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Rodeo queen realizing a dream

TOM STROMME/Tribune Lindey Ellis at her family ranch with Cruiser, one of her favorite quarter horses. "He's our main barrel horse," she said "he's a quick one."

Oct 13, 2007 - 04:02:00 CDT

By JAMES ZIEGLER
Bismarck Tribune

Lindy Ellis has dreamed of being Miss Rodeo Norh Dakota for a long time. Last weekend, that dream came true.

Competing in rodeo pageants has been a passion for Ellis, of Bismarck, since she first saw Miss Rodeo America Ashley Andrews at a rodeo during her freshman year of high school.

At that time, Andrews was the North Dakota High School Rodeo Queen, and the experience inspired Ellis to chase a dream of being a rodeo queen. For 20-year-old Ellis, that dream has become so important that she has withdrawn from college to see it through.

She says that she feels horrible about dropping out of college. Education is important to her, and she plans to come back some day to finish.

"It really hurt to drop out of school today, but something's got to give, and I'd rather withdraw from class before I lose control of class," Ellis said.

Leaving college is only one of the many sacrifices that Ellis has had to make for her dream, but they are starting to pay off.

After winning many rodeo pageant titles, including Miss High School Rodeo in 2003, she now has the highest title in the state. A week ago, her hero, Andrews, crowned her Miss Rodeo North Dakota.

Ellis described the experience of winning Miss Rodeo North Dakota as "overwhelming." So much so that it didn't fully sink in until days later when she got a phone call from Al Gustin of KBMR and KFYR about "Rodeo Chat," a radio show hosted by Miss Rodeo North Dakota on Friday mornings on KBMR.

It was then that she realized, "Oh that's right, I'm the host ... I'm Miss Rodeo North Dakota!"

As tears of excitement started to flow, she had to pull her vehicle over to get control of herself.

"Sitting there on the side of the road, it was, like, 'wow, I can do this,' " Ellis said.

Some competitors will have a year to prepare for a competition like Miss Rodeo North Dakota. Ellis didn't find out that she was competing until a little more than three months before the competition, but that didn't keep her down.

"It was a lot of money, and a lot of time, and a lot of studying, and I had a lot of people helping me. It was pretty rough," Ellis said.

Starting in June, Ellis went through a rigorous training program that involved diet, exercise, and improved sleeping habits.

Every two to three hours she would eat a meal about the size of her hand, and journal what she ate.

She also would run six miles a day with her personal trainer and lift weights every other day to keep her upper body toned.

As for sleeping habits, she would go to bed at 9 p.m. and wake up early in the morning to get used to those hours before the day of the competition.

Then came rounding up clothes.

Ellis' mother, Karen Hagen, and her seamstress, Louise Dobbs, helped her a lot.

"We threw a dress together in four days," Ellis says of Dobbs. "Kudos to her because she is still sewing for her son's wedding."

For Ellis and the two other competitors, Talara Jojola-Luger and Kalie Seltvedt, the Miss Rodeo North Dakota experience was an action-packed weekend in Minot.

In order to get into the Miss Rodeo North Dakota pageant each of the contestants has to hold a title. Ellis' was Miss Rodeo Mandan, Jojola-Luger's is Miss Rodeo North Dakota Winter Show and Seltvedt's is Miss Rodeo North Dakota State Fair.

The pageant is split into the three categories of horsemanship, personality and appearance. Ellis took two out of three, winning the personality and appearance competitions. She also won additional awards for speech, written test and scrapbook.

Now, as Ellis' dreams are starting to come true, she says she would recommend the three R's for the girls who might be looking to follow in her footsteps.

"Respect yourself, respect others and take responsibility for what you do. I think if you live by those three rules, you'll have no problems."

Ellis' next official appearance as queen will be from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 20 at the RCC Western Store in Kirkwood Mall.

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Comments

Erik Vereb wrote on Sep 6, 2008 2:38 AM:

" When i was going through mandin last year on my way home from vacation, i actually had the honor of meeting lindy ! ! She really is a very nice lady and definately a good role model ! ! She is actually one of my role models and one of the people who inspired me to wanna become a rodeo cowboy ! ! "

sme wrote on Oct 30, 2007 10:18 PM:

" i've met lindy. she's too "trained" and isnt herself. too bad she won. i would have preferred someone with more personality "

I Don't Understand wrote on Oct 23, 2007 12:07 PM:

" Jason and everyone...im sorry but i do not think that you understand what being a rodeo queen entails...for most it isn't about the "fame" how are your famous most people won't remember your name after you are done. I know lindy personally and that girl would have done anything for that title, and as far as dropping out of school if you have heard of Ashley Andrews (current miss rodeo america) she took a year off of school when she was Miss Rodeo ND and now she has as she is Miss America, so please do some research first and i understand that you want your daughter to look up to a positive example but lindy is that and if you don't agree with her, she isn't the only rodeo queen and i know many that would be willing to take the time out. "

thagen wrote on Oct 23, 2007 7:47 AM:

" Jason, I don't believe you have every met Lindy. Because I know her and have seen her as Miss High School Rodeo, Miss Rodeo Prairie Rose, Miss Rodeo Mandan, and Miss Rodeo North Dakota, and I have seen her with little children and she spents all the time with them that she can. If your little girls wants to spend time with Lindy all you have to do is ask. I have seen Lindy dress up and go into the hospital to cheer up a little boy that had cancer and wanted to met her, there was no TV camera or reporter around for that. So fame? Who is kidding who here. "

Jason wrote on Oct 18, 2007 11:19 PM:

" she acted like being miss rodeo mandan was a chore. she only smiled when someone of importance was around, and ignored young children unless they asked for an autograph and then was quick to dismiss them. which is sad. my daughter looks up to rodeo queens and its disappointing to see one act like she did. Does she really want to represent ND? or is she just looking for fame "

Proud wrote on Oct 18, 2007 1:10 PM:

" To Jason: Why were you not impressed? "

Jason wrote on Oct 18, 2007 12:36 PM:

" If she represents the state like she represents herself... we're in for a load of trouble. When i met her in Bismarck i was not impressed... "

Proud wrote on Oct 17, 2007 12:58 PM:

" The reason that there was only three competing is because the girls have to be a reigning queen or a previous queen of an association to run. The other two girls that ran are also very talented so Lindey should be proud. Some states dont even have three competitors, so why make fun of ND. Why make fun of the state we live in. Lindey should be patted on the back if she is keeping a busy schedule and working at the cracker barrel. Just because she is a rodeo queen doesnt mean that she cant have a job. Remember she is supposed to be promoting our state not damaging the reputation. "

rj wrote on Oct 17, 2007 9:37 AM:

" Only three competing?????? Did you here about the beauty contest they held in North Dakota? Nobody won "

Disgusted wrote on Oct 17, 2007 7:58 AM:

" Where are the days when we had more than 3 ladies competing for the title? What has changed in the industry that there aren't more titles available and more vying for the honor. These girls are role models for our young daughters out there. As for the quitting school thing, while I don't support quitting school, I can definitely understand, what irks me is that it is one of the first things mentioned int he story. Why? What is the point? Do the Trib reporters always feel the need to drag someone down. Sickening - get some scruples. "

Jason wrote on Oct 16, 2007 8:02 PM:

" she must really be talented if she can go to bed at 9pm and work the late shift at Cracker Barrel at the same time "

A Pattern wrote on Oct 13, 2007 9:44 PM:

" I see a pattern....Ashley Andrews got into the Miss Rodeo ND pageant by being named Miss Mandan Rodeo. She went on to win Miss Rodeo ND AND then Miss Rodeo America. Mandan produces winners! "

Oh quit it!! wrote on Oct 13, 2007 12:58 PM:

" To jr. your negative comments are not needed here. Look for the good it's all around you!!! Lindsey is a great self defined person who has been taught by her parents on how to go about what she wants!! Self discipline is something one has to go after to be successful in their chosen areas. God has definintely given Lindsey gifts to share. RIGHT ON LINDSEY. GOD IS ON YOUR SIDE!! (jyw) "

Proud: wrote on Oct 13, 2007 11:14 AM:

" An honor as this takes much time and committment. It is hard to work hard and travel to promote our great state and go to college. At least Lindsey is planning on going back after promoting North Dakota. It is not like she is quitting school to go mess up her life. Being a rodeo queen consists of a lot of traveling. Why pay for school when it is impossible to attend. Congratulations to Lindsey and hopefully ND will have another Miss Rodeo America. "

thagen wrote on Oct 13, 2007 10:40 AM:

" Before you comment here you need to get an idea of the schedule that Miss Rodeo North Dakota has to keep. They have to go to Denver for two weeks, Utah, Las Vegas, and multiple trips to South Dakota. The person who wrote the article could have focused on how North Dakota is going to be represented and not on the fact that the travel requirements are so that these girls can't go to school. Maybe you should be to know the person and the position JR before you spout off. "

jr wrote on Oct 13, 2007 8:36 AM:

" Thats about right for someone from North Dakota, set a fine example for all of the young people out there......quit school. "

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