Miss Sunbelt Expo Rodeo Queen Pageant

A shoutout to Rita Posey, Miss 5 Wynn Horse Company - Lainey Posey and Rafter P Performance Horses! They will be sponsoring our 6 Horsemanship buckles at this years pageant! Thank you so much for your generosity and continued support!

A shoutout to Miss Sunbelt Expo Rodeo Queen - Jenna Cain's mom - Jane Holmes Cain! Jane will be sponsoring the entry fee for the 2027 Miss Rodeo USA Pageant for our new winner! Thank you so much Jane! Your support is greatly appreciated!

Tips for taking your Sunbelt Expo Rodeo Queen Photo:

The deadline for entering our 13th Annual Miss Sunbelt Expo Rodeo Queen Pageant is fast approaching so I’m sure that many of you are getting ready to take your pageant photo. Each contestant is required to submit one 5 X 7 VERTICAL, color, head & shoulders poise that has been taken in the past year. You have been asked to MAIL the hard copy with your application and EMAIL a digital copy.

I wanted to share a few tips that will hopefully make this requirement easier. Just so everyone is on the same page, we need photos where you are wearing western wear and a cowboy hat. If you are current title holder - you should not be wearing a crown or sash in your photo!

You do not have to submit a professional studio photo, but since the photo will be judged you do need to put some time and thought into it! Photos are also used for promotional reasons and will be posted on social media. If you do go to a professional, take some sample rodeo queen photos with you so that the photographer will have an idea of the look that you are going for. Remember to choose a simple background.

It will be important to plan your outfit ahead of time and choose colors that bring out your best features. Make sure that your clothes are clean, your blouse is free from wrinkles and that your hat is clean and shaped. You should have a felt hat versus a straw hat however - for our younger age groups, if you only have a straw hat - you will not be disqualified!

Practice doing your hair and make-up before your picture day and if you don’t have a lot of experience, ask someone to help you! Take one friend with you that has a good eye for detail! Keep your photo from the shoulders up, hands out of the picture and never allow the photographer to crop part of your hat! (There are several great YouTube videos on how to do rodeo queen hair!)

Make sure your hair is away from your face and that your hat sits properly and straight on your head. Choose a photo that you look that actually looks like you. We have received photos in the past that look nothing like the contestant! Your submitted photo should be warm, inviting and eye-appealing and you should be SMILING!!!
You really want to portray a wholesome and friendly image!!!

Submitting a great photograph shows our judges, our pageant committee and the media that you are committed and ready to promote the the Sunbelt Ag Expo and the Equine Industry in Georgia. Remember the old saying, “You never get a second chance to make a first impression” . . . so be sure to make sure yours is positive and lasting!

We are securing sponsors for the 2026 Miss Sunbelt Expo Rodeo Queen Pageant "Long Live Cowgirls!" and we need your help!!! The Sunbelt Ag Expo is recognized by the IRS as a 501c # non-profit corporation. You can receive confirmation of your donation stating that no goods or services were received in exchange for your gift for tax filing purposes! Why should you donate and how will you benefit by donating?

The Miss Sunbelt Rodeo Queen Pageant was started in 2014 and is one of the only rodeo queen pageants in Georgia that; crowns a queen and 7 princesses each year, is open to girls from ages 3 to 26, you do not have to be from the state of Georgia to compete. Our queen will go on to compete for the Miss Rodeo USA Pageant in Oklahoma in January!!!

This years’ event will be held August 15 & 16 in Moultrie, Georgia. During the 2-day event, girls will all sit down with our panel of judges for their official interview. Older aged groups will be required to take a written test on horse and rodeo knowledge. Next up is our fashion show and luncheon where the contestants will model western fashions and older girls will give speeches and answer impromptu questions. The coronation will be held on Sunday. Contestants will enjoy a reception and learn who our new queen and 7 princesses are!

Our event typically brings in around 125 people (Face-to-Face contacts) and a larger number of indirect contacts. We create pre-event, event and post-event social media messages to create strong, lasting brand awareness in our community. Your name will be listed in our pageant program and be announced during our luncheon and our coronation and if you have a banner, we would love to hang the banner at the arena during Horsemanship.

We accept monetary or in-kind donations from individuals and/or businesses and no gift is too small. Your support is greatly appreciated!!!

2026 Sunbelt Pageant Sponsors
Saddle for Queen - $1,200.00 ($1,000.00 donated by an anonymous sponsor)
Buckle for Queen - R & R Farms (Paid)
Entry Fee for the Miss Rodeo USA Pageant - $300 Jane Holmes Cain
Full page ad in the IFR Program for our Queen - $800
Misc. for Queen – (Donations in any amount) Traveling expenses, wardrobe, gift cards (fuel, food, lodging, etc.)
Professional photoshoot for headshots with hair and makeup - $600 to $1,000
Special Awards for all 8 winners –
Weekend bags for all 8 winners -
Sunbelt Rodeo Queen T-Shirts for all contestants -
Custom Wooden Saddle Rack –
Buckle for Princess - $100
Buckle for Junior Miss – Liddie Harrell (Paid)
Buckle for Little Miss - $100
Buckle for Tiny Miss - $100
Buckle for Teeny Miss – $100
Buckle for Miss Spirit - $100
Buckle for Miss Cowgirl Up - $100
Crown for Princess - $50 –
Crown for Junior Miss - $35
Crown for Little Miss - $35
Crown for Tiny Miss – $35
Crown for Teeny Miss - $35
Crown for Miss Spirit - $35
Crown for Miss Cowgirl Up - $35
Sashes 8 Sponsored by Cypress Valley Farm
Flowers 8 - Anita Martin
Horsemanship Award for Queen - Lainey Posey & Rafter P Performance Horses
Horsemanship Award for Princess - Lainey Posey & Rafter P Performance Horses
Horsemanship Award for Junior Miss - Lainey Posey & Rafter P Performance Horses
Horsemanship Award for Little Miss - Lainey Posey & Rafter P Performance Horses
Horsemanship Award for Tiny Miss - Lainey Posey & Rafter P Performance Horses
Horsemanship Award for Teeny Miss - Lainey Posey & Rafter P Performance Horses
1st Runner Up Awards for Queen - $50
1st Runner Up Awards for Princess - $50
1st Runner Up Awards for Junior - $50
1st Runner Up Awards for Little - $50
1st Runner Up Awards for Tiny - $50
1st Runner Up Awards for Teeny - $50
1st Runner Up Awards for Spirit - $50
2nd Runner Up Awards for Queen - $35
2nd Runner Up Awards for Princess - $35
2nd Runner Up Awards for Junior - $35
2nd Runner Up Awards for Little - The Weems Family (Shannon Phillips Weems)
2nd Runner Up Awards for Tiny - $35
2nd Runner Up Awards for Teeny - $35
2nd Runner Up Awards for Spirit - $30
3rd Runner Up Awards for Queen - $30
3rd Runner Up Awards for Princess - $30
3rd Runner Up Awards for Junior - $30
3rd Runner Up Awards for Little - $30
3rd Runner Up Awards for Tiny - $30
3rd Runner Up Awards for Teeny - $30
3rd Runner Up Awards for Spirit - $30
Participant awards for younger contestants (Estimate $100)
Miss Photogenic - $100 Robin Mott
Speech Award - $60 to $100
Appearance Award - $60 to $100
Miss Congeniality Award - $60 to $100
High Test Score – Award $60 to $100
Coronation Reception –
****EXTRAS to think about: Gifts for judges, money for decorations, reception, etc.

We are only 2 months away from the 13th Annual Miss Sunbelt Rodeo Queen Pageant! The entry deadline is July 24th! If you need an application or more info, just send me your email address! Open to girls ages 3 to 26 from any state!

Thank you to everyone who pitched in the make our Sunbelt Rodeo Queen Clinic a success!

Thank you Alan & Chrissy Wheeler for providing our lunch in memory of Cannon! Thank you Megan Rich and Ava Rich for providing breakfast! Thank you Greta Barrett Collins for having the building ready and for those incredibly helpful signs! Thank you to the following for providing gifts for the girls; Sunnie Dee's Salty Cowgirl, Cypress Valley Creations, Prairie Dust by Cindy Wynn, and Wynn Custom Leather!

Thank you Miss 5 Wynn Horse Company - Lainey Posey, Miss Sunbelt Rodeo Princess Ava Rich, Allie Ann Wheeler, Jenna McBee, Kristen Bailey and Garrett's Equine Path!

What a fun day! Keep watching here for pageant updates!

Happy Valentine’s Day! ❤️

Help me wish our Miss Sunbelt Expo Rodeo Queen - Jenna Cain a very Happy Birthday! 🩵🩵🩵