story by Lily Weinacht
Jessyka Smith from Rock Springs, Wyoming, is the 2018 Miss Wyoming High School Rodeo Queen. The 17-year-old first competed for the title in 2017, and though she didn’t win that year, she learned and came back with the determination and skills that earned her the crown this year. “I really enjoyed the personal interviews with the judges, and they asked really fun, deep questions,” says Jessyka. “I enjoy horsemanship, and this year I ran on a mare I’ve had about two months and she’s super green and spooked at almost everything in the arena, but we did good.”
Since her coronation, Jessyka participated in the Flaming Gorge Parade in Green River before turning her focus to preparations for the NHSFR queen contest. “I think the biggest thing I’m looking forward to is meeting a bunch of new people—queens and people from all over the world who come to watch a great sport. It’s going to be something new—I’ve never made Nationals, so it will be a new experience. I’ve always loved the sport of rodeo and always loved being able to work with my horses. I want to represent the sport of rodeo any way I can, whether it’s making a smooth pole run or representing as the queen. My parents, Artha and Stan Smith, are really big supporters of it. Without them I wouldn’t be where I’m at in the rodeo world. We’re a great team.”
Jessyka, who is entering her senior year of high school this fall, also hopes to qualify for the NHSFR next year in pole bending and barrel racing. She fell in love with horses through her grandfather, Oscar Stapleton, who owned several horses, and competed in gymkhanas until her rodeo career took off when she was 12. “My favorite is definitely the poles. There’s a lot more at stake. I had a great fall season in poles, but as soon as spring hit, we just couldn’t keep the poles up. I’ve been watching videos and going to clinics to see what we can improve on for this fall. I learned my great horsemanship skills from Kate Dickinson, and her mom, Gerda, has helped motivate me not just in rodeo but in 4-H as well.”
This summer, Jessyka is showing her two steers, Potter and Hot Sauce, at the fair. She also has two dogs that travel with her, Gizmo and Taz, along with her rodeo horses. “My pole horse is Ally—she’s an amazing horse that taught me how to do barrels and poles and she placed eighth overall with poles this year at state. I want to put Ally back on barrels because my mare Chevelle is shorter and can weave a pole better. I have a Paint horse, Amigo, I use for running flags and as a backup barrel and pole horse, and I have a 2-year-old filly coming along really nice. Ally is her mom.”
When rodeo season slows down, Jessyka enjoys hunting and fishing with her family. Her involvement with Job’s Daughters has also helped hone her leadership and speaking skills. “It’s an organization for girls between 10 and 20 who believe in God and love giving back to the community any way they can,” says Jessyka, who is the current honor queen for Green River. She is also one of five girls selected to represent Wyoming at Supreme in Utah, a competition to see which team can recite the story of Job the best. At Rock Springs High School, Jessyka is also a part of the Fire Law Leadership Academy. For a while, she was interested in going into the FBI as a career, but plans to become a large-animal vet.
“I’m going for the National queen title, and I’m trying to get my poles together so I can qualify for Nationals in the pole bending and barrel racing next year. My biggest goal is to represent Wyoming in the best way I can, and I want to give a big thank you to the WHSRA and the queen sponsors, and the panel of judges.”
