Miss Rodeo America, Weber State student Olivia Favero thrives as nation’s top Western ambassador
OGDEN, Utah — During her reign as Miss Rodeo America 2026, Olivia Favero will travel thousands of miles as she promotes the Western lifestyle across the nation.
The 22-year-old Weber State University student helps educate the public on ranching and farming heritage, the agriculture industry, and the sport of rodeo. She said every day has been different, from meeting with the president of the United States at the White House to spending time reading with youth.
“The Western lifestyle is how I was raised,” Favero said. “To represent that and teach people about it is very fulfilling. I feel very lucky and blessed that this is my reality.”
Crowned in December 2025, Favero serves as the official national ambassador for the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association.
She’s now in the midst of one of the busiest seasons for rodeo, called the PRCA Summer Run, which will take her across the West as competitors try to secure prize money and qualify for the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas.
Next week, Favero will be back in Utah with her horse, Cosmo, for the Ogden Pioneer Days Rodeo, which is ranked by the PRCA as one of the top five outdoor rodeos in the nation. She’ll be signing autographs on the evenings of July 20–24 before the rodeo starts.
“There isn’t a lot of downtime, and that’s because I only get to do this for one year,” Favero said. “I’m booked for so many appearances so that I can do as much as possible during my reign.”
Favero grew up on her family’s 30-acre alfalfa farm in Taylor, Utah. On the rare occasion she has a short break in her schedule, she enjoys coming back and seeing those green fields: “It’s a good place to be able to call home.”
She holds two associate degrees from Weber State, and she’s on her way to earning a bachelor’s in communication with an emphasis in public relations and strategic communication. Favero is also a graduate of Ogden-Weber Technical College, where she earned her cosmetology license.
Attending Weber State was a “no-brainer” for her, thanks to generous tuition waivers she earned from competing in Miss Rodeo Ogden, the PRCA Wilderness Circuit, and Miss Rodeo Utah.
“Weber State has always offered great scholarships for high school students and rodeo athletes,” Favero said. “I was able to focus on school and enjoy my classes, but also still continue as a rodeo queen.”
She’s more than halfway done with her reign and already has a clear plan for what she’ll do next: Return home to complete her remaining 36 credit hours for her bachelor’s in communication.
She said traveling the country and networking with communication professionals has confirmed that she’s on the right career path. It’s also allowed her to put her WSU education into practice daily.
“All of those skills now apply as a rodeo queen, whether it be in communications, videography, social media,” Favero said. “When I’m traveling and I meet new committees and different rodeo contestants, I’m able to be a good team player because of that background.”
When Favero returns to school, she’ll be backed by $23,500 in scholarship funds from Miss Rodeo America — including the Desiree Larson Memorial Achievement Award, named for the late WSU professional sales professor and rodeo supporter.
“Miss Rodeo America is very supportive of education, and it’s a scholarship-based pageant,” Favero said. “I’m very prepared to continue my schooling after this year and see where I end up with all this help.”
Rachel Badali, Public Relations Director
801-626-7948, rachelbadali@weber.edu- Contact:
Rachel Badali, Public Relations Director
801-626-7948, rachelbadali@weber.edu