What a golden moment for McKaylie Richins. On July 24, 2018, the Voice of Ogden Pioneer Days, Roger Mooney, announced McKaylie as the Miss Rodeo Utah 2019 in front of a sold-out crowd at Ogden Pioneer Stadium. McKaylie also won the appearance and personality categories after the weeklong pageant that is run in conjunction with Ogden Pioneer Days. Since assuming the crown, McKaylie has criss-crossed the state and country, promoting the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and the rodeo and agriculture industries. McKaylie, 21, is the daughter of Jeff and Lisa Richins.

The North Summit High graduate and Weber State student loves to spend time camping in the great outdoors, four-wheeling, fishing hunting and riding horses in the beautiful mountains of Coalville, her hometown. She enjoys judging local horse shows and giving horseback riding lessons, and she could be called a “classic” girl because of her love of old country music and western movies.

“Since my first rodeo queen contest at 8 years old, I felt I wanted to represent the greatest sport on dirt! Growing up around rodeo and the western way of life has thankfully shaped me into the young woman I am today,” she said. “For 10 years, I prepared and served food at the hospitality cabin for the Ogden Pioneer Days Rodeo. I witnessed firsthand the strong women who have become Miss Rodeo Utah and made me realize my heart and passion lies with keeping this prestigious western lifestyle alive. This family-oriented sport is famously known for the values set by competitors and ambassadors.

Rodeo has instilled in me lifelong values such as compassion, hard work, determination, discipline, integrity and the love I have for family and country. I want to educate the public and instill those same values into the lives that faithfully support the sport of rodeo. I would love nothing more than to celebrate our lifestyle by learning and teaching new things, serving others, building relationships and making memories. It would be a privilege and an honor to serve as the official ambassador of rodeo in the great state of Utah.”