23 Feb 2014 Miss Rodeo Arkansas taking 501 pride across the U.S.
by Hunter Brooks
Miss Rodeo Arkansas 2014 Stephanie Kaeppel’s passion for rodeo didn’t blossom until her family moved from Arizona to Conway when she was 12. Today, Kaeppel, now 23, represents the state in the sport.
“I wasn’t born into a family that anyone rode horses or lived on a farm or anything like that,” Kaeppel said. “I was one of those little girls who always had a passion for horses and begged my family to buy me a horse. Eventually I got a horse, and I met a lady from Greenbrier who taught me to ride.”
Kaeppel, who graduated from Conway High School in 2008, won her first pageant in 2007.
“After I learned how to ride, I got into rodeos, barrel racing and roping,” she said. “Once I got into high school, we had a big meeting at school where we elect officers and there was also a big rodeo queen pageant along with it. I remember thinking,
‘Look at those gorgeous dresses. I want one of those!’ So I learned about what all it takes and started doing pageants there.”
The most common categories among rodeo pageants include appearance, horsemanship, knowledge and personality. The talent portion, known as horsemanship, involves completing various techniques and skills while riding a horse.
Kaeppel’s other crowns include Miss Will Rogers Stampede Rodeo Queen 2013, Miss Rodeo of the Mid-South 2012 and Arkansas State Fair Rodeo Queen 2010.
Although she was crowned Miss Arkansas Rodeo at the event this past August, Kaeppel’s coronation wasn’t until February of this year. The time period in between the two is known as “The Lady in Waiting.” Her coronation included a fundraiser for travel expenses.
“It can be tough at times because you have to pay for all of this stuff out of pocket,” Kaeppel said. “You want to have a job, but a lot of jobs only give you a certain amount of time off. I recently attended a big rodeo in Denver, and I’m about to go to Florida for a big one they have there that lasts a week. I love being able to travel, but the donations have really helped me in doing that, so I’m thankful.”
For winning Miss Rodeo Arkansas, Kaeppel qualifies for Miss Rodeo America that will be held in December at the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.
Kaeppel currently owns four horses and a pony, and shows others during the summer. Among helping with different pageants around the state, she volunteers with the Arkansas Angels Pageant, a pageant for special needs children.
“I get to escort the guys out on stage and crown the little girls, which is great and very rewarding,” she said. “Sometimes you’ll have people who will want you to judge events and dress up as Miss Rodeo ‘whatever,’ so I keep pretty busy with all of it.”
Kaeppel graduated from the University of Central Arkansas in May 2013 with a bachelor’s of arts degree in business administration. As for life after Miss Rodeo Arkansas, she is interested in involving her degree with her love for horses.
“I really want to work in a large business atmosphere,” she said. “I think working at Oaklawn (Park Race Track) as its superintendent would be really neat. It’s a different aspect of the horse world but involves my two passions.”
