Mackenzie Ivie, who grew up showing horses in 4-H, started competing in rodeo queen pageants at 16, and she later earned the prestigious title of Miss Rodeo America 2012. Although those serve as fond memories for Ivie, her passion today is on making a difference in education as an English teacher and speech coach for Sidney Public Schools.
BRITTANY GUNN
Nspire Today! Feature Writer
SIDNEY – Nearly 15 years ago – on Dec. 10, 2011 – Vernonia, Oregon, native Mackenzie (Carr) Ivie was crowned Miss Rodeo America in Las Vegas, Nevada. The week-long pageant at the MGM Grand was held in conjunction with the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.
As the 57th Miss Rodeo America to wear the Landstrom Black Hills Gold crown, Ivie was the first state titleholder from the state of Oregon to hold the prestigious title. To date, she is the only woman from the state of Oregon to wear the crown. In addition to being crowned Miss Rodeo America, she also swept all major categories, winning horsemanship, personality, appearance, speech, and the Raeana Wadhams Spirit Award.
Although holding the title of Miss Rodeo America was many years ago, holding the national title has been something that has never phased away from Ivie’s life as a now Sidney Public Schools District English teacher and speech coach.
Life prior to the crown
Prior to being a rodeo queen, Ivie was very active in 4-H and the local county fair and rodeo. It wasn’t until her mom pushed her to compete in a local county fair and rodeo that Ivie found a passion and love for the job as a rodeo queen.
“I’m originally from a rural timber town in northwest Oregon,” said Ivie. “I grew up there my whole life and played sports and was involved in 4-H and was involved in a lot of school activities. Growing up, I showed at my local county fair and rodeo. I did nine full years mainly showing in the horse department. When my mom was young showing in 4-H, she was on the local fair and rodeo court where she was from in southern Oregon. When I turned 16, she encouraged me to do it and to just try it once. At the time, I really had no interest in competing in a rodeo queen pageant. I was very shy and had a hard time with one-on-one conversations. I could get up in front of a crowd of people or on a stage and perform, but the one-on-one aspect of queening was a bit unappealing to me.”
You can read the entire story in the Pride in Ag section of the February issue of Nspire Today! magazine. A one-year subscription (12 issues) to Nspire Today! is only $25. You may sign up for a subscription by sending $25 to Nspire Today!, P.O. Box 454, Scottsbluff, NE 69363, or you may pay with a credit card by calling 308-220-8907.
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