The 2025 rodeo marks the pageant’s 70th year, and organizers are set to celebrate.

Miss Rodeo Utah Pageant Director Nicole Cypers told the Standard-Examiner the pageant’s format will largely mimic those of past pageants.

“We hold a four-day pageant in conjunction with Ogden Pioneer Days, and during that pageant, contestants are judged on a number of different things. They’re judged on their horsemanship abilities; they ride three rounds of horsemanship and one of those rounds is on another contestant’s horse to show their ability to ride different horses,” she said. “In addition to horsemanship, they have public speaking extemporaneous questions that they are asked and have to answer.”

She said contestants also face interviews on personality and knowledge of horsemanship along with a fashion show before a winner is crowned during the July 24 rodeo session.

“It’s a lot of different elements, but the ultimate goal is whoever is selected will represent professional rodeo in the state of Utah for a year and then go on to compete at the Miss Rodeo (America) Pageant the following December,” she said.

The reign of the Miss Rodeo Utah crowned during the 2025 Ogden Pioneer Days Rodeo will officially begin in January 2026 and they will compete nationally in December 2026.

While this year’s pageant won’t deviate much from its usual formalities, Cypers said they will be taking time to recognize the past to celebrate 70 years.

“As part of that celebration and that anniversary, we have reached out to former title holders and have invited them to come back and participate in the pageant,” she said. “We’re really trying to focus on the legacy of the pageant and how the pageant has grown and changed over the years.”

She said around 30 former title holders will be recognized at several points during the Pioneer Days period, including the Hall of Fame Alumni Luncheon at the Timbermine Restaurant on July 22, during the rodeo’s opening ceremony, during the Pioneer Day Parade and at the pageant’s fashion show.

Cypers recognized the privilege of seeing Ogden continue the tradition of hosting the Miss Rodeo Utah Pageant.

“There are several PRCA rodeos throughout the state of Utah, but to be able to have the Miss Rodeo Utah Pageant affiliated with Ogden Pioneer Days right here in Ogden, and each year select a representative that will go on to represent Utah at the Miss Rodeo America Pageant is an honor,” she said.

She added that six contestants from Miss Rodeo Utah have won the Miss Rodeo America Pageant.

Cypers also said, after 25 years in the director role, the pageant has a deeply personal meaning.

“When I thought about (70) years, a third of those, I have been the director for the pageant,” she said. “I love it. I love what I do. I love the opportunity to be able to give back to an organization that I feel gave me so much. The significance of the history and what the pageant does for the young women who get to compete and represent — it’s not just about winning a title and representing for that year, but the life skills that these individuals get from going through the pageant will benefit them throughout their lives and into their jobs, into their families. That’s what I look at.”

According to a press release on the 2025 Miss Rodeo Utah Pageant contestants are Miriam Brophy, Terra Hicken, Dalli Holyoak, Ada Poulter, Jenessa Sullivan and Rylee Warnick.

The schedule for the 2025 Miss Rodeo Utah Pageant is as follows:

July 19

2 p.m. — Horsemanship Competition, Golden Spike Arena, 1100 N. 1200 West, Harrisville (free to the public)

6:30 p.m. — Ogden Pioneer Days Rodeo, Spencer Fox Eccles Pioneer Stadium (ticketed event)

July 21

9 a.m. — Contestant Speeches, Eccles Conference Center Jr. Ballroom, Ogden (free to the public)

6:30 p.m. — Ogden Pioneer Days Rodeo, Spencer Fox Eccles Pioneer Stadium (ticketed event)

July 22

1 p.m. — Hall of Fame/Alumni Luncheon, Timbermine, 1701 Park Blvd., Ogden (ticketed event)

6:30 p.m. — Rodeo, Spencer Fox Eccles Pioneer Stadium (ticketed event)

July 23

Noon — Fashion Show & Silent Auction, Ogden Eccles Conference Center, 2 Washington Blvd., Ogden (ticketed event)

6:00 p.m. — Pre-Rodeo, Open Free Style Horsemanship Competition, Spencer Fox Eccles Pioneer Stadium (ticketed event)

7:30 p.m. — Rodeo, Spencer Fox Eccles Pioneer Stadium (ticketed event)

July 24

8 a.m. — Ogden Pioneer Days Parade, Washington Boulevard, From 32nd to 20th streets (free to the public)

6:30 p.m. — Rodeo Spencer Fox Eccles Pioneer Stadium (ticketed event)

8:30 p.m. — Coronation Ceremony, Spencer Fox Eccles Pioneer Stadium (ticketed event)

The public is welcome to attend pageant festivities for free or with tickets as noted. For more information and for tickets to the ticketed Miss Rodeo Utah Pageant events, visit https://www.ogdenpioneerdays.com/prca-rodeo/miss-rodeo-utah/.