A 17-year-old Odin teen was honored in a coronation ceremony over the weekend after earlier being named Miss Teen Rodeo Illinois 2022.
Eliza Engelhardt was crowned during the festivities at the Iron Saddle in Salem by 2019-20 queen Emilee Simpson of Durand, Wisconsin who is currently serving as Miss United Rodeo Association.
Engelhardt says her love by the equine industry has grown since she received her first pony at the age of four. She worked for three years building community service hours and building rodeo skills before submitting an application for the Miss Teen Rodeo competition last year.
“I started designing my outfits and preparing my speech, practicing the horsemanship patterns and then during Labor Day Weekend I traveled to Palestine, Illinois for the Pioneer City Rodeo and competed Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Then I came home and was so excited and started planning this event. And there are many more events like this to come.”
Engelhardt will be at many events in the coming year representing the equine and rodeo industries. She’ll also be working to advance to a higher title.
“I like to compete at the Miss Rodeo Illinois Pageant and then move on to the Miss Rodeo American Pageant and I would love to be able to compete there in Vegas.”
Engelhardt is currently a senior at Christ Our Rock Lutheran High School. She plans to begin study at SIU-Carbondale in the fall in a pre-veterinarian program with a goal of eventually becoming a vet.
