MS. COUNTRY WESTERN ARIZONA 1997-98:
YEAR IN REVIEW
One-by-one they pushed open the swinging doors to thunderous applause. The scene was not a wild west saloon, and the characters were not tough, gun-slinging outlaws. This was the Radisson Resort Scottsdale on August 24, 1997, and the "characters" were 34 of Arizona's most beautiful cowgirls competing for the coveted title of Ms. Country Western Arizona.
Contestants spanned four age divisions, and each had a chance to mosey down the runway in the western wear and western dress categories. In addition to the runway competitions, each contestant was judged on a personal interview and on a one-minute speech explaining why she felt she was qualified to represent the title.
Winners were chosen based not only on poise and beauty but also on their ability to exemplify the country western lifestyle. Each was crowned with a rhinestone tiara atop her western hat and received an array of prizes INCLUDING roses, dinners, trips, country western CDs, composite head shot package, riding scholarship, parade tack, and custom made western clothing and belt buckles.
Sam Madden is the only winner to have been escorted down the runway by a member of the Air Force Honor Guard and receive a standing ovation. Sam is totally blind.
During her reign in 1997-98, she attended concerts and met backstage with recording artists Bryan White, Patty Loveless, John Michael Montgomery, Tim McGraw, Randy Travis, Terri Clark, Paul Brandt, Jo Dee Messina, Travis Tritt, Charlie Daniels, Hank Williams Jr., Deana Carter, Blackhawk, Mark Chestnut, Trace Adkins, Emilio, Alabama, and Neal McCoy. In a special performance at Blockbuster Desert Sky Pavilion benefitting the Arizona Firefighters Union, she introduced Billy Dean and Crystal Bernard and got the best seat in the house, sitting on stage during the concert. She attended a party with the stars at the John Michael Montgomery celebrity golf tournament and had the chance to chat with John Michael himself along with Mark Miller of Sawyer Brown, Doug Supernaw, Glen Campbell, Mark Wills, comedian Kenny Bob Davis, Prime Time Country host Gary Chapman, Jeff Carson, songwriter Steve Cropper, Ray Benson from Asleep at the Wheel, Restless Heart lead singer Larry Stewart, Sam Irwin of Duck Soup, Rudy Gatlin, and Maury Povich.
Sam made mounted appearances in the Festival of the West grand entry, Prescott Days Fourth of July parade, Apache Junction parade, Cave Creek parade, and Parada del Sol. She performed a hot lap at Ride of Life Foundation's Reining Horse Classic and carried the American flag at Wild West Days at the Pioneer Living History Museum.
she made appearances at numerous Arizona Cowboy Mounted Shooters Association matches, the Arizona State Fair, the Marty Robbins Tribute, a health fair where she shared stories with exercise guru Richard Simmons, Smoke Tree Ranch's Christmas party and horse decorating contest, a preview of the movie "The Ride," and a showing of "The Horse Whisperer."
She helped model Someday Equestrian Designs' line of clothing benefitting the Christopher Reeve Foundation and appeared at the American Diabetes Association's Walktoberfest as a celebrity spokesperson, the Special Olympics, a 24-hour Cancer Relay for Life, New Heart Society's donor sabbath ceremony in support of organ donation, Rustler's Roost Celebrity Chili Showdown benefitting Boys and Girls Hope of Arizona, and in a judging capacity at Aunt Chilada's guacamole contest in support of the Arthritis Foundation.
she participated in Ride of Life Foundation's Barn Blast benefitting Phoenix Children's Hospital, the auction of Jake Barnes and Black Bart's saddles benefitting the Gompers Foundation, Camelot Therapeutic Horsemanship's grand opening of its new facility and fund raising promotion at The Tack Solution, the Buffalo Soldiers shoot benefitting the Herb Jeffries Foundation and Cowboys for Kids, and a "cow pie drop" where she rode in on a Brahma bull to benefit the Phoenix Deer Valley Rotary scholarship fund.
She organized and hosted a Christmas party for the kids at Saddle Up Equestrian Therapy and a Valentine's party with glamour makeovers and photo sessions for the girls at 68th Place, a residential group home that uses horses as therapy for sexually abused girls. She also drew the winning ticket for an Arabian filly benefitting Saddle-Up Equestrian Therapy at the Scottsdale All-Arabian Horse Show, attended Blazing Saddles benefitting Saddle-Up and Maricopa County Burn Unit, and helped collect canned food for local food banks and helped youngsters assemble stick ponies to ride in a special kids class at the Sun Country Circuit Quarter Horse Show.
Sam got to enjoy her celebrity status with appearances on KNIX, KMLE, KBUQ, and KTAR. She was featured on Rodeo Time Arizona and as a model on Uzor's exercise segment on 12 News Today. she had articles written about her in Western Horseman magazine, The Scottsdale Tribune, Today's Arizona Woman, and Phoenix Magazine in addition to having her own articles published in Bridle and Bit, Arizona Horse Connection, and Cowboys and Indians. She placed third in the Festival of the West costume contest wearing a spectacular burgundy and rhinestone outfit by Manuel of Hollywood which she also modeled in a photo shoot for Bruce Peterson's Cowgirl Calendar.
She was asked to speak at numerous engagements including a motivational talk to learning disabled students at Palo Verde Middle School, camp AZDA for children with diabetes, the Arizona Kidney Foundation MORE Seminar and Board Meeting, and a sociology class at Arizona State University.
Sam crowned her successor in August 1998 and has moved on to new goals in her life including showing her horse on a national level and having her manuscript of the story of her life made into a movie.