From Greeley Stampede hostess to a Wrangler volunteer to an advocate for young women in rodeo, Nyla Bristow has a long and varied connection to the city’s signature event.
“It’s so much fun,” said Bristow, a 70-year-old Greeley resident. “You get to work with so many great people, and it just feels good to give back to the community. There are so many positive things about it.”
Bristow, a retired educator from Greeley-Evans School District 6 and the University of Northern Colorado, was the first woman inducted into the Greeley Stampede Hall of Fame four years ago.
She became involved with the Stampede in 1976. That year, and in 1977, Bristow — then known by her maiden name of Clark — was named Miss Independence Stampede. She continues to volunteer today during Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association events at the Stampede. Bristow works in the area of the chutes at the west end of the arena, where the rough stock events are based.
Greeley Stampede volunteer Nyla Bristow keeps track of scores and times during the PRCA Rodeo finals Wednesday, July 2 at the Stampede. Bristow works in the area of the chutes at the west end of the stadium during the rodeo. Bristow, 70, and a Greeley resident, has been involved with the Greeley Stampede in a variety of roles since 1976. (Stephanie Burchett/For the Greeley Tribune)Bristow first heard about Miss Independence Stampede, which was a role of a hostess or ambassador for the Stampede, from the father of one of her students. The student told her father Bristow rode horses, and he advised Bristow to run for the position.
Bristow has ridden horses and been involved with rodeo and Western culture since she was a girl. Her late father, C.H. Clark, was a roper, and Bristow participated in 4-H while in junior high and high school.
“I was already teaching, and probably one of the most fun things was going down the parade route, and having them (students) say ‘Miss Clark, Miss Clark,’ ” Bristow recalled of being Miss Independence Stampede.
Nyla Bristow, right, a longtime Greeley Stampede and advocate, receives an award from former Miss Rodeo Colorado Hailey Frederiksen during Bristow's induction into the Greeley Stampede Hall of Fame in May 2021 at Zoe’s Cafe and Events in Greeley. (Greeley Tribune file)In the late 1980s, the Stampede became host of the Miss Rodeo Colorado Pageant. The pageant was previously housed at the state fair. With the change, the role of Miss Independence Stampede went away in favor of Miss Rodeo Colorado.
The switch has led to a higher profile for the Stampede because Miss Rodeo Colorado travels all over the country, Bristow said. Miss Rodeo Colorado, started in 1957, promotes rodeo and agriculture while embracing values of Western heritage. Miss Rodeo Colorado is the first lady of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association in the state.
This year’s Miss Rodeo Colorado is Sierra Southerland, a Colorado State University graduate and resident of Longmont.
Bristow is the Miss Rodeo Colorado national director, meaning she is a liaison to the Miss Rodeo America organization based in Colorado Springs. The Miss Rodeo America organization and pageant selects a young woman to serve as a spokesperson for the sport of professional rodeo and provides educational opportunities for the women who compete in the pageant. Bristow has been involved with Miss Rodeo Colorado for 38 years.
Barb Johnson, also a longtime Stampede volunteer, former Miss Rodeo Colorado committee member and District 6 teacher, has known and been friends with Bristow for a long time. Johnson said Bristow is effective for Miss Rodeo Colorado because Bristow is interested in feedback for the committee.
”Even if it’s not something they want to hear, they embrace it and they make changes so that it’s a better experience for the group,” Johnson said.
Johnson said former Miss Rodeo Colorados wanted to be more involved with the group and in the Stampede, but the women weren’t being contacted. That changed this year.
Longtime Greeley Stampede volunteer and advocated Nyla Bristow, of Greeley, smiles while working during the PRCA Rodeo finals Wednesday, July 2, 2025 at the Greeley Stampede in Greeley. Bristow, 70, has been involved with the Stampede for 49 years in a variety of roles. She started in 1976 and was twice named as Miss Independence Stampede. (Stephanie Burchett for the Greeley Tribune).Miss Rodeo Colorado fits with Bristow’s background in education. The organization is interested in helping all the young women who are involved — and not only the one named Miss Rodeo Colorado each year.
“We try to make it fun, and they make lasting friendships,” Bristow said. “And we just try to make it a quality experience, and that’s why we have more contestants than any other state in the nation.”
After Bristow’s work as Miss Independence Stampede, she became a volunteer for the Stampede. Bristow worked the gate at the east end of the stadium, where the timed events are now based. She set out barrels, and she was in charge of the grand entry into the stadium. Bristow was also a Stampede rider, going into the arena on horseback and presenting flags. It’s a role now held by the Colorado Stars & Stripes.
Bristow was also a member of the Stampede Foundation Board, a nonprofit supporting education for Weld County students.
She has seen plenty of changes to the Stampede in the last 49 years.
“What has grown, of course, is the size of the crowd that can be here,” Bristow said. “And the number of sponsors. The carnival has stayed the same, but all of all of the activities out on the grounds, like the dog show and the dinosaur show, those are all part of the of the growth.
“The parade (July 4) has not changed at all,” she added. “It’s still the daddy of them all when it comes to Colorado parades.”
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