Ali Mullen AKA Miss Rodeo Canada, joined her Australian counterpart, Emma Deicke, and 2017 Mount Isa Rodeo Queen, Moz Miller, on a tour of Mount Isa.

Ms Mullen said she already loved North Queensland, starting with a tropical trip through Cairns.

“I can’t wait to see some Australian rodeo, and compare similarities and differences to back home,” she said.

The women visited the Laura Johnson Home, Mount Isa Paediatric Ward, and even fitted in an underground stop for the Hard Times Mine experience. On Tuesday they visit Cloncurry.

Ms Mullen’s visit is part of a tour for the Australian Rodeo Finals in Warwick next weekend, October 27 – 30.

Ms Mullen grew up on a quarter horse ranch in Southern Manitoba, and has been around the sport of rodeo as long as she can remember.

“I grew up on horses,” Ms Mullen said.

“We raise quarter horses and use them for working cattle and for going to rodeos and horse shows.”

Ms Mullen said she credits that history for broadening her opportunities for travel.

“Everywhere I have travelled in my lifetime has somehow been related to being involved in the horse industry and the rodeo,” she said.

“It’s a pretty exciting way to travel and a really cool avenue to be involved in, in that industry.”

The 25-year-old previously held rodeo queen titles in high school and the city of Manitoba, before taking a long hiatus.

“There’s lots of rodeo, but it’s not as big in Manitoba as it is in Alberta.

“After that I had run ran out of titles to compete in in Manitoba, so I stepped back from being a rodeo queen quite a long time,” she said.

It wasn’t until Ali moved to Alberta for college that she rediscovered the queen dream, and started working towards Miss Rodeo Canada.

“I met a few girls that went onto become Miss Rodeo Canada, so that re-inspired me to chase after that dream, and I ended up holding the title of the Medicine Hat Exhibition and Stampede Queen.”

Medicine Hat is a city in southeastern Alberta. Ali carried the title forward to be able to compete for the national rodeo title, which she has three weeks left to laud.

“I returns home on November 1 and I’ll be passing on my crown on November 10, after a week long Miss Rodeo competition,” she said.

After that, Ali plans return to Medicine Hat College in Alberta where she has taken a year off studying visual communication.

“I’m looking to get into graphic design and advertising, with an agriculture focus. Working for agricultural business and rodeo companies, trying to find that niche market there,” she said.

After visiting Cloncurry on Tuesday, Ali and Emma will fly to Brisbane and Warwick.