BROOKINGS – Morgan Erickson of Hot Springs was awarded the title Miss Rodeo South Dakota (MRSD) during a pageant held in Brookings on Nov. 3-5.

Erickson, the 23-year-old daughter of Jon and Shelli Erickson of Atwater, Minn., currently works as a substitute teacher and basketball coach at the Hot Springs School District. She is also the owner of At Your Best Equine Massage Therapy.

At the pageant in Brookings earlier this month, contestants competed in open interviews, horsemanship, speech, personality, and appearance as well as personal and horsemanship interviews. The contestants also did sponsor visits in Brookings and promoted the PRCA rodeo held on Friday and Saturday. Pageant results were announced prior to the start of the Saturday night rodeo performance. 

Bailey Feistner, a senior from Woonsocket High School, was crowned Teen Miss Rodeo South Dakota 2023, and began her one year reign immediately. Erickson, MRSD Lady-in-Waiting, will be crowned MRSD 2023 at her coronation in January 2023. She will represent South Dakota, rodeo and agriculture across South Dakota as well as in many other states in the coming year.   Adrianne Schaunaman, the current MRSD 2022 from Aberdeen, is completing her preparations for the Miss Rodeo America Pageant which will be held in Las Vegas on Nov. 27 – Dec. 4 at the South Point Hotel.

According to her MRSD biography, Erickson grew up on the back of a horse, showing in 4-H and FFA for many years. After moving to South Dakota for college, it has been home ever since. She is a 2020 graduate of South Dakota State University, attaining Bachelor of Science degrees in Animal Science and Agriculture Science. While at SDSU, she was involved in Little International, a member of Sigma Alpha agriculture sorority, and a captain of the Division I Women’s Equestrian team. After graduating, she continued her education at Top Performance Equine Sports Massage Therapy School. She is now a certified Equine Sports Massage Therapist and is the proud owner of her own small business, At Your Best Equine Massage Therapy. She is sponsored by Grove Bank.

Other previous winners of the Miss Rodeo South Dakota title from the Hot Springs area include Jordan Tierney of Oral, who earned the title in 2019 and went on to be crowned Miss Rodeo America as well. Jordan’s mother Robin Bail Tierney, previously from Buffalo, earned the MRSD title in 1985 and went on to be the second runner-up for Miss Rodeo America. Victoria French Blatchford, previously of Oelrichs and now from Brookings, won the title in 1995 and was also first runner-up for Miss Rodeo America.