08/29/2026
Where do we start?! Our rodeo was the most perfect weekend, beautiful weather, amazing ladies, and an electric crowd every night! We stayed extremely busy between sponsor visits, Miss Rodeo Wisconsin Pageant, Kate's Coffee Koop Royal Roundup, reading to kids, and of course the rodeo!
Thursday we visited all of our sponsors and got to meet the faces behind the businesses that make our rodeo possible! We also had a potluck to welcome the Barnes PRCA Rodeo family and crew, there was delicious food brought by everyone attending.
Friday morning we visited Kids View Daycare in Woodville and got to read to the kids and teach them about rodeo! Then we headed to the Pump House in Downing for lunch with the Miss Rodeo WI judges and visiting royalty. To kick off the first night of rodeo we held kids activities with all sorts of fun for the kids including games and a petting zoo! We then headed down to the rodeo arena to cheer on our fellow ladies in their horsemanship portion of the MRWI pageant! Lastly, it was rodeo time! We got to run flags, do fly-by's, and s**g cattle! "My favorite part of the weekend was getting to s**g cattle for the first time! I was over the moon with how well me and Mystic worked as a team and had the most fun out there! Of course autographs are always a favorite of mine as-well, I love inspiring the next generation of the sport I hold so near and dear to my heart!" - Ava Scharpen
Saturday we started the morning at Kate's Coffee Koop in Clear Lake. Kate got us all set up with fun drinks and delicious waffles! We signed autographs and talked with the community about what the rodeo and queening is all about. We also got to meet and talk with some local royalty! "It was so much fun getting to spend extra time with one of our valued sponsors, Kate of Kates Coffee Coop. We enjoyed drinks and waffles while catching up with rodeo fans and local royalty. A personal highlight for me would have to have been seeing three of the most adorable rodeo fans, we met them back in July at the Spooner Heart of the North Rodeo. These three girls were pumped to see us again, and so excited to come out to see all the rodeo action. Talking with then next generations is what truly makes this organization so special, leaving an impact is what keeps our sport alive." - Kennedy Bexell. Then we headed to the Baldwin-Woodville High School to attend and support the girls at the MRWI Pageant Fashion Show! Once we got back to the rodeo grounds we headed to start the kids activities for that night! Shortly after that, the MRWI Coronation was held where we crowned the Sweethearts and 2027 Miss Rodeo Wisconsin Lady In Waiting Ava Johnson! She did a phenomenal job and will be cool to see her carry on their family legacy, following her sister former Miss Rodeo Wisconsin 2025 Ashley Johnson! Finally, the rodeo began! We got to do it all again and had a blast, such a bittersweet moment as we are winding down our reigns.
We would like to thank Barnes PRCA Rodeo for always putting on an amazing show for the fans and lending horses when we need them! We would also like to thank our committee who makes this all happen, Lexie Schugel our royalty coordinator for help with outfits and helping the show run smoothly, all of our visiting royalty, and last but not least all of our sponsors who make this rodeo possible year after year!
Happy trails,
Ava Scharpen and Kennedy Bexell
St. Croix Valley PRCA Rodeo Queen and Princess
