First to Check In

By Kyle Partain, NHSRA Media Coordinator

Got a rulebook question? McKenna Greene of Texas is your man (or queen, actually).

The Inez, Texas, cowgirl is representing the Long Star State in the 2013 NHSRA Queen Contest and has spent countless hours — including much of the two-day drive to Rock Springs, Wyo. — studying for the written test.

“If I don’t know the answer, then it’s probably not in there,” she said with a laugh while waiting to check in on Thursday morning. McKenna wanted to be the first to check in, so she and her family arrived at the Sweetwater Events Complex on Wednesday. They spent the night across the street and pulled into the check-in line at 3:30 a.m. — a mere 8.5 hours before check-in actually opened.

“I was pretty excited to get here, but I can honestly say that my mom was just a tad bit more excited than me to get here,” McKenna said. “I’ve studied as hard as I could and done everything possible to get ready. Let’s hope that’s enough.”

McKenna is looking for her third queen title at the NHSFR. She was crowned Miss Rodeo Austin Princess in January, and then won the Texas High School Rodeo Association title in June. She also competes in barrel racing, pole bending, goat tying and breakaway roping.

“I had a rough year in my events,” she admitted. “I had trouble in nearly every event. But that’s okay, because I still have two years after this year. I just have to take those mistakes and turn them into lessons.”

McKenna is making her first trip to the NHSFR, but the rest of the family knows a thing or two about how the queen contest works.

“My sister was the Texas Queen in 2011,” said McKenna of older sister Avery, who finished fourth overall in the 2011 NHSRA Queen Contest. “I stayed at home rodeoing all summer. All they told me was to be ready because it will be a long week with lots of autographs and pictures. I think I’m ready, so we’ll see how it goes.

McKenna wasn’t the only one on hand long before check-in opened. Missouri Queen Carissa Pike was in the parking lot before 8 a.m. after also spending the night across the street. Between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m., the two were joined by nearly a dozen more queen contestants, as well as contestants in other events.

While waiting, more than one set of parents set off to get their golf cart rented or decorate special sections in the grandstands. Once check-in opened, it was time to unload the horses, park the campers and settle in for the week.