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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
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