Jeana Welsh Linton – former rodeo queen, mother, wife, rancher’s daughter, national pageant director, livestock show mom, small business owner and a champion for the western way of life.
As the young Miss Welsh, she grew up on an Angus cattle operation in Laramie, WY, and became Miss Rodeo Wyoming 1998. She achieved second runner up in the 1999 Miss Rodeo America Pageant.
Today, she is a resident of Mitchell, NE, but can often be found at 101 Pro Rodeo Drive in Colorado Springs, CO, working in the Miss Rodeo America Pageant office as pageant director and operations manager.
She will tell you that serving as Miss Rodeo Wyoming absolutely provided a launching point for her career path.
“The life skills that I gained during my year as a state titleholder were invaluable,” says Linton. “Not only did I meet people who would mold my future, but I gained confidence, experience and a desire to serve.”
Jeana’s favorite memory as Miss Rodeo Wyoming was representing the Cowboy State at the world-famous Cheyenne Frontier Days.
Following her reign, she went on to earn a B.S. in Marketing/Communication with a minor in Public Relations from the University of Wyoming.
Jeana became a member of the Miss Rodeo America organization in 1999, starting as a volunteer with the horsemanship committee. She served on several MRA Pageant committees and chaired the coronation committee. She was elected to the MRA Executive Board in 2005, where she served for 10 years.
Jeana has enjoyed a successful career journey that includes operating an awards business, appropriately named The Rancher’s Daughter, and she worked for 16 years at the United Way of Western Nebraska in the role of Special Events & Marketing Coordinator before she took on the role of MRA Pageant Director in 2017. The expanded title of MRA Operations Manager was added in 2019.
Just a few of her responsibilities include managing over 150 volunteers across the country, producing the annual pageant in Las Vegas, maintaining sponsor relationships, coordinating with the MRA Executive Board on policy and procedural issues and million other details that are part of the fulltime, year-around job.
“My goal is to maintain the tradition of Miss Rodeo America while expanding and growing it to build an even stronger organization,” says Linton. “I absolutely love that I am able to work with so many people who share the same passion for the western way of life, and I’m humbled to be a part of it.”
In addition to spending many hours a day managing the Miss Rodeo America Pageant, she also is the mom to four boys: Jayden (19), Jackson (16), Jace (13), and Bruin (2).
Jeana and her husband Brad are kept very busy showing livestock with the boys and running their show cattle operation Linton Livestock.
“I’m thankful that we are able to raise our kids in an agricultural lifestyle and leave a legacy in the livestock industry for them to be proud of,” says Linton.
When the Linton family is not in the barn or at a show, they can be found at one of the boys’ ball games or track meets. Jackson, a sophomore in high school, is an all-around athlete who has been recognized across the state as a football player and trackster. Jace is a 7th grader and following in Jack’s footsteps in sports. Jayden is a freshman in college and has had success this past year showing at major shows, winning numerous banners. Baby Bruin is taking it all in and ready for sports and the show ring.
“He has three amazing role models to look up to!” says Linton. “We are very proud of boys who are all honor students, great athletes, incredible showman, and just great kids.”
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On the road with Miss Rodeo America…. On The Road With Miss Rodeo America »
