AB Western Designs

A little extra something (white stitching) for the patriotic red hat.

Gold Montana vest sponsorship. 📸 by Lindsay Garpestad Morse

❤️ love ❤️ this !

One of our first partnership was with AB Western Designs (insta: AB Western Designs )
Ashley and Brandy have graciously supported our organization multiple times. They have made five vests and one jacket for our organization. The vests and jacket were donated to the Miss Rodeo Montana, Inc (instagram : )
We truly love every item they have made and hope to work with them again in the future. Thank you for believing in our vision from the start.
Model:
📸: Matt Ehnes Photography
Vest: AB Western Designs

Coronation of the 2024 Miss Rodeo America is today, and one lucky lady will get to break in this new flag boot next year!

Tonight a very special lady from Utah will be crowned the 2024 Miss Rodeo Utah!

I have had all day to think about whether to further respond to something that happened this morning. I have decided to talk about it because bullying is never ok, and the only way to stop it 🛑, is to stand up to it.

Our design group is 2 individuals, 👋 hello my name is Ashley and I want to share with you how we started making rodeo queen clothes.

In 2004 I tried dipping my toes into the queen world by trying out for my hometown rodeo and quickly learned there was much I didnt know. I decided to give it a try a few years later in college. I however was paying my own way. Unable to buy a dress or afford leather to make one, I bought some pleather and created my very first queen dress. It fit okay, I had learned how to stud with a simple bedazzler, and based my dress design off of a favorite crocheted childhood dress of mine. After wearing it to my first contest in 2008, I had split the arm to shoulder seem (because it wasn’t strong like leather), and decided a short bolero jacket would be perfect to cover it up. They were popular at the time, and so I fixed the dress up, put studs on the new bolero matching the dress, and tried out a couple more places. It was a short while til I earned a crown, 2010 Oakley 2nd attendant.

Here one of the sweet judges pointed out after the contest some fit tips for making the dress fit even better. With a little $ saved up, and some guts to give it a try, we purchased some turquoise leather and decided to remake the dress in real leather. It fit better, it was stronger, longer, and it was still studded with a bedazzler. Our very first leather dress, designed in 2007, was finally perfected. By this time I was aged out of competition and this gorgeous gown ended up on the Miss Rodeo Utah stage worn by someone else, my sister Brandy who added to my own design with rhinestones and some more stud-work, and she looked stunning!

I share this because a designer made a false claim today that the beautiful dress she made for the Miss Rodeo America 2010 winner was copied by us, when in fact my design started and was worn by myself years earlier.

The post caused harm to our design name, and caused harm to the face of one of my most favorite people in this whole world. Nobody should have to deal with that type of slander.
Anyone who wears a beautiful dress, vest, belt, etc. created by us or anyone else shouldn’t have to worry about being bullied for what they decide to wear.

The world around us needs a whole lot more kindness and building each other up. When you are at your next contest, make new friends and cheer each other on. It sure makes the summer more fun and creates life long friends down the road.

I want to thank the many people who have reached out to us today to show their support. You have lifted our spirits, we value those friendships. It means ♥️ the world to us, and we cant thank you enough.

Sponsorship in conjunction with Montana Legacy Project. 📸 by Lindsay Garpestad Morse

Tonight they crown the 2023 Miss Rodeo Utah. We changed it up this year and went all out with a custom tooled, painted and antiqued flag boot. Its a beauty you have to see in person! And, congratulations to the 11 contestants. You have all done a fabulous job this last week.