County Commission Recognizes Local Rodeo Talent

by Tim Robison
Moapa Valley Progress

The Clark County Board of Commissioners recognized the achievement of five local rodeo enthusiasts on December 5, 2007 prior to the National Finals Rodeo coming to town. The local residents who were recognized by proclamation were Brittany Hughes, Shyla Marshall, Oakley Baker Reymore, Melissa Reymore and Matthew Reymore. Each of these people have made good on the international rodeo stage and were recognized as such in the proclamations. The impetus behind these proclamations was Tom Collins a member of the County Commission and a rodeo enthusiast himself.

Logandale resident, Brittney Hughes, was recognized for being awarded Nevada Miss Teen Rodeo Queen. Hughes was awarded the title after a four-day pageant that took place at the 2007 Clark County Fair.

The competition judged contestants on horsemanship, poise, speech, and personal interviews. But the category of the competition that differentiated it from other beauty pageants was that of Horsemanship. In that part of the competition, Hughes and her fellow contestants were given a pattern to ride. During this difficult test, the contestants were not able to ride their own horses but were given horses that they were not familiar with.

Contestants were also required to answer questions about horse health, tack, and a number of other horse related questions.

Hughes is a junior at Moapa Valley High School and has been involved in rodeo throughout her life. She got her first horse when she was 10-years-old and immediately started competing. She is a member of the MVHS Rodeo Club that will start competing in February. She competes in barrels, polls, goat roping, and team roping. Hughes also plays volleyball and competes in track and field. She also is involved with the high school theater.

Shyla Marshall was recognized for winning the title of National Little Britches Rodeo Association (NLBRA) Queen. The duties of a rodeo queen, in appearance, seem very much like those of any other beauty queen. They go to events, make ceremonial appearances and give speeches. However, like the Miss Teen Rodeo Nevada the path to becoming a rodeo queen is much more involved than meets the eye. Contestants are required to know their way around a horse. In the NLBRA Queen competition, not only do contestants have to know about horses they have to place in at least one rodeo event. Marshall graduated from Moapa Valley High School in 2007 and is currently taking classes in business and communications at Nevada State College in Henderson, where there is sadly not yet a college rodeo program.

“It has been a lot of work,” Marshall explained. “Going to college full time and keeping up with my duties at the association has been difficult but rewarding.”

Oakley Baker Reymore was recognized by the County Commission for winning the NLBRA World Championship in Senior Team Roping this summer in Pueblo, Colorado. Reymore is a member of the Las Vegas Rodeo Club and placed third in the Nevada High School Rodeo Association Finals in team roping. The placing will take Reymore on to Nationals.

Because of Reymore’s rodeo competition schedule he is home schooled. According to Reymore’s parents Matthew and Melissa Reymore, Oakley is an excellent student.

Reymore’s parents were also recognized by the Commission, for the hard work they put in supporting their son in his rodeo achievements. “It is a lot of work driving all over the country,” said Matthew Reymore. “But Oakley has a lot of talent and we all love rodeo and have been involved in it all our lives so it is worth it.”