Miss Rodeo Washington heads to Vegas to wrangle a national title
Lexy Hibbs boarded a plane last week to compete on the largest stage a rodeo queen can hope for.
The Richland native and Miss Rodeo Washington will spend eight days competing to be the official spokeswoman for the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA).
“I don’t know if excited or scared is a better term,” Hibbs, 23, told the Herald. ”It’s an honor and a privilege. ... I’m so excited to show the judges why I think I can be a good Miss Rodeo America.”
The event brings rodeo queens together from 28 states west of the Mississippi River. They will be judged on their appearance, horsemanship and personality.
She will need to take a written test, demonstrate knowledge of the current events in rodeo, and interview with judges.
People can watch the event through the Wrangler Network or follow along on Facebook or Instagram. The event runs through Sunday, Dec. 4.
Hibbs’ journey as an advocate for rodeo and western life has its roots in her father’s work with breeding cattle. She grew up understanding the importance of agriculture.
She also loved being around animals, and after some initial reticence, she joined her twin sister for riding lessons when she was 7 years old. The first time she got on an American Quarter Horse she was in love.
“They will work as hard as you ask them to, and they never ask for anything in return,” she said. “Horses want so badly to please you. If you can help a horse, it’s truly a magical moment. ... It’s a really a special bond that helped me develop into the horsewoman that I am today.”
Her love of working with horses continued as she participated in 4-H, equestrian vaulting, dressage, jumping and rodeo queen pageants.
Miss Horse Heaven Roundup
She started pursuing the title of rodeo queen when a friend got the title of 2018 Horse Heaven Roundup Rodeo Queen. She realized the skills she could learn in the program would be useful in other aspects of her life.
Her first year in the competition for the 2019 crown she earned first runner up. She was grateful for the ability grow with her horse and improve her interview and public speaking skills.
She returned the next year and won the 2020 crown.
With COVID coming in, it created some new challenges. She learned to connect with the community in different ways, she said in a Benton-Franklin Fair and Rodeo video.
She reached out through social media to members of the community in ways that she wasn’t expecting, but she said she was grateful to be able to do it.
“I got to participate in the blood drive and I volunteered at 2nd Harvest and I got to pack flour,” she said. “Something I totally wasn’t expecting to do, but a way to do community outreach for queen.”
Hibbs’ reign as Horse Heaven’s queen continued an additional year as the closures caused by the pandemic continued. While she worked to serve the Tri-Cities, she was looking forward to competing on the next stage and to start promoting cowboys and cowgirls across Washington.
She was named Miss Rodeo Washington 2022 in October 2021.
“The first time you put on your crown, it’s a magical experience,” she said. “There is so much preparation, when it pays off, it’s one of the best moments.”
While she was serving as the Horse Heaven Roundup Rodeo Queen, she finished her degree at WSU Tri-Cities in viticulture and enology, which was fully paid for across 10 different academic scholarships.
She knew she wanted to work in agriculture, and discovered the size of the state’s wine industry.
She found work at the Goose Ridge Estate Vineyard and Winery in Benton City where she oversees the operation of a 2,000-acre farm.
A year of rodeos
In her year as the state’s rodeo queen, Hibbs has gone to every PRCA rodeo in the state as well as visiting rodeos in seven states — Colorado, California, Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming, Utah and Florida.
The experience has given her a chance to learn a lot about what she is capable of. She rode on unfamiliar horses, spoke in front of crowds and had long drives to reach her next destination.
“I have become a better horsewoman. I’ve just furthered my interview skills. ... Being a rodeo queen teaches you to be your true self, to be an individual who is powerful,” she said. “I have come out of it a better person than when I started.”
Toni Zunker, Benton-Franklin Fair Association Director said Hibbs was an amazing representative for the rodeo.
“We are very proud and excited for her,” Zunker said. “She doesn’t know a stranger. She’s been able to open doors and just been able to do an amazing job representing the sport of rodeo.”
Whatever happens in Las Vegas, she wants to see the western heritage that rodeo celebrates to continue to be protected.
She pointed out that each of the rodeo’s eight events are based on activities that continue to be practiced on cattle ranches.
“I love the idea of people on a cattle ranch and being out in rural America,” she said. “There is nothing better than being out in the field with cows or grapes, on a horse.”
This story was originally published November 25, 2022 at 3:07 PM.