Hey Everyone! My name is Sabal Rose Toney and I am privileged to be your 2008-2009 Florida High School Rodeo Queen. I am 15 years old, live in Brooksville, Florida and I am a sophomore at Pasco High School. This will be my second year competing in Florida High School Rodeo. Right now, I compete in the Breakaway roping and Goat tying and I’m hoping to add the Cutting event this year.
When I was about three years old, my dad began helping some of the girls who were running for High School Rodeo Queen with their horsemanship patterns. While they were at our home, they would practice their speeches, study for the rule book test and of course, practice their horsemanship. So it was at an early age I became aware of the some of the duties and responsibilities associated with being the High School Rodeo Queen.
With all of your help, there are lots of things I’d like for us to accomplish this year. First, I think we should make it a priority to have fun! The student officers and I have been working together to plan a number of exciting activities after some of the rodeos that should be a lot of fun. I’ll spare you the details here, but some of them involve getting our parents into the arena and letting “us” do the coaching and yelling! Who of us doesn’t want the chance to embarrass our parents for a change??? Also, because Special Olympics have always been an important part of my life, I’d like to incorporate as many Exceptional Rodeos to our schedule of events as we can. For those of you who may not know exactly what they are, “Exceptional Rodeos” involve setting up rodeo like activities for physically and mentally challenged people before the rodeo performance. These activities include events like roping a steer dummy, walking a horse around the barrel pattern, tying a dummy and other fun stuff. We provide them with western hats, ropes and back tags and try to make them feel like they are truly an important part of the rodeo performance. We got to be a part of one at the National Finals Rodeo in Farmington, New Mexico this year and believe me it was a truly great experience.
Rodeo is one of the greatest things that have ever happened to me. I have met so many friends that I will know for the rest of my life. I am so grateful that I get to represent you and the entire state of Florida as its queen. I’d like to thank everyone who has been so much help so far. I appreciate everything you do and hope you’ll continue to be there for me and the student officers for the rest of this year. Thanks of course to the officers, directors and members of the FHSRA. You are the reason this association is so amazing. And last but not least, thanks to my family. If it wasn’t for you I wouldn’t have been able to accomplish all that I have so far.
To those of you that I have not yet had the chance to meet, please, please take a minute or two and introduce yourselves! I represent you and I want to make sure I get to know each and every one of you personally. Thank you so much I love you all.
Warmest Regards and best of luck in the coming year,
Sabal Rose Toney
