Callie Mueller is passionate about Western culture and heritage. And, unsurprisingly for the reigning Miss Rodeo America, a big part of that is rodeo.

“I just love how the sport of rodeo continues to keep Western history alive,” Mueller said. “A lot of these events have very close ties to what the cowboys had to do in the Old West when there were no fences and no pastures and that was how they had to take care of their cattle – by roping them or wrestling them.”

A rich Western heritage is apt in South Dakota, Mueller said, where rodeo is the state sport. It has also retained strong participation in the 4-H rodeo program, with nearly 1,300 youth registered for 2025. Of those registered, 705 youth qualified for the state 4-H rodeo finals, and 669 competed.

"Having been in involved with 4-

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