LCCC student finds purpose through rodeo royalty

For MeadowAnn King, serving as the 2026 Cheyenne Frontier Days Lady-in-Waiting and attending Laramie County Community College are connected by a similar purpose; they are preparing her to make a difference in the lives of others.

MeadowAnn is pursuing a degree in Kinesiology and Health Professions at LCCC while representing Cheyenne Frontier Days throughout the year. With the work today, she hopes to become a teacher and wrestling coach, working with young people to build confidence, resilience and leadership.

The role as Lady-in-Waiting is already giving MeadowAnn opportunities to become the kind of mentor she hopes to be.

“It has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life because it combines everything I love: serving my community, preserving Western heritage and inspiring the next generation,” she said.

As Lady-in-Waiting, MeadowAnn serves alongside Miss Frontier as an ambassador for Cheyenne Frontier Days. The pair attends rodeos, parades, school visits and community events while representing the organization and the traditions of the American West.

The commitment lasts throughout the year and has taken MeadowAnn from Alberta, Canada, to Houston, Texas. After completing her year as Lady-in-Waiting, she will transition into the role of Miss Frontier and serve alongside the next woman selected for the position.

Some of MeadowAnn’s favorite moments come when she meets children who dream of wearing the crown themselves. Their excitement reminds her of being a young girl who looked up to rodeo royalty.

“Being a spokesperson for something that has given me a voice has truly shaped who I am,” she said.

MeadowAnn’s connection to Cheyenne Frontier Days began through her family. Her parents and other relatives competed, her grandfather volunteered for years and she eventually joined her siblings in working alongside them. Some of her strongest childhood memories come from Frontier Park, where the volunteers around her became an extended family.

“Being involved has taught me the importance of serving something bigger than yourself and giving back to your community,” MeadowAnn said.

She brings that same sense of purpose to her education.

A 2024 graduate of Cheyenne Central High School, MeadowAnn began taking LCCC classes through dual enrollment during her senior year. She later left Cheyenne to wrestle in college, then returned home and enrolled at LCCC full time after being selected as Lady-in-Waiting.

Attending LCCC allowed her to remain close to Cheyenne while meeting the travel and appearance demands of rodeo royalty. Affordability, scholarships and financial aid also helped make continuing college possible.

“Earning my degree is important because it gives me the knowledge and opportunities to make a greater impact on the lives of those around me,” MeadowAnn said. “Whether I’m teaching, coaching or serving my community, I want to be as prepared as possible.”

Keeping up with college while representing Cheyenne Frontier Days has required planning and persistence. MeadowAnn travels frequently, coaches wrestling and completes a full-time course load.

During her prerequisite courses, some instructors did not immediately understand how her responsibilities affected her schedule. MeadowAnn learned to notify instructors about travel well in advance and explain clearly what she needed to keep pace with her classes.

She found greater flexibility after entering the Kinesiology and Health Professions program, where faculty and staff worked with her as she managed her commitments.

“The [instructors] and staff in this program genuinely care about their students and want them to succeed,” MeadowAnn said. “I’ve felt supported both academically and personally, and they’ve been incredibly understanding of my responsibilities outside the classroom.”

That support has allowed MeadowAnn to continue progressing toward her degree while taking full advantage of an experience she believes is helping prepare her for the future.

Her courses provide academic knowledge and connections with professionals working in her field. Her Lady-in-Waiting appearances give her experience speaking publicly, representing an organization and encouraging young people who look to her as a role model.

After graduating from LCCC, MeadowAnn plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree or higher. She hopes to become a teacher and wrestling coach, while also competing for Miss Rodeo Wyoming and potentially Miss Rodeo America.

“I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunities I’ve had through both LCCC and Cheyenne Frontier Days,” she said. “Both have shaped me into the person I am today by teaching me the value of hard work, service, leadership and community.”

The experiences are leading MeadowAnn toward the same goal: a life spent helping young people grow and giving back to the community that invested in her.