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The 2026 Miss Rodeo North Dakota Pageant was held June 12-14, in Medora, during the North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame Inductions. Jaylynn Hicks was crowned Miss Rodeo North Dakota 2026, and will serve as Lady-in-Waiting until the first of the year. First Runner-up was Jaycee Dressler of Richardton. Contestants competed in the areas of personality, appearance and horsemanship, explains National Director, Codi Miller. Hicks was awarded the Horsemanship, Personality, Appearance, Written Test, and Photogenic categories. She also received the Cowgirl Legacy award. Dressler received the Cowgirl Spirit Award in memory of Paul Christensen and Miss Congeniality. 

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The 23-year-old from Dunn Center, North Dakota grew up on the rolling hills of Dunn Center, North Dakota. She graduated from NDSU with a double major in Animal Biomedical Science and Equine Science. Her goal is to attend veterinary school in Billings, MT, with aspirations of practicing as a large animal veterinarian specializing in genetics and reproduction. She represented the Killdeer Mountain Roundup Rodeo at the state pageant.

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Hicks will take over for current Miss Rodeo North Dakota Claire Graner in January of 2026. Graner will represent the state at Miss Rodeo America this December during the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas. 

Miss Rodeo North Dakota promotes and assists with rodeos and other events throughout North Dakota and serves as an ambassador at numerous rodeos throughout the country. For more information visit www.missrodeond.org

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