crowns of Miss Rodeo Ogden 2019-20, Wilderness Circuit Rodeo Queen 2019-20, and now Miss Rodeo Utah 2022.

She hopes that she can be an inspiration to women of all ages and remind them that it’s never too late to chase your dreams.