2016 Curry Merry Muster Rodeo Queen Kate Taylor will return to Warwick in January after re-entered in the Australian Professional Rodeo Association’s (APRA) national queen quest competition.

Ms Taylor entered in the 2017 Miss Rodeo Australia competition but was unsuccessful. Maintaining her crown and continuing her rein through 2017, has made her eligible to run for the national competition for the second consecutive year. 

While working as a veterinary assistant at the North Australian Veterinary Group in Cloncurry, Ms Taylor will continue to raise money for the Royal Flying Doctor Service, and aims to raise $10,000 across the duration of her time as Curry Merry Muster Rodeo Queen.

“Reverend John Flynn had a vision to provide ‘a mantle of safety’ for outback Australia and I am extremely proud of what I have done so far with the help of many people in this community to keep this vision alive,” she said.

“The RFDS is so very important to our country and with out them regional and rural Australia would have somewhat limited access to important medical services that our more suburban residents can access quite easily.”

With a passion for rodeo, Miss Taylor said it was an easy decision to run again for Miss Rodeo Australia.

“I love rodeo for one. I love the way everyone becomes like family. But, having already experienced the Miss Rodeo Australia competition once, I know just how empowering this program can be.

“Being able to step back and regroup from the competition in January this year, Miss Rodeo Australia is a title that I believe I can carry, and carry well. It would be an honour to be able to represent the APRA across Australia and the world.”

Ms Taylor said to be the APRA ambassador would be an amazing opportunity.

“Being the face of anything means one must be able to present the values and positive intentions of their organisation.

“The APRA is an organisation, I believe, that is continuously working to improve the great sport of rodeo for future generations enjoy and prosper. I would love the opportunity to work with, and promote the APRA to the world and educate the world who may not understand or know just what our sport is about and how great it really is!

“Obviously the opportunity to travel and represent our sport and country overseas would be a highlight if I won but I have no expectations of what the year might be if I do win. I just know I will take every opportunity thrown at me.”

Preparation for finals in January, Ms Taylor will continue to study her rodeo knowledge and enhance her horsemanship skills.

Once Miss Rodeo Australia is announced and Australian Professional Rodeo circuit starts, the winner will travel to all the professional rodeos in Australia. 

The winner will be required to conduct grand entries at rodeos, represent Australia at the rodeo finals in America and Canada, talk to schools, visit hospitals and talk to people about the rodeos in their area.