After a 10-year hiatus, Alex Fuller is back in the show pen. The 2023 Miss Rodeo Tennessee sent her reining horse to training to see if she was safe enough to carry a flag, and decided the timing couldn’t be more perfect for her to start showing again.

“I initially just thought, ‘We’ll have someone work with her and make sure she is safe enough to carry a flag,’” Fuller said. “She still has all the training and all the maneuvers, so I thought why not, let’s get back into the show arena.”

The mare she is showing is family raised. Shiners Lena Spook (Shiners Lena Doc x Unspookable), also known as “Lil Spook,” is a special mare to the family because it is the horse her mom showed. The NRBC is the first show she has competed in since the break. She has attended reining horse shows for the last two years as a spectator, and she began getting the itch to start showing again.

“No matter if it is win or lose, I didn’t care, just getting to be on my horse, getting to be in the arena and getting to ride around with horse lovers and athletes is my favorite part,” she said.

From reining to rodeo, Fuller represents her home state as Miss Rodeo Tennessee. As a youth kid Fuller showed with the family of the Miss Rodeo America Tennessee National Director, Sue Lynn Perry. For years she has tried recruiting Fuller to compete for the crown of Miss Rodeo Tennessee. Finally, Fuller felt the timing was right and competed claiming the title and claiming the coveted crown.

“I am at a point in my life where I felt like I had a little bit more control over everything that is going on. I felt like I was just going to be able to do the role justice,” she said. “We, Miss Rodeo Queens, are the mediators between the athletes and the fans, and that kind of goes hand in hand with rodeo events with the equine industries as well.”

As Miss Rodeo Tennessee, Fuller is given opportunities to educate the public about the horse industry. She attends schools and educates children on what it means to be in a rodeo association and educates them on equipment used, like spurs, and what they are used for. She feels that by educating the public, she is doing her part in keeping the industry alive.

Fuller gives thanks to her entire support system, including her trainer, Blair Thompson. She has also made many friends and it means so much to her to see them cheering for her while competing.

“Blair has taken on a green rider and a green horse, he really had a lot on his plate and he did an amazing job,” Fuller said. “I always knew I wanted to get back to it and I finally found my way back.”