North Platte, Neb. – The Miss Rodeo Nebraska Association is gearing up to kick off the 2024 Miss Rodeo Nebraska pageant which begins Sunday, May 9th and runs through Tuesday, May 12th. This year’s competition will feature three teens, three misses and three judges. This year Miss Rodeo Nebraska is JoSee Saults of Big Springs, Nebraska and Miss Teen Rodeo is Maci Cox of North Platte.
Follow along with the POST throughout the next couple of days to learn more about the competitors and judges. This year judges welcomes Kristina Sigaty of Aberdeen, South Dakota, Codi Miller from southwestern North Dakota and Joni Heinisch of Nebraska. Too learn more about this year’s judges, check out their bios below.
Kristina SigatyKristina Sigaty (Courtesy Photo)
Kristina Sigaty is from Aberdeen, SD. She has been involved in the rodeo queen world since entering her first contest in 2003. Since then, she has been honored to represent South Dakota as the 2006 and 2007 SDHSRA Queen, Jr. Miss Rodeo South Dakota 2008, 2009 South Dakota 4-H Rodeo Ambassador, and Miss Rodeo South Dakota 2013, finishing in the Top 10 at Miss Rodeo America and earning the Wrangler Jacket Award and High Ticket Sales.
Advertisement
Serving as Miss Rodeo South Dakota had a massive impact on her life and career trajectory, and she has remained involved as a board member for Miss Rodeo South Dakota, Inc. to continue to offer those opportunities to today’s cowgirls. Growing up on a family farm, Kristina has also remained heavily involved with agriculture as the merchandising/origination manager at Frederick Farmers Elevator and market analyst with Fiebiger Consulting.
She also serves as a board member for the Bear Creek Roughriders Saddle Club, producing their barrel racing series and coordinating a variety of clinics and programs for club members. In her spare time, she enjoys trail riding, knitting, embroidering, crocheting, reading, and spending time on the lake with her husband Brandon and daughter Kimber.
Codi MillerCodi Miller (Courtesy Photo)
Codi Miller was born and raised on a small grain and cattle ranch in southwestern North Dakota. As a child, she attended a one-room schoolhouse and participated in 4-H for 10 years. Her pageant and modeling career started when she was 15 when she competed in the Bahamas at Miss Teen USA as the youngest contestant. She also competed in San Antonio, TX at Miss Collegiate America, plus 6 years in the Miss USA System.
In between beauty pageants, Codi followed in her mother’s footsteps in the rodeo and rodeo queen world. She was the ND High School Rodeo Queen, 2-time State Champion in Pole Bending, and is now the State Director of the high school queens’ contest. Codi was Miss Rodeo North Dakota 2014, and placed Top 10 at Miss Rodeo America. She is currently the National Director of Miss Rodeo North Dakota Pageant Organization, where she has founded a new scholarship program.
Codi enjoys spending her time helping young women in their personal and professional goals. She is a new homeowner and enjoys decorating and remodeling her little home, as well as owning and operating a western upholstery business. Codi believes her time in pageants and rodeo has helped her achieve career goals and building relationships all over the country. She hopes each woman her can see the benefits, win or lose!
Advertisement
Joni HeinischJoni Heinisch (Courtesy Photo)
Joni, originally from Nebraska, and now making her home in Florida, and former Miss Rodeo Nebraska 2015. Her early years were spent on her family’s working ranch in the Sandhills of Ericson, Nebraska, where she played an active role in raising Angus cattle and American Quarter Horses. In her free time, she loved being outdoors, engaging in activities like 4H, hunting, fishing and traveling to rodeos & pageants.
Shortly after obtaining her nursing degree and working as a full-time nurse she met her husband, Ian Heinisch, a UCF Middleweight, and former All-American Wrestler. shortly after marriage, her life journey took her to the Sunshine State, Florida. Today, Joni co owns a functional medicine practice, treating patients all across the county. Her true passion lies in promoting health and wellness among individuals.
Even though she’s currently immersed in the south Florida lifestyle, Joni’s heart remains rooted in the charm of small-town agriculture, and the outdoor way of living, remaining as active as she can in her family’s ranch in Nebraska. Together with her husband, she cherishes the beauty of Florida’s outdoors, spending quality time exploring its natural wonders.
Joni’s genuine interests include agriculture, preserving the traditions of family ranches, rodeo queen pageants, and advocating for the conversation of the outdoors. Through their ministry, she and Ian share the gospel message on a global scale, a testament to the significant impact of faith in their lives.
Shes wishes good luck too all the contestants in the Miss Rodeo Nebraska pageant
Three starters will sit out as they begin to prepare for the NFL draft.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jim Harding assistant coach hugs offensive lineman Spencer Fano (55) as they celebrate the Utes’ win over Kansas State.
Three University of Utah starters have decided not to play in the Las Vegas Bowl, head coach Kyle Whittingham says.
Offensive tackles Caleb Lomu and Spencer Fano and defensive end Logan Fano have all declared for the NFL draft.
Lomu, a 6-foot-6, 300-pound sophomore, and Spencer Fano, a unanimous All-America selection this year, are both expected to be first-round picks in April.
Advertisement
“Some people, it’s a lot higher stakes. We’ve got a couple of first-rounders and things like that,” Utah quarterback Devon Dampier said of the opt-outs. “We know those guys love us. … We still support those guys.”
Dampier and senior linebacker Lander Barton both said this week that they intend to play in the game.
“There are definitely conversations that you have to have with agents and people that are around you in your circle,” Barton said of his choice.” But ultimately it’s up to each player.”
Whittingham said a few walk-ons and scout team players have also opted out of the game as they prepare to enter the transfer portal.
“And we also have a handful of guys that are going to go in the portal at that are still practicing with us,” he said. “I think that what we have right now is what we’re going to have.”
Advertisement
The No. 15 Utes take on the Nebraska Cornhuskers on New Year’s Eve in Las Vegas (1:30 p.m. MT, ESPN). It will be Whittingham’s final game as the Utes’ head coach.
“This team has been one of my favorite years,” Whittingham said. “The team’s attitude. The leadership. The work ethic. Just the personality on the field, the vibe of the team is outstanding. Having the chance to be around these guys one more month and go to battle one more time with them was something I wanted to do.”
OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – President Donald Trump’s executive order to reclassify marijuana at the federal level is reigniting debate in Nebraska, where voters approved medical marijuana in 2024.
Trump signed the executive order on Thursday, directing federal agencies to reclassify marijuana from a Schedule I drug to Schedule III. The move does not legalize marijuana nationwide but opens the door for more medical research.
Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers joined attorneys general from seven other states in releasing a statement saying they are “concerned” with the order. Hilgers said the science shows marijuana should remain a Schedule I drug.
Sen. Pete Ricketts also opposes the move. He signed a letter with 14 other Republican senators urging Trump not to reschedule marijuana. The letter argues marijuana is linked to mental health issues, impaired driving and workplace accidents.
Advertisement
Local medical marijuana advocate Lia Post disagreed with state leaders’ opposition.
“It just comes to the point, when is enough enough?” Post said.
Post said the argument from state leaders ignores what Nebraska voters decided in November 2024 when they overwhelmingly approved medical marijuana.
“It does open up the door for research, which really makes me happy, and the ability to speak to my doctor. It’s hard to be excited when you know you’re just a part of the big, giant grift that is going on,” Post said.
The federal change would allow the FDA to study marijuana’s medical uses. That could potentially help veterans, seniors, and people with chronic pain. Advocates said it also removes excuses for state leaders to delay implementation.
Advertisement
“I feel like we are in the exact same place we always are with the people wanting medical cannabis, the current law supporting medical cannabis, but the elected officials stopping medical cannabis,” Post said.
The federal rescheduling process could take several more months to finalize. The executive order does not legalize recreational marijuana. Trump made that clear Thursday, saying he is not open to that.
“It is a big deal, it is change, and change is always a big deal. Anything to do with medical cannabis and politics, I have to find the joy in whatever small wins there are, because there are so few,” Post said.
LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Nebraska football is bolstering its staff with the addition of a run game coordinator and a defensive edge coach.
On Friday, head coach Matt Rhule announced the hiring of run game coordinator Lonnie Teasley and defensive edge coach Roy Manning.
Teasley spent the last five seasons with South Carolina, serving as the Gamecocks’ offensive line coach for the last three years.
He was also an assistant offensive line coach on Rhule’s Temple staff in 2014. Teasley also had stints with the Baltimore Ravens and Tennessee Tech.
Advertisement
“Lonnie Teasley brings a wealth of offensive line coaching experience to our staff,” Rhule said in a press release. “Lonnie has had great success throughout his career and specifically has been one of the elite offensive tackle coaches in the country. He also has a proven track record as an excellent recruiter. Lonnie will make a positive impact on our coaching staff and the Nebraska Football program.”
Manning worked with new defensive coordinator Rob Aurich as a defensive edge coach at San Diego State in 2025. He helped the Aztecs rank among the nation’s top defenses.
Manning has also spent time coaching at USC, Michigan and Cincinnati.
“We are excited to add Roy Manning to our defensive staff,” Rhule said. “Along with Coach Aurich, he was a key part of the defensive transformation at San Diego State this past season. Roy has experience coaching defense from front to back and has coached at high-level programs throughout his career.”
Nebraska fired three assistant coaches following a lopsided loss to Iowa in November: defensive coordinator John Butler, offensive line coach Donovan Raiola and defensive line coach Terry Bradden.
Advertisement
Aurich has been hired to lead the defense and Geep Wade is Nebraska’s new offensive line coach.
SEE ALSO: Report: Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola to enter the transfer portal
