By CORKY HALL
Woods County commissioners will honor four rodeo world champions with ties to Woods County during a public ceremony at 10 a.m. Monday, Feb. 2, at the Woods County Courthouse.
The honorees include Taylor Munsell of Alva, the 2025 Women’s Professional Rodeo Association breakaway roping world champion; Jacob Edler of Alva, the 2020 Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association steer wrestling world champion; Kari Nixon of Freedom, a two-time PRCA tie-down roping world champion in 2015 and 2021; and Michele Green Mackey, Miss Rodeo America 1994.
The recognition was proposed by Commissioner Shane Vore, who said the goal is to acknowledge individuals who have competed and succeeded at the highest levels of rodeo.
“When a basketball team or a football team wins a national championship, the whole town celebrates,” Vore said. “In rodeo, these athletes are competing on a world stage. Outside of the Olympics, there aren’t many sports where you can truly be the best in the world.”
Championship memorabilia, including saddles and buckles, will be displayed inside the courthouse Monday through Friday during regular courthouse hours.
Munsell, who moved to Alva in 2015 to attend Northwestern Oklahoma State University, said the recognition reflects years of local support.
“Alva’s been such a great community for me,” Munsell said. “There’s a ton of local sponsors and people that have supported me.”
Mackey, Miss Rodeo Wyoming before winning the Miss Rodeo America title, said the level of achievement represented is significant.
“I don’t take it lightly at all, because I know the road it takes to achieve at that level,” Mackey said.
This was Munsell’s fifth time qualifying for the National Finals Breakaway Roping. Mackey owns Turquoise Creek in Alva, Edler owns H&E Tire, and Nixon continues to compete professionally.
Vore said the commissioners are encouraging community members to contact them with names of other Woods County residents who may be eligible for future recognition.
The ceremony will take place during the regularly scheduled commissioners meeting. The public is encouraged to attend.