Miss Gold Nugget Rides Again

from 74th Annual Gold Rush Days Event Program

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By Ron Eland Editor

A longtime Wickenburg tradition is being revived after a nearly 30-year absence.

The Miss Gold Nugget pageant – which dates back seven decades – is set to return next year, just in time for Gold Rush Days. But for this year, the Wickenburg Chamber of Commerce is inviting past queens to attend this year’s Gold Rush Days and serve as the parade’s grand marshals.

This year is a bit of a flashback to 1989. That year the parade also featured past queens with the pageant being revived the following year. However, Miss Gold Nugget would last just five more years and has not returned since.

“Way back in the day, it was a rodeo queen type of thing, but it was also very much a beauty pageant,” Goode said. “Back then they even had bathing suit contests so it was definitely a beauty pageant but it transformed into more of a rodeo queen. By the 1980s there was horsemanship and the speech was a big part of (the competition.) The queens were utilized as ambassadors for Wickenburg, and they attended PRCA rodeos inviting guests to come to Wickenburg.”

Goode knows a thing or two about this event as she was Miss Gold Nugget 1993.

As this iteration of Miss Gold Nugget begins, Goode said that the winner will again be an ambassador for Wickenburg, which in turn will help destination marketing, the chamber and the town as a whole. But, it’s more than just that.

“For those of us who have done it, it’s a great opportunity to get out and see all of Arizona,” she said. “It’s also an opportunity to represent a sport that we love and is a part of our lifestyle here in Wickenburg. Plus, it gives you an opportunity to step out of your comfort zone as you learn public speaking and interacting with many others.”

As Wickenburg continues to grow, it’s becoming better known for rodeos while living up to the title of Team Roping Capital of the World. Goode said this is an ideal time to again have a queen.

“With all the roping events and us pushing the rodeo events, to not have our own rodeo queen is sad,” she said.

Being that the last Miss Gold Nugget was crowned in 1995, Goode said she has some theories as to why it has yet to return.

“I think it was still looked upon as a beauty pageant, so we want to get past that in terms of how it’s phrased, packaged and put out there,” she said. “In the 1990s there was a bit of a transition. While we’ve always been known as a cowboy town, we also started becoming known as a retirement community. Thankfully, with roping becoming such a big thing here, we can capitalize on this again.”

Goode said another reason it’s been dormant for so long is that no one took ownership of it to form committees, look for sponsors and raise the funds needed. The plan is to award the queen a scholarship in order to help pay for college or to advance their education.

Since getting the word out that Miss Gold Nugget will be making its return for next year’s Gold Rush Days – with the winner being chosen weeks prior – Goode said the response has been very positive.

“It’s been well received, which is why I’m taking a chance and saying, ‘yeah, we’re going to run with this’ because I think, there’s enough backing without having to finalize everything just yet,” she said. “I think this is the first step –bringing all the queens back. After Gold Rush Days, we’ll be looking to form a committee, criteria and decide what it is we’re trying to achieve.”

Past queens and others who would like to help with the Miss Gold Nugget contest are encouraged to contact Goode at 928-684-5479 or by email at sgoode@wickenburgchamber.com.

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