To kick off 2023, I traveled down south to warmer weather to visit the Florida Gulf Coast show in Tampa, Florida! My flight to Tampa was canceled Wednesday evening, but thankfully I got an early bird flight Thursday morning and was at the show by 10am on Thursday! One thing to note amidst my travels as queen… People in airports are SO intrigued by our cowboy hat cans! I travel with 2 hat cans and of course keep them with me as a carry on, and I find them to be the #1 conversation starter with strangers in airports. There was even a person who thought they were cat carriers LOL! I have enjoyed being able to give strangers a glimpse into our cowboy way of life explaining what is in my odd carry on and what I am traveling for when I show them my crown! Crew members on planes also LOVE to read our AQH Journals and Equine Chronicles my mom and I finish reading on our travels!
It was wonderful to see friends from up north in my neck of the woods and visit with all the new friends I’ve made thus far as Congress Queen. All of the new people I have been able to meet has truly been one of my favorite parts of this experience as Congress Queen. The Equine Production team and Florida QHA put on a fantastic show with 4 arenas running all at once. From over fence classes to ranch classes to flat classes to trail classes… there was always something to watch! During my visit, I had the chance to talk to Bob Geesaman, the Congress Show Manager, and his wife, and how deep their roots are in AQHA and the AAQH Congress, including getting married in the Corral at the Congress! Bob has been the show manager for Congress for over 50 years and it is inspiring to see the passion and commitment they have for our breed and the Quarter Horse Congress! I also had the privilege of accidentally running into a previous “Queen Mom,” Barbara Rea at the hotel we were staying at! It was wonderful hearing about her daughter, Rebecca Rea’s, experience as the 2000 Congress Queen, and the legacy she left with the Queen’s Contest that has provided me with the most amazing experience over 20 years later. The Congress Queen sisterhood is remarkable and I am humbled to be a part of it.
My next stop is the Silver Dollar Circuit in Las Vegas at the end of February! Stay tuned for more updates and pictures!
