Western Sports
FIVE CONTESTANTS TO COMPETE FOR MISS CALIFORNIA RODEO SALINAS TITLE
Miss California Rodeo Salinas is a year-round ambassador for the California Rodeo Salinas who travels to rodeos, parades, and other community events to promote the largest rodeo in California. The competition consists of horsemanship, personality and appearance, and scholastic contests. Miss California Rodeo Salinas 2022 Mayson Bothwell will pass the title along to one of the following contestants: Rose Escobar, Miss Salinas Valley Wine Country Pro Rodeo, Sydney Goldwyn, Miss Cal Poly Rodeo Team, Karina Leyva, Miss Hope, Horses & Kids, Macee Nunes, Miss Monterey County Sheriff’s Posse, or Karissa Rogers, Miss Rodeo Oakdale.
The 2023 contest, presented by Holiday Inn Express & Suites, begins on Thursday, July 6th and concludes on Saturday, July 8th; the winner will be announced before noon at the awards ceremony that day. The winner will receive a $3,000 cash scholarship to be used at the college of her choice, a gold and silver trophy belt buckle and tiara, the use of a two-horse trailer for one year and many other gifts. “We look forward to welcoming each contestant and their families to the Miss California Rodeo Salinas Contest,” said Laurie LaVelle, Director of the Miss California Rodeo Salinas Committee.
A schedule and other contest details can be found at: https://www.carodeo.com/p/about-us/mcrs/2023-miss-california-rodeo-salinas-contest. Biographies for each contestant are below.
Rose Escobar – Miss Salinas Valley Wine Country Pro Rodeo
A proud resident of the Salinas Valley, Rose Escobar has a love for western heritage and her community. Her passion for helping others led her to a career with a national investment management firm as a Client Associate.While continuing to further herself in this career Rose will soon receive certification to become a Registered Client Associate.
Competing in barrel races and ranch rodeos for the last 11 years, Rose has grown to love the western way of life. As a member of the West Coast Barrel Racing Association she has qualified and competed against many women she grew up idolizing. Rose recognizes the importance of supporting young rodeo athletes who are the future of the sport. Her free time is spent volunteering with CHSRA and the King City Stampede Pro Rodeo serving as chair on several committees. Without hesitation she recently accepted an invitation to coordinate the local CHSRA queen competition.
Honored with the opportunity to compete for Miss California Rodeo Salinas, Rose is also living out a childhood dream. Rose’s grandmother ran for California Rodeo Hostess in 1958 and that has further fueled her passion and drive to compete for this title while representing her local community.
Sidney Goldwyn – Miss Cal Poly Rodeo Team
Sidney Goldwyn of Lafayette learned the value of hard work and responsibilities at an early age while working on her family’s ranch and horse boarding facility. She is currently a student at Cal Poly SLO majoring in Dairy Science and minoring in Ag Business.Working towards owning an insurance company that meets the unique needs of agricultural clients across California and the West Coast is her dream career.
An all-around horsewoman, Sidney first competed in the hunter jumper circuit before entering the rodeo arena where she now competes in team roping and break away roping.As a member of the Cal Poly Rodeo Team, her work ethic and passion for horsemanship have earned her several awards and scholarships. She credits the skills learned while playing sports at a young age, including tennis and swimming, have now translated to the competitiveness and discipline which serve her well in the classroom and rodeo arena.
Growing up immersed in the agricultural industry, Sidney developed a love for it and seeks out opportunities to make a difference in this field. She is eager to compete in the Miss California Rodeo Salinas contest and would be honored to represent the values and tradition of the rodeo and agricultural communities.
Karina Leyva – Miss Hope, Horses & Kids
Karina Leyva of Soledad is determined to inspire others to follow their dreams. As a Special Education teacher at Soledad High School she is passionate about educating youth and setting an example that no matter your background a dream can become reality. While teaching she is also studying at National University towards a single subject teacher credential and Master’s with emphasis in social and emotional learning.
On dry days you might find Karina riding her horse through the Salinas River bed or until dark on her parent’s ranch. In 2022 she and her horse, Joy, led the Soledad High School Homecoming parade which brought a lot of interest in horsemanship from her students and colleagues. Her goals are to make a positive impact on the generations to come and give back to her community. Karina also serves as a worship leader and singer at her church in Salinas for special events and Sunday services.
With fond memories of watching the rodeo queens of the California Rodeo as a young girl, Karina enters the Miss California Rodeo contest to fulfill her childhood dream. She hopes to continue to promote the western way and sport of rodeo in a community that welcomes people of all backgrounds to participate.
Macee Nunes – Miss Monterey County Sheriff’s Posse
As a fifth generation Californian, Macee Nunes is grateful to have grown up immersed in agriculture and the western industry. With goals of becoming a large animal veterinarian focusing on equine athletes, Macee is currently a student at West Hills College. Her future academic plans include transferring to California State University Fresno to study pre-veterinary science and then on to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo to complete her studies.
While growing up riding horses at her parent’s ranch in the Sierra Nevada foothills of Prather she helped raise her family’s rodeo and PBR bucking bulls. Macee is a long-time barrel racing competitor and stays busy preparing her horses. Having competed at barrel races and championships across the nation, this year she hopes to fill her WPRA permit. A true animal lover, in her free time she enjoys fostering dogs for local animal shelters while helping to find them permanent homes.
Macee recognizes the importance of promoting and protecting the sport of rodeo and enters the Miss California Rodeo contest dedicated to preserving rodeo for the next generation. She plans to use her knowledge of animal care to help educate the public on the rules of livestock care governed by the PRCA.
Karissa Rogers – Miss Rodeo Oakdale
Calling Jamestown home, Karissa Rogers hails from the heart of California’s Gold Country. A high school scholar and athlete, she will graduate with a Degree in Communications from the University of Phoenix online this August. Her love of photography has spurred her photography business specialized in sports and action. She is a card holding CCPRA photographer with goals set on becoming an official PRCA photographer and one day to photograph the WNFR.
Horses have been a common thread throughout Karissa’s life competing in 4-H, western pleasure, reining and ranch versatility. From her love for horse shows she learned to scribe and has worked as a judge’s scribe throughout California. She volunteers in her community and currently serves as coordinator of the Mother Lode Round-Up Queen contest. Karissa is a self-proclaimed, avid bookworm who also enjoys spending time with her family road tripping, singing and fishing in her spare time.
Stepping out from behind the camera lens, Karissa enters the Miss California Rodeo contest with several previous queen titles to her name. With a dedicated career in horsemanship Karissa will continue to train and compete in ranch horse versatility shows and hopes to also become a carded AQHA and APHA all-around horse show judge.
About California Rodeo Salinas
The California Rodeo Salinas will take place July 20-23, 2023. The California Rodeo Association is a not-for-profit organization that strives to preserve and promote the traditions of the California Rodeo Salinas and the West. We support the community and other non-profit organizations through the staging of the annual California Rodeo Salinas and other year-round operations of the Salinas Sports Complex. Through donation of our facility, vending and fundraising opportunities during Rodeo and other events, the California Rodeo Association returns over $530,000 annually to local non-profits. For more information about the California Rodeo Salinas, log on to www.CARodeo.com or call the California Rodeo Office at 831-775.3100. ‘Like’ the California Rodeo on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CARodeoSalinas or follow us on Instagram or twitter @CaliforniaRodeo for updates, photos and more.
