Jaelyn Himmelberg wins 2024 Miss Teen Rodeo title

From the June 13, 2024

North Platte Telegraph

A new reign has commenced for Miss Teen Rodeo. Miss Teen Rodeo Nebraska 2023 Macie Cox passed her title onto Jaelyn Himmelberg at McDonald-Belton Theater.

"This has been my dream ever since I was a little girl," Himmelberg said. "It's just a great moment to be crowned after putting in so much and work throughout the years leading up to this."

Miss Rodeo Nebraska 2023 Rebel Sjeklocha, the announcer of the winners, and Himmelberg will be touring Nebraska with her horse as the teen rodeo queen.

"She will be thought of by rodeo cowboys as an asset to the sport and will touch the lives of many young children and adults," Sjeklocha said in her speech.

Himmbelberg attended Blue Hill High School and plans to enroll at Doane University this fall. Jaelyn is the daughter of John and Cassandra Himmelberg. She is also the current Phillipsburg, Kansas, rodeo queen. Himmelberg said she is ready to embark on this journey over the next year and is looking forward to rodeos across Nebraska and being able to represent her state across the country.

"I'm so excited. I'm so blessed. I wanted to have this title since I've found out what rodeo queens were. I've looked up to them for a long time and it's such a surreal moment to have this crown on top of my head," Himmbelberg said.

"Initially, I was shocked and so relieved because there is so much preparation working into the pageants and it's been a long week. So it's a mix of relief, happiness and excitement at the same time.

The Miss Rodeo Nebraska Association also handed out various other awards from the competition.

Himmelberg, in addition to the crown and title, took home the photogenic award, the written test award in addition to the speech, personality, appearance and horsemanship awards. Contestant Maysen Merritt took home the congeniality award and was first runner up for Miss Teen Rodeo Nebraska, earning herself a $1,500 scholarship to Mid-Plains Community College.

Sophia Stemper was the second runner-up, winning a full tuition scholarship to MPCC.