Rodeo Queen

Sisters are born with a bond. Some things will weaken it over time and others will strengthen it. Miss Rodeo Oklahoma Taylor Spears wanted to do what her sister Sarah Spears did when they were growing up. One of those things was the rodeo queen pageant.

Although her sister moved on to other activities in high school, Taylor stayed with the rodeo queen pageant and, today, she is the first Miss Rodeo Oklahoma to win all four titles in the state. At age 7 in 2006, Taylor won the Sweetheart title. In 2010, it was the Princess title and in 2013 it was the Teen title. Today, at age 21, she holds the Miss Rodeo Oklahoma title and will represent Oklahoma at the national Miss Rodeo America pageant in December 2018.

Taylor grew up on a farm near Cleveland, Oklahoma, where her parents Terry and Shirley Spears are members of Indian Electric Cooperative. She grew up barrel racing, pole bending, goat tying and more. She also showed animals in 4-H and Future Farmers of America programs. Today, Taylor is a junior at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Her major is agricultural communications and her minor is agricultural leadership.

  Miss Guymon Pioneer Days Rodeo

Two other sisters have also been drawn closer together by the rodeo queen pageant series. 

The Pioneer Days pageant and rodeo is held in the Tri-County Electric Cooperative (TCEC) service area in Guymon, Oklahoma. The cooperative is a long-time supporter of both events. Gina Horner, a TCEC employee, first became involved in the rodeo about 17 years ago when TCEC employees organized and worked the concession stand. Her sister Becky Robinson, a TCEC member, volunteered with her.

“Helping with the rodeo and the queen pageant has strengthened my bond with my sister,” Horner said. 

Today, Robinson is the Rodeo Queen coordinator for the Guymon Pioneer Days Rodeo. Horner organizes fundraisers and other events as special events coordinator. 

For her part, Robinson has been the coordinator of the local Guymon pageant for 10 years. She said she met Taylor in 2010 as a princess and has seen her grow since then. Robinson said Taylor told her when she won Miss Teen Rodeo Oklahoma that she was going to come back and take the Guymon Pioneer Days Rodeo title to Oklahoma.

  Shine your light

Every queen has an educational platform and Taylor’s is called ‘Shine your light.’ Her message to young people is to, “Be yourself at all times, no matter the circumstances.”

“I want to impact as many lives as I can over the next year,” Taylor said. “I’d like to help kids understand that it’s okay to be yourself to get the most out of life and not worry about bullying. Bullying is real and it’s never going to end. I wish it would. I have no patience for it. If we can all rise above and stand on our own, then bullies can say what they want. I’m still going to shine my light and be me.”

Be part of the rodeo

The Guymon Pioneer Days Rodeo is May 4-6, 2018, at the Henry C. Hitch Pioneer Arena in Guymon. In 2015, it was the first and only rodeo from Oklahoma to be inducted into the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame. The rodeo is organized by the Guymon Chamber of Commerce and its volunteers. 

“I encourage everyone to come out and support the Guymon Pioneer Days Rodeo,” Taylor said. “The family aspect of the Guymon rodeo is one of the best. It’s amazing to be able to go to the rodeo in a fun, family environment and see the bigger names in rodeo. The western heritage and the tradition of Guymon itself also stand out.”

Be part of the rodeo, whether as a fan or a participant. And don’t forget to invite your sister—or brother or another family member; it will strengthen your bond.