For 65 years, Colorado’s Rodeo Girls have been staple of the state’s rodeo community.

Whether riding a horse, walking across a pageant stage, or making a guest appearance at a rodeo or in a classroom, they have become vital ambassadors for the rodeo and agriculture communities.

But for the first time in Miss Rodeo Colorado’s history, Hailey Frederiksen, the current Rodeo Queen, will serve a second term due to the coronavirus pandemic.

And even though Frederiksen’s year as queen has been anything but normal, she says time has flown by.

“It’s been a ride of a lifetime,” said Frederiksen. “I am super excited and fortunate enough to get another year of (being queen) and I know it’s going to go by just as fast if not faster than last year.”

In a normal year, Frederiksen, a 23-year-old Platteville native, would have passed her crown on to the new queen — chosen at the annual pageant held at July’s Greeley Stampede — on the first Sunday of the National Western Stock Show.

But with both events being cancelled, officials gave Frederiksen an opportunity to serve a second term, during what they hope will be a more “normal year.”

In a traditional year, Frederiksen would have traveled across the state and the West to attend various rodeos, schools and events that promote agriculture and the rodeo community in preparation for the Miss Rodeo USA pageant.

But since most events were cancelled, Frederiksen improvised and took to social media to spread her message.

“I asked myself how I could fulfill my responsibilities as Miss Rodeo Colorado, which is all about educating. So I started these weekly videos called Miss Rodeo Colorado’s Kids Grow where every Wednesday I would interview experts in the agriculture and the rodeo industry and get their stories out,” Frederiksen said.

The interviews included farmers, ranchers and even rodeo clowns.

Despite the difficulties presented by the coronavirus pandemic, Megan Bryant, the president of the Ms. Rodeo Colorado Committee and pageant coordinator, says Frederiksen ability to adapt showcases the queen’s importance.

“We were so happy with how Hailey handled the entire situation and determination to stay in contact with the community, that it really showcases the role of a rodeo queen,” Bryant said.

And that determination and impact on communities is the reason why the Rodeo Girls have become a staple, says Justin Watada, the general manager of the Greeley Stampede.

“They’re very educated and well versed on the sport of rodeo and they’ve created a great niche within the community that allows them to promote shows across Colorado and the United States,” Watada said. “This year just highlights their importance.”

The Colorado State University graduate’s long-term goal is obtaining a masters degree in animal science or marketing, but right now Frederiksen is focusing on spreading her knowledge to Coloradans.

“It’s important to educate our youth on not only the sport of rodeo and what happens during the rodeo, but also agriculture, so going back to where our food comes from,” Frederiksen said.

“I’m very passionate about the industry, so communicating and educating other to bring consumer transparency is extremely meaningful to me.”