Rodeo queen looks to lasso new crown

Sharon Crouch, left, watches her daughter, Miss Rodeo Washington Jessica Crouch, in purple, get a final fitting Wednesday as designer Susan Rummel, second from left, and seamstress Natalya Pilipchuk inspect her dress. (Photos by Steven Lane/The Columbian)

Miss Rodeo Washington Jessica Crouch said she figures to average four hours of sleep a night during Miss Rodeo America. The eight-day competition begins today in Las Vegas.

When Jessica Crouch packed for her trip to Las Vegas, she included about 20 outfits, 14 pairs of boots and four hats.

Now she’s looking to add one more item to her wardrobe: a crown.

The Salmon Creek resident is one of 27 women in the running for Miss Rodeo America. The eight-day pageant starts today and runs through Saturday, Dec. 6.

The Crouch family — Sharon and Jeff accompanied their daughter — left Thursday, figuring they’d catch Thanksgiving dinner at a restaurant somewhere on the highway.

On the eve of their departure, Jessica Crouch’s wardrobe was still in the fine-tuning stages. She had a final fitting of a purple leather dress created by Brush Prairie designer Susan Rummel. Battle Ground seamstress Natalya Pilipchuk was ready to ensure that everything was pageant-perfect.

Crouch, a 2004 Skyview High School graduate, earned her spot in the national event by winning the Miss Washington Rodeo title a year ago. As Washington’s reigning cowgirl, Crouch has a pretty good idea what to expect in Las Vegas.

Still, Crouch said, she’s been studying like crazy. In addition to typical pageantry events, there is a Q&A component that’s as wide open as a Western prairie.

Sure, there could be rodeo-centric questions about the professional circuit — recent rule changes, and what cowboy set a record in what event this year.

However, Crouch added, “They can ask about my favorite flavor of ice cream, or ask me about the bailout. Any question is fair game.”

Crouch also has been working on the horsemanship challenges that come with riding on an unfamiliar horse. Her own horse, Talent, who had accompanied Crouch to college at West Texas A&M, didn’t make this trip.

“At the pageant, we draw horses for horsemanship events. It helps level the playing field, rather than have one girl with a very expensive horse,” the 22-year-old cowgirl said.

A Cowlitz County family volunteered its barnful of horses so Crouch could saddle them up and get more comfortable putting an unfamiliar mount through its paces.

Crouch graduated from West Texas A&M in December with a degree in equine business management. She has put her career plans on hold, however, to represent Washington in rodeo events all over the country.

“I was only home a handful of days this summer,” Crouch said. “It kept me busy. I got to see a lot of pretty country and meet a lot of people.”

Win or lose, this figures to be Crouch’s last rodeo queen competition.

“I have an open mind,” she said. “I see myself as a winner in reaching this level. If I win, that’s exciting: It opens a lot of doors, career-wise, and I’ll be on the road, networking and representing rodeo.

“And if I don’t win, I’ve had a whole year of honing the skills I will use in the working world,” said Crouch, who is looking at a career in special events.

“This last year has been on the road, gaining independence, making contacts and meeting people. Rodeo committees across the country do a lot of media and radio interviews. Just doing that will help,” Crouch said.

Tom Vogt: 360-735-4558 or tom.vogt@columbian.com.