Our People: Rodeo princess title a job

Tylie Garrison is a seventh-grader at Texico Middle School. Previously, she was the sixth-grade class president and has been on the A honor roll list for three consecutive years. This year, she plans to be involved in junior high sports.

Tylie enjoys spending time with friends and family. Each year she takes a camping trip with her grandparents, her brother, cousin, and her grandma's cat. She cares for show animals and enjoys promoting the sport of rodeo. She started riding horses at the age of six after being introduced to it by her mother's boyfriend, Timmy Hickman (Tim). He put her and her brother on his horses and she fell in love with riding ever since.

Her mother encouraged her to enter the Little Buckaroo Rodeo Princess contest. She has had held the titles of Little Buckaroo Rodeo Princess Ambassador, Little Buckaroo Rodeo Queen, Little Miss Rodeo New Mexico, Pioneer Days Rodeo Princess, and is currently holding the title of Rodeo New Mexico Princess.

What do you like about rodeo queen pageantry?

Holding a title is my job. I really enjoy going to the local nursing homes and visiting with the residents. I like to be involved in the community events, traveling, and meeting new people young and old. I don't plan on stopping until I have the experience of competing for Miss Rodeo America. I am grateful for Mrs. Wilma Fulgham for her many years of hard work to continue these contests in Clovis. Since being awarded my title in June, I have been to the Santa Fe Rodeo, Abiquiu Rodeo, Border Town Days, Lee County Rodeo, Old Timers Days, and made one of the two scheduled appearances for reading at the Library.

What is something you want others to know about the rodeo queen lifestyle ?

I would like others to know all of the hard work that goes into competing. The girls are pretty but they are also very smart and talented. Pageants consist of a written test, horsemanship and horsemanship questions. They also include personality interviews, horsemanship interviews, an extemporaneous speech, interacting and eating with the public, impromptu questions on rodeo knowledge, horse knowledge, current events and a prepared speech. These pageants can be one day or a week long. I practice year round on horsemanship. I start studying several months before the contest. The last two months of school I come home, get homework done, ride my horse, study for the pageant, feed animals, and study some more. I usually get to bed between 11 p.m. and midnight. I get up by 5:30 a.m. to feed the animals and do it all over again.

What do you not like about rodeo queen pageantry?

Having my mom curl my hair. It is thick so it takes about an hour or longer. Also, I don't mind makeup, but the mascara is dreadful.

What is your favorite song?

"Hit The Road Jack." My mom plays it for me when I need to get upbeat before an event.

Favorite place to travel?>/strong>

I enjoy going camping all over New Mexico.

What is your favorite movie?

I really like watching the Harry Potter series if I have any free time.

What fantasy/mythological creature would you like to have as a pet?

A Buckbeak. It's the half bird and half horse creature from Harry Potter. I think that would be fun to ride.