26 • January 2019
Erin Williams From Mississippi Girl to National Queen Erin William The 2018 Miss Rodeo Mississippi, Taylor McNair, was recently crowned the 2019 Miss Rodeo America. A native of Learned, Mississippi, Taylor excelled in the weeklong competition, which took place December 2-9, 2018, in Las Vegas, against 28 other contestants and is the third Miss Rodeo Mississippi to win the national title. In addition to bringing home the crown, Taylor left Vegas with an array of wins behind her name. As the winner of the appearance, personality, chap, and written test awards, as well as receiving the Sherry Smith Memorial Scholarship and third place for her scrapbook, Taylor is excited to use her new title as a platform to educate the public on agriculture and the sport of rodeo. However, as the 3rd generation farmer and rancher on her family’s farm, McNair Farms, Taylor walks the walk and talks the talk in, and outside, of the rodeo arena. “I’ve grown up on my family’s farm and learned, early on, the value of hard work,” said McNair. “Growing up as the farmer’s daughter comes with a lot of hard labor and, although sometimes I’ve wished to have a brother, I wouldn’t trade the memories and hard work ethic for anything.” A decorated member of rodeo royalty, Taylor has collected several past rodeo queen titles over the years; Miss Dixie National 2014, Miss Crossett PRCA Rodeo 2015, and Miss Rodeo of the Mid-South 2016 before being crowned the 42nd Miss Rodeo Mississippi in January of 2018. Throughout 2018, Taylor spent the year representing Mississippi at all Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) events statewide. A recent graduate of Mississippi State University, Taylor earned a Bachelor of Science in AgriBusiness with a concentration on policy and law, and minors in both business administration and economics. While at MSU, she was a member of the Sigma Alpha Lambda Honor Society, Chi Omega Sorority, Toastmasters, Freshman Council, Foundation Ambassadors, MSU Rodeo Team, and MSU Equestrian Team. Being both a rodeo competitor and enthusiast, Taylor was an active competitor throughout junior high and high school in the National Barrel Horse Association, Mississippi High School Rodeo Association, and Mississippi Quarter Horse Youth Association. As a past Mississippi Beef Ambassador, Hinds County Outstanding 4-H’er, Mississippi Star Junior Photos courtesy of Sherry Smith Photography Hometown madison • 27