Micah Barnes ~ Miss Rodeo Iowa 2023
Howdy ya’ll! Hailing from Alta, Iowa, my name is Micah Barnes, your Miss Rodeo Iowa 2023, the daughter of Marty and Kendall Barnes. Growing up on the banks of the Little Sioux River, rodeo has been my life since day one. I’ve been blessed to have traveled all over the nation putting on rodeos with my family, and promoting this rich sport through our company Barnes PRCA Rodeo Company that my grandpa started in 1950.
I am a 2016 graduate from Alta-Aurelia Highschool where I was a member of the basketball, softball, volleyball, track, and dance teams. I was also our FFA chapter’s secretary and National Honor Society member. I rodeoed through the Iowa Jr. High and High School Rodeo Associations.
Following graduation, I took my academic and athletic career to Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, Iowa were I got my Bachelor’s in Biology while playing basketball. While at BVU, I was able to college rodeo independently in the Great Plains Region and eventually started the BVU College rodeo team. In 2020 I had the privilege of moving across the country to attend California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo California to obtain a Masters of Agricultural Education. I was a part of the CalPoly rodeo team, as well as helping as one of the assistant coaches until my graduation a year later in 2021.
Since graduation, I’ve been rodeoing through the WPRA as well as substitute teaching, giving riding lessons, and working horses. I’m excited to educate, promote, and advocate for this sport, the great state of Iowa, as well as our rich western and agricultural background. My platform for the year is “Be the Light” which comes from the scripture Matthew 5:16. I hope to lead by example and leave a positive impact everywhere I go. God gave you a fingerprint no one else has, so you can leave an imprint that no one else can.
As Miss Rodeo Iowa, Micah will make over 100 appearances and travel approximately 30,000 miles both in and out of the state. This title gives her the opportunity to travel across the state, throughout the country and Canada attending a plethora of events. Through her travels she will focus on promoting Iowa agricultural, rodeo & educational opportunities for young women. During her reign she will attend rodeos, fairs and parades, as well as visit schools, hospitals and the elderly. Micah will conduct radio, television and newspaper interviews across the nation. At the end of her reign, she will have the opportunity to represent Iowa in the Miss Rodeo America pageant in Las Vegas, Nevada. During this pageant, Micah will have the opportunity to vie for the coveted Miss Rodeo America title along with over $100,000 in educational scholarships.
Please be sure to follow Micah on Facebook and Instagram to stay up to date with her travels!
