She got her own horse at the tender age of 4.  And now 21-year-old Kara Hackney is Miss Rodeo Kansas 2013.

Her official coronation was Saturday at the Ellis County Fairgrounds.  The Ellis native is a Fort Hays State University senior majoring in communication with a minor in agriculture.

Hackney won her title at the Miss Rodeo Kansas Pageant at the Dodge City Roundup PRCA Rodeo in August.

Her duties will be mainly as an ambassador in travels across the state and nation.

When she’s not busy signing autographs, Hackney will help with the production of many rodeos by carrying sponsorship flags and pushing cattle out of the arena on horseback. She will also be called on to speak in schools and at other venues to promote rodeo, agriculture, animal welfare, Kansas and agriculture.

Hackney will compete in the Miss Rodeo America Pageant in December in Las Vegas.