rachelh@myweeklysentinel.com
Bradford County’s own Marisa Gilliland will travel out west to compete in Miss Rodeo USA.
Gilliland is a 23-year-old Troy High School graduate from the Granville area who has competed in rodeo events since she was an early teenager. She is the daughter of Annmarie and Albert Gilliland.
“I started riding when I was 12. At 13-14 I was competing at small local shows. By the time I had my driver’s License, I was on the rodeo circuits themselves,” said Gilliland in a previous interview with this newspaper.
“I don’t come from a rodeo family. My dad took me to a rodeo when I was 6-7 and I met a girl who had the same name as me running flags and competing and I was obsessed with it and I never lost it. We lived in the city. We are not from the country,” said Gilliland.
Gilliland is an avid barrel racer and beginning at breakaway roping. Rodeo is something that has always fascinated her, even at a young age.
In 2019, she won the title of Miss Rodeo Pennsylvania and then her current title of Miss Keystone State Rodeo.
“Competing for Miss Rodeo USA will be the biggest highest level pageant I have ever competed in! I’m so excited to meet new people and see familiar faces! Being Miss Keystone State Rodeo 2021 has been full of so many learning experiences, lots of fun, and tons of new friendships! I wish all the other contestants luck and safe travels!” Gilliland said in a Facebook post.
Gilliland has been preparing for this event for months.
There’s a lot involved. It’s a lot more preparation than people think. However, it’s so worth it. I have met some of my biggest idols and have signed autographs sitting next to them. It’s really kind of crazy, the opportunities that come with the job,” she said.
In between preparation, Gilliland also had job duties, which included traveling with the rodeo to shows all over the state and the country, including local shows at the Troy Fair and the Monroeton Rodeo this summer.
Gilliland is the owner of a western fashion and jewelry boutique called the Bling Bandit. She owns two horses, Loco and Bacardi, along with her heeler Bandit.
About Miss Rodeo USA
The Miss Rodeo USA Association is proud to have represented the International Professional Rodeo Association for over five decades. Young ladies from around the nation have competed and won the coveted title that is awarded each January at the International Finals Rodeo in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Through the love of rodeo, generous sponsorships, and embracing our heritage while focusing on our future, the Miss Rodeo USA Association hopes to continue to grow and offer the opportunity of a lifetime to cowgirls across the United States.
The event will take place this week.