Artwork by
Dennis Murphy

For the students, by the students

Miss Rodeo Missouri Reigns over CAFNR
Christian Prosser, Corner Post Staff

September 17, 2003 - Anyone around Brady Fountain just past noon today could have easily noticed a figure who stood out from the usual crowd. Sitting on a concrete divider on the edge of the round-a-bout, in blue jeans, cowboy boots, a white straw hat that shone bright from the sun, and a white blouse that contrasted sharply from her slightly tanned olive skin, sat Kimberly Jo Willer, Miss Rodeo Missouri 2004. She introduced herself with a hearty handshake and "Nice to meet you," mixed with just a shade of a Southern accent.

A biology major, Willer grew up in Silex, Mo., just north of St. Louis. Growing up on a ranch, she always had an interest in horses, riding English since she was 12, and switching to western when she bought her first horse at 17. In the future, she'd like to work for Purina studying the effects of different diets on horses, putting her Equine Studies minor to good use.

With this background, she felt it was a natural decision to pursue rodeo pageantry. She didn't like the toll that barrel racing took on horses, so this seemed like a good way to compete in a rodeo.

Each competition consists of horsemanship, interviews, speeches and modeling. Willer won both the interview and speech portions of the contest.

During the horsemanship section, pageant contestants have to ride pattern work, a kind of choreographed route. This can be intricately complex and has to be completely memorized by the contestant.

The interviews were what she thought toughest. Contestants were asked all kinds of questions including, "What would you do if your jeans were ripped before you had to ride in front of lots of people?" Ms. Willer's response was that she would pin them together and ride.

Willer's term as Miss Rodeo Missouri 2004 begins January first and runs the full year. When she's crowned, her duties include representing Missouri, but also the rodeo and overall Western lifestyle. She will also continue to the national competition. She currently drives a Pontiac Grand Prix and as for dream cars, she distinguishes between cars and trucks. As for cars, she prefers Chevrolet Corvettes. But, for trucks, "I don't care what kind it is, so long as it's got a crew cab and it's a dualie."

She's additionally active at MU with the therapeutic riding program, CAFNR Student Council, and the Collegiate Horsemen's Association.

Her favorite pastimes include snowboarding, watersports on Mark Twain Lake, diesel trucks, dogs, drinking amaretto sours, Boulevard Beer and shopping, (she owns six pairs of boots and three cowboy hats). One of her favorite movies is "XXX". When I recoiled with disgust she gave her rebuttle of, "You don't get it, Vin Diesel is hot. That's all you need." Although Willer made up those points when she mentioned "Gone With the Wind" as her all-time favorite movie.

Her dislikes aren't nearly as plentiful. She noted her own lack of patience, 8 am classes, vegetarians/ vegans, and PETA. "PETA wants to feed dogs and cats vegetarian meals," she said. "That doesn't work….you're gonna have dogs with digestion problems and cats with cancer." She's a nutritionist, she knows.

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