March 15, 2018
Miss Rodeo Hawaii, Lorrie Ann Smith, comes from Laie, Hawaii. She grew up on her family’s Gunstock Ranch, where she lived and worked the Paniolo lifestyle.
This cowboy lifestyle descends from the first cowboys who were brought in from Mexico to Hawaii to tame the exploding livestock population that descended from a small flock of sheep and cows gifted to King Kamehameha I by an officer of the British Royal Navy in the late 1700’s.
Growing up on her grandfather’s ranch, Smith was exposed to high-caliber horses and mentors. Rodeo also runs in her family; her great-uncle Dale Smith was president of the Pro Rodeo Cowboys Association and is in the PRCA Hall of Fame.
Smith grew up participating in 4-H and has been successful in many rodeo organizations. She regularly competes at the national level, including the 2017 College National Finals Rodeo. She also served as the 2015 National High School Rodeo Association Student Secretary.
Her latest competition as Miss Rodeo Hawaii took place at the 2018 Miss Rodeo America Contest, held in Las Vegas in December 2017. She competed in several events during the length of the competition, including written tests, interviews, a reigning event, and a fashion show.
Lorrie Ann placed in the top ten, a first ever achievement for a Miss Rodeo Hawaii contestant in the history of the competition. She also won the “Wear the West Your Way” award and received Montana Silversmiths’ jewelry as a special prize.
“It was a great experience, and the other women in the competition become your best friends along the way,” she said.
Growing up, she spent her summers with the Smith family in Idaho. Wyatt Smith, a Montana Western alum, recommended that Lorrie Ann apply to Montana Western due to her love of horses. Rodeo coach and Equine Studies instructor Iola “Olie” Else introduced Lorrie Ann to the program, and then she was hooked.
“It’s the only college I applied to, I knew that Montana Western was where I wanted to be,” Smith said.
Due to the Experience One program and block scheduling, Lorrie Ann has also been able to double major in business administration, a combination she feels makes perfect sense for her future career goals.
“I would like to establish myself as a horsewoman, pursue a master’s degree, and eventually start a horse program back in Hawaii,” she said. “Being able to combine horsemanship with business is providing me valuable knowledge I can apply to my future goals.”
