Tara (Spencer) Carleo, Miss Rodeo Colorado 2006 and a top 10 finalist for Miss Rodeo America is a Colorado Native currently resides on a farm in Loma, Colorado with her husband and two young daughters where they raise and grow American Quarter Horses, Australian Shepherd dogs and hay. She has judged numerous local and state pageants throughout the United States. She is currently an Executive Board Member for the Miss Rodeo America Pageant where she has been a member for over 15 years, and a proud Past-President of the Miss Rodeo Colorado organization where she was the creator of and main contributor to the John E. Cavey Memorial Award given each year. She obtained both Bachelors and Masters degrees from the University of Northern Colorado in Communication Studies, Media Studies, and Spanish, and has completed coursework towards her Doctorate from the University of Denver. She currently works as an Adjunct Lecturer of Speech at Colorado Mesa University in the Theatre Department and as a Columnist for the RMQHA News, a monthly publication. Formerly, she worked at the University of Denver as an Assistant Director of Donor Relations & Stewardship where her work was showcased and presented at the Association of Donor Relations Professionals conference. Prior to that, she worked at the National Western Stock Show as the Office Manager and Assistant to the President.
Following her rein as Miss Rodeo Colorado, Tara rode with the Freedom Riders at many rodeos and parades throughout Colorado and was honored to ride at our Nation’s Capitol during the 2008 Presidential Inauguration Parade for former President Barack Obama. In 2009, Tara was hired to travel throughout Spain and Portugal as a rodeo contestant, flag girl, spokesperson, and translator for the Rodeo Europe Tour. In addition, she realized a lifelong dream to carry flags in the Thomas & Mack as a chosen Flag Girl for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo two years in a row and judged the inaugural Flag Girl Competition the following year. Tara’s children represent the 4th generation in her family to raise and compete on the same legacy bloodlines of American Quarter Horses. She has placed in the top 5 and 10 at the APHA World Show in reining, roping, and working cow horse. In 2019, she won the Rocky Mountain Quarter Horse Association Circuit Championship in L1 Ranch Riding and Reserve Champion Amateur L1 Ranch Riding. She has also won a number of circuit championships and reserve championships in ranch riding and ranch conformation at RMQHA shows during 2019. She and her main show horse, Kivas Hollywoodrebel, have qualified for the AQHA L1 Championships in 2019, and the AQHA World Show in Ranch Riding in 2018 and 2019. Her hobbies include competing at AQHA horse shows, gardening, cooking, and helping young women gain transferable skills through pageantry to help them become leaders in their respective fields. She also loves to travel, judge pageants, scuba dive, play guitar and classical and jazz piano.
Following her rein as Miss Rodeo Colorado, Tara rode with the Freedom Riders at many rodeos and parades throughout Colorado and was honored to ride at our Nation’s Capitol during the 2008 Presidential Inauguration Parade for former President Barack Obama. In 2009, Tara was hired to travel throughout Spain and Portugal as a rodeo contestant, flag girl, spokesperson, and translator for the Rodeo Europe Tour. In addition, she realized a lifelong dream to carry flags in the Thomas & Mack as a chosen Flag Girl for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo two years in a row and judged the inaugural Flag Girl Competition the following year. Tara’s children represent the 4th generation in her family to raise and compete on the same legacy bloodlines of American Quarter Horses. She has placed in the top 5 and 10 at the APHA World Show in reining, roping, and working cow horse. In 2019, she won the Rocky Mountain Quarter Horse Association Circuit Championship in L1 Ranch Riding and Reserve Champion Amateur L1 Ranch Riding. She has also won a number of circuit championships and reserve championships in ranch riding and ranch conformation at RMQHA shows during 2019. She and her main show horse, Kivas Hollywoodrebel, have qualified for the AQHA L1 Championships in 2019, and the AQHA World Show in Ranch Riding in 2018 and 2019. Her hobbies include competing at AQHA horse shows, gardening, cooking, and helping young women gain transferable skills through pageantry to help them become leaders in their respective fields. She also loves to travel, judge pageants, scuba dive, play guitar and classical and jazz piano.