Maryland high school rodeo champion competes in national competition

PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY, Md. ( DC News Now ) — A 17-year-old from Prince George’s County who once made history as the first Black Miss Maryland High School Rodeo Queen is now heading to one of the biggest national rodeo competitions in the world.

“This is what you want to do, this is who you are, you can make a difference,” said rodeo champion Morissa Hall.

That’s what Hall tells herself every time she hops on her horse. Her hard work and dedication to rodeo is taking her to one of the largest youth rodeo competitions in the world, the 2024 National High School Finals rodeo in Wyoming this week.

“I’m very excited. Nationals is a huge rodeo, its filled with people from Canada, all over the United States, Mexico, and you’re competing against the best of the best,” said Hall.

When Hall was 11, she got her first horse after consistently achieving straight A’s. In 2020, with no prior experience, Hall and her father studied and practiced the sport.

She’s won several championships and is already breaking barriers in such a short time. Recently, Hall became a four-time Maryland High School Rodeo All Around Cowgirl. She was also the first African-American Miss Maryland High School Rodeo from 2020 to 2021 and 2022 to 2023.

“It was very nice to be an inspiration, especially for people of color, because not a lot of us are in the rodeo. [It’s] just the opportunity to be able to show people that things can be different,” said Hall.

As she prepares for this week’s competition, Hall hopes to bring home a few accolades.

Most importantly, she wants to inspire people to follow their dreams by staying focused and working hard.

The 2024 National High School Finals are on from July 14 to July 20.

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