Morgan Askins, Miss Rodeo Kentucky 2022, applies hairspray to her hair Nov. 10, 2022 at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, Kentucky. Miss Rodeo Kentucky is apart of the Miss Rodeo America pageant circuit- which is in the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association. While she serves, each rodeo queen promote the sport of rodeo and the Western way of life. She must be single, unmarried, childless and have committed no crimes. The Miss Rodeo Kentucky pageant is set at the beginning of November, where the current Miss Rodeo Kentucky helps crown the future Miss Rodeo Kentucky. Then, if she chooses, the state rodeo queen can compete in the Miss Rodeo America pageant in Las Vegas that starts the last week of November. Morgan is one of 28 competitors vying for Miss Rodeo America 2023. Kentucky has never won.
Morgan trains her horse Chrome Sept. 29, 2022, at KC Bar ranch in Lexington, Kentucky. Morgan is from a town 25 minutes away from Bowling Green, Kentucky. She attended Western Kentucky University for her bachelor’s degree in agriculture. For her graduate school, she attended Tarleton State University in Stephenville, Texas.
The exterior of the University of Kentucky Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center. The Gluck Center is one of the only scientific institute in the US that has all its faculty conducting full-time research in equine health and disease. Morgan is currently a PhD candidate studying equine metabolic disorders.
Morgan sets up for her ride with Chrome Sept. 29, 2022, at KC Bar Ranch in Lexington, Kentucky. At the pageant, each queen will compete in a horsemanship competition that demonstrates her riding skills. However, each queen will perform a ‘jump ride’- meaning they will be riding a horse they’ve never been on before. Morgan participated in a 50 horse challenge where she rode 50 random to help improve on her riding for Miss Rodeo America.
Morgan brushes Chromes hair at KC Bar Ranch on Sept. 29, 2022, in Lexington, Kentucky. Morgan enjoys the pre riding ritual of getting her horse ready to ride because it allows for her and her horse to get into the right headspace- a gift not granted when jump riding at competitions.
Morgan stops to rest Chrome Sept. 29, 2022, at KC Bar Ranch in Lexington, Kentucky. Chrome is four years old and too young to compete in rodeo competitions. Morgan has been training him in preparation for future competitions, which has improved her riding for Miss Rodeo America.
Inside of Morgan’s room in Lexington, Kentucky. The sign is from the Bluegrass PRCA rodeo in Kentucky which Morgan helped work the rodeo as Miss Kentucky over the summer.
Morgan’s desk in the Gluck Equine Research Center.The only thing on her desk is this post it with her name on it, she prefers to work in a local coffee shop. Morgan says that the week is devoted to school while the weekends are all for prepping for Miss Rodeo America. Morgan says only a handful of her peers even know she’s Miss Rodeo Kentucky
Morgan’s Miss Rodeo Kentucky belt buckle. Each queen has a belt buckle that is personalized for her to wear during her reign. Buckles are traditionally handed out to winners after rodeo competitions. Morgan plans on cycling her Miss Rodeo Kentucky buckle into her everyday wardrobe even after her reign ends.
Morgan signs an autograph at the Madison Pro Rodeo in Madison, Indiana on Sept. 23, 2022. A way she promotes rodeo and the western way of life is interacting with audience members, mostly children, before and after a rodeo event. She has to have extensive knowledge of the rodeo taking place and also general equine knowledge to answer questions.
Morgan considers herself to be more introverted as compared to other queens. She also has a higher emphasis on second hand clothing and thrifting for her rodeo outfits. The shirt she is wearing for the horsemanship competition of Miss Rodeo Kentucky 2023- where she will set the course for the competitors- the appliqués were sown on the night before in her hotel room.
Morgan poses for a photo with a baby at the Pro Rodeo in Madison, Indiana on Sept.23, 2022. A rodeo queen must be knowledge in all aspects of western and riding in order to interact with audience members- especially children.
Morgan rides Chrome at KC Bar Ranch October 20, 2022, in Lexington, Kentucky. Morgan holds the reigns higher than usual to work on Chrome’s head positioning. While training Chrome, Morgan has been able to identify the problems in her own riding.
Morgan Askins showing off Chrome's new teeth coming in. Chrome is currently four years old.
Morgan puts her spurs on before riding Chrome. Spurs help a rider have more control of their horse- but Miss Rodeo America does not allow the wearing of spurs during horsemanship.
Morgan feeds her horse Hollie Nov. 10, 2023 at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, Kentucky, before horsemanship at Miss Rodeo Kentucky 2023. Hollie is an 11 year old mare that Morgan rode in high school competitions that she hauls from Bowling Green for the occasional queen ride. Hollie has the experience Chrome lacks which is why Morgan brings her. Hollie lives in Bowling Green on the Askins ranch with five other horses the family owns.
Morgan Askins holds the flag during the playing of the National Anthem at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, Kentucky on Nov. 10, 2022. Besides queen riding, a rodeo queen must also know how to ride with flags.
Morgan with 2023 Miss Rodeo Kentucky Colby Rice on Nov. 10, 2022 in Louisville, Kentucky. Colby is currently the Lady in Waiting and her reign will being in January of 2023.
Morgan participates in a crowd activity spurred on by the rode clown at the Madison Pro Rodeo on Sept. 23, 2022. Miss Rodeo Kentucky was the first ever queen competition she entered. She originally wanted to run for Kentucky Quarter Horse Queen, but was no longer available when she reached the age. If she does not win Miss Rodeo America, she will try running for All American Quarter Horse Congress Queen. Similar to Miss Rodeo, the Congress Queen will represent the All American Quarter Horse Congress.
Morgan doesn’t plan on winning Miss Rodeo America, but she will always appreciate her time as Miss Rodeo Kentucky. Queen or not, she plans on being involved in rodeo for the rest of her life.
