Rodeo Queen McKenzie Miller

While visiting the Deschutes County Fair this year, say hello to McKenzie Miller, the 2019 Deschutes County Rodeo Queen.

“It is a huge honor to be selected as the 100th anniversary fair and rodeo queen,” said the 21-year-old Miller. “I didn’t believe it for about a week.”

Miller moved from Oregon City to Crooked River Ranch with her parents Margaret and David Miller when she was one year old. She grew up there and attended Redmond High School, where she was recognized for her commitment and dedication to her agricultural future and to her FFA livestock, pigs.

Miller credits her parents for introducing her to horses.

“Back in the day, Crooked River Ranch had a little stable with horses down in the canyon. I used to go down there when I was two or three and my parents would sit me on a horse. That’s when my love of horses began,” said Miller. “You could say I’ve been in the saddle since I was three.”

Her 18 years of horsemanship came in handy as she competed for the title, but it took more than just riding to impress the judges. Miller also had to take a written test of about 80 questions, present a timed speech, participate in a pageant, and answer questions from a panel of three judges from the horse world who queried her about current events on top of her equine and rodeo knowledge.

“She’s an extremely hard worker, a caring individual, has a good friendship with the other girls who are title holders this year, and gave a phenomenal speech when she tried out,” said Carol Shull-Zimmerman, Deschutes County Fair & Rodeo’s queen advisor and secretary of Miss Rodeo Oregon Inc. “She was selected in October at the tryout and was officially crowned in January.” Miller’s reign lasts until the next queen is crowned in January 2020.

Being the rodeo queen involves a lot more than just riding her horse Dusky at the fair and signing autographs.

“It’s a year-long commitment that started back in January,” said Miller. She has traveled to various events, such as the Tumalo Community School’s Boots and Bling fundraiser and the Arlington and Tillamook county fairs, and she represents Deschutes County at other fairs and rodeos throughout Oregon during the year.

“McKenzie will also be helping out with timed events at the rodeo, such as calf roping, team roping, bulldogging, and they help run those animals out the gate in the arena,” said Shull-Zimmerman. “Her job at the fair includes working in the information booth, being a judge at the talent show, visiting the livestock barns, helping with the stick horse races in the Fun Zone, and working the rodeo at night.” For Miller, it’s a great time to meet people, sign autographs, and be a part of something big.

When not involved with her royal duties, time in the saddle is very important to Miller, who worked for Brasada Trails at Brasada Ranch leading trail rides and competes at monthly playdays at Prineville Ridge Riders Arena. She also hones her cutting skills at weekly cattle sortings at Sky Hawk Ranch in Terrebonne. Sortings require a horse and rider to enter a round pen with nine numbered cattle; when a number is called out, the rider and horse work together to push the cows into another pen in consecutive order, starting with the called number.

Miller recently started a new job working at Phil and Penny Knight’s Coyote Rock Ranch in Terrebonne.

“I’ll be working with the breeding facility, helping the barn manager with the pregnant mares and foals,” said Miller. “I can’t imagine a better job.”

Working with animals and in the outdoors led Miller to obtain an associate in applied science degree in forest resources technology from COCC in 2018. She plans to pursue her bachelor’s degree through an online program with Oregon State University while continuing to work for the ranch.

“Something that folks might not know about me is that my dad passed away in 2016,” said Miller. “Everything that I do, such as the county fair queen or going to college, I do for him. I’m just living through his spirit right now and I’m so happy to be able to represent the 100th anniversary because I can imagine the big smile on his face.”

Spoken like the queen that she is.