THOMASVILLE- The Miss Rodeo Georgia Pageant was held in recently in Covington, Georgia.

Crowned as the new Miss Rodeo Georgia is Allie Ann Wheeler of Coolidge, Georgia. The Thomas County native’s reign officially begins Jan. 1, 2025, when Wheeler will begin promoting the state of Georgia and the sport of rodeo. She will use the remainder of 2024 to pursue sponsors and prepare for extensive travel, public appearances, and community service. Plans are also underway for a coronation fundraiser. Wheeler will represent Georgia at the 2025 Miss Rodeo America Pageant, held during the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in December in Las Vegas.

Wheeler, 21, is the daughter of the Alan and Chrissy Wheeler of Coolidge. She is a senior at the University of Georgia where she is majoring in Sociology with a minor in Criminal Justice and ASL. Wheeler is also a member of the UGA Equestrian Team. When she is not riding, she enjoys reading, spending time with friends, and playing with her French Bulldog Maverick. Her future plans are to attend law school and become a lobbyist.

Contestants in the Miss Rodeo Georgia Pageant were evaluated in the major categories of knowledge/presentation, personality, horsemanship and appearance, and participated in interviews, modeling, speech, impromptu questions, and horsemanship. They were also required to take a written test.

Wheeler won the major categories of speech, appearance, and horsemanship. She also won the photogenic award and congeniality award.

The Miss Rodeo Georgia Pageant welcomed contestants and visiting rodeo royalty including three previous Miss Rodeo Georgia titleholders; Miss Rodeo Georgia 2023 Jessica Benson from Perry, Georgia, Miss Rodeo Georgia 1999 Meg Johnson (Parrott) from Fort Worth, Texas and Miss Rodeo Georgia 1981 Cindy Wynn (Mott) from Pavo, Georgia.

Judges for the pageant included; Taylor McNair (Miss Rodeo America 2019) from Mississippi, Audra McNicholas (Miss Rodeo Colorado 2009 and a finalist at the Miss Rodeo America Pageant) from Colorado and Meg Johnson (Miss Rodeo Georgia 1999) from Texas.

When asked about why she decided to compete for the Miss Rodeo Georgia title, Wheeler stated, “Serving as an ambassador for the state of Georgia is an honor. I have spent most of my life competing inside the arena and now I am ready to serve on the public relations side of rodeo. Serving as Miss Rodeo Georgia is going to be the best of both worlds. It is a privilege to serve as a role model, a strong leader, and someone to set an example for our younger generation. It is my passion to educate fans and spectators about the great sport of rodeo and the the western way of life and turn them into lifelong rodeo enthusiasts.”