Bismarck Tribune

By TONY SPILDEBy TONY SPILDE

Eight seconds, 15 minutes, a year, a lifetime, forever.

On Saturday afternoon, time stood still for Ashley Andrews.

In a large room at a hotel in Las Vegas, everything swirled happily around her. She had just achieved the second of two major goals, and done so in front of her family.

Andrews, who represented North Dakota at the 52nd annual Miss Rodeo America pageant in Las Vegas last week, was crowned the winner Saturday after a week of competition. It was the second life-changing victory for the Bowman native this year.

The first one was actually a life-saving victory.

Andrews, diagnosed with cancer last January, said it went into remission in August, after six months of chemotherapy.

"It's just been so amazing, I can't even describe to you the feeling," Andrews said Saturday, in between phone calls from supporters, including Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D. "It's so great. I've been an avid fan and competitor in rodeo my whole life, and now I have my dream job of representing the sport and the industry."

Andrews said her experience with Hodgkin's disease taught her that she could overcome any obstacle in life.

As Miss Rodeo America, Andrews will represent the rodeo industry at appearances across the country and internationally. That, perhaps, was why she was the best choice this year. Just as rodeo should not be about the glory of completing a ride - but instead the hard work it took to get there - pageants should not be about the crown, but what's underneath it.

Eight seconds mean little, and 15 minutes of fame don't add up to much. A year as Miss Rodeo America can create a lifetime of memories, but the platform Andrews takes can make differences that last forever.

"Ashley's personality is outstanding," pageant judge Karen Yost, from Montana, said. "She has a tremendous ability to communicate her thoughts and thinks very well on her feet."

Those attributes will serve Andrews well during her yearlong reign. She is particularly looking forward to working with Wrangler's "Tough Enough to Wear Pink" program, which raises money to fight breast cancer.

"After having cancer, working with this (program) will be something that is close to my heart," Andrews said.

She'll officially take over for the reigning Miss Rodeo America, Amanda Jenkins, in six days - at the conclusion of the National Finals Rodeo.

Andrews is just the second North Dakotan to earn the title, after Carson's Brenda Lee Bonogofsky. That was in 1983, before the 21-year-old Andrews was even born.

About 50 people from the Bowman area and Bismarck traveled to Las Vegas with Andrews. Among her "entourage" were her parents, Bob and Rita Andrews, and her five brothers and sisters and their families.

Before she left, Andrews vowed to be the toughest competitor at the pageant. Yost said Andrews proved she was tough, intelligent, beautiful and skilled. The 28 contestants were judged in several areas, including personality, appearance and horsemanship. Andrews won the personality, speech and written test categories, and placed well in the others. Miss Rodeo Texas, Joanna Blackwell, was chosen as first runner-up.

Andrews will be the ambassador of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, which means traveling to more than 100 rodeos during the year, Raeana Wadhams, a spokeswoman for the pageant, said. As the winner, Andrews also received a $10,000 scholarship, which will help her finish her public relations and communications degree at the University of Mary.

Andrews, who also was the financial manager for the North Dakota Democratic Party, will take a year off from work and school to fulfill her responsibilities as Miss Rodeo America.

Her first major appearance will be in January at the National Western Stock Show in Denver, which was also her first major appearance last year as Miss Rodeo North Dakota. It was at the stock show where she started feeling sick. She was diagnosed with cancer later that month. The diagnosis came after Andrews visited a children's hospital in Denver and met with a boy who had cancer.

"It's going to be really emotional to go back, but I look forward to being there and knowing I'm healthy and knowing what Ican do," Andrews said.

Earning the title of Miss Rodeo America was the fulfillment of a lifelong dream for Andrews. But the dream doesn't end with winning the crown. Winning her first battle this year gave Andrews more time to make a difference, and she intends to do that. It's not about the crown, but who's underneath it.

In the end, it comes down to what you can do with your time in the spotlight.

Eight seconds, 15 minutes, a year, a lifetime, forever.

(Reach reporter Tony Spilde at 250-8260 or tony.spilde@;bismarcktribune.com.)