By Matt Gade

605 Sports

RAPID CITY — It’s been non-stop since Dec. 8 for Florence native and Dakota State University alum Callie Mueller after being crowned Miss Rodeo America during the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas.

This past weekend, Mueller made her first rodeo debut back in South Dakota as Miss Rodeo America while attending Rodeo Rapid City.

“It’s so surreal. It doesn't feel real that they are calling my name alongside of ‘Miss Rodeo America,’” Mueller said. “But being back here in South Dakota just means everything to me. It's truly a full-circle moment.”
Callie is just the sixth woman selected from South Dakota as Miss Rodeo America and the first since Jordan Tierney in 2020-21. The others are McKenzie Haley (2011), Leslie (Patten) White (1985), Donna Keffeler (1982) and Pat (Koren) Sanmartin (1965).

Mueller, who graduated from DSU in 2023 with degrees in elementary education and special education, said she only started competing in rodeo pageants in 2019 during her freshman year in Madison.

Mueller has earned the titles of 2020 Miss Black Hills Round-Up (Belle Fourche); 2021 Miss Corn Palace Stampede (Mitchell); 2022 Miss Days of ’76 (Deadwood); 2023 Miss Watertown Pro Rodeo Queen and 2024 Miss Rodeo South Dakota.

While Miss Rodeo America is a full-time job, Mueller said it was a full-time job as Miss Rodeo South Dakota in 2024. She postponed starting a career as a teacher to give her dream of being Miss Rodeo America a chance.

Although she did substitute teach when she could and said she’s looking to add a master’s degree to her resume as well.

Miss Rodeo America Callie Williams leads the flag sponsors in between events during the final night of Rodeo Rapid City on Saturday at The Monument. (Matt Gade/605 Sports)

But for right now, Mueller, 24, said she is cherishing every moment since being crowned the rodeo queen.

“I took one of my dear friends, Jordan Jensen, the 2025 Miss Rodeo South Dakota, and I stopped her, and I grabbed her arm, and I said, ‘Hey, this is our last flag run for Rodeo Rapid City,’” she said. “It's just those moments that you have to stop and realize it, and just like people say, ‘stop and smell the flowers,’ stop and live in the moment, take it in, be present and acknowledge the life that you are so blessed to live.

While she will be out traversing the country, Mueller said her South Dakota upbringing and roots is how she presents herself and attributes to her success from her first title to now.

“I think, just continuing to uphold my high moral standards and being that friendly face that anybody can walk up to and hold a conversation with me, that's something that I found back here in South Dakota, that so many people are coming up to me, and some people that I'm not even that close with, but they're welcoming with open arms and saying ‘Welcome home.’ So just continuing on with what I've been doing is a great way to represent South Dakota and now America,” she said.

The prior summers, Mueller could be seen traversing the state catching rodeos all over the state and making stops into other Midwest neighbors. Now Mueller said she’s excited to experience brand new venues and meet people.

Some of those include Houston, Texas, and Reno, Nevada, she said.

Prior to her crowning, Mueller also wrote a book titled “Faith over Fear” based on childhood memories with her best friend in high school, Evie Kahnke who was diagnosed with cancer and passed away during Mueller's senior year.

Faith over fear is also Mueller's platform as Miss Rodeo America.

The goal of Miss Rodeo America is to educate the public on the sport of rodeo, agriculture, and the western industry.

As the year is just getting started, Mueller is excited for what is to come.

“I'm really taking it one step at a time. I think that's the best thing you can do when you're put in such a high-standard role like Miss Rodeo America,” she said. “I remind myself that God has a plan, and he wanted me here all along.”