Please meet

Miss Stampede Days Rodeo Queen Bakersfield 2013

Cat Gulizia

Cat Gulizia - 2013 Miss Stampede Days Rodeo Queen Bakersfield (Photo by Libby Wendt

Please meet Catherine Gulizia better known as Cat.  Cat is a 22 year old from Sonora, California.  She has been riding from the age of six, taking weekly lessons until the age of 18.  Cat barrel raced for the college rodeo team at Feather River College in 2009-2010.  After graduating from FRC in 2011 with her A.A. Degree in Animal Sciences, she began to follow her equestrian dreams.

Cat won her first PRCA Rodeo Queen title and her first horse trailer in 2011.  Shortly thereafter, she found her first, but more importantly, her dream horse - My Custom Tivito, but she lovingly calls him "Turtle".  True partners, Cat and Turtle competed in National Reining Horse Association and West Coast Reining Horse Association shows.  Together they flourished placing at every show and taking home the Year End Affiliate Champion Buckle in October 2012.

On May 4, 2013, Miss Cat Gulizia was crowned the 2013 Miss Bakersfield Stampede Days Rodeo Queen.  Additionally, she won the judging categories of  Horsemanship, Appearance, Speech, Modeling, and Congeniality.  Cat gives most of the credit for winning the title to her horse Turtle and her friend Brittany Slaton.

Cat and Turtle have been traveling the great state of California proudly representing the Bakersfield Stampede Days Rodeo; however, they don't always travel alone.  Many times they are accompanied by the 2013 Miss Stampede Days Rodeo "Junior" Queen, Katy Priddy, and Princess Macy Knight (as well as their families), as well as with the Kern County Sheriff's Mounted Posse.

“I am truly blessed to be accompanied by such a wonderful group of people.  The Priddy and Knight Families have been the best team I could ever ask for.  Both Katy and Macy are wonderful equestrians, always ready to Cowgirl Up, and represent the Bakersfield title with a huge smile and a smok’n queen run!!!!  We are one huge family.  The posse is exceptional - always great food, great attitudes and always full of encouragement. I am pleased and very honored to represent them and call them my rodeo family. KCSMP not only puts on a wonderful rodeo but they also help underprivileged children from the Kern County.

My goal as a Rodeo Queen is to represent the sport I love, and the "American Dream".  I live my life through the ideals that stand behind the American Dream.  There is no doubt in my mind that now, more than ever, that those ideals still exist.  No matter who you are or where you come from, with hard work and dedication, your dreams can and will come true. I believe the American Dream and Rodeo over lap in these ideals and I, as well as the contestants of the PRCA, are living proof.

 As I continue to travel I love spreading my story and encouraging others to follow their dreams...”

Cat would like to thank her sponsors: Performance Equine Nutrition ( website ), Mark Harnden Performance Reining Horses ( website ) , Kern County Sheriffs Mounted Posse and Rodeo ( website ), Mrs. Brittany Slaton-Walker, Something Royal Clothing (Facebook ) , Knight Enterprises, Inc (website ) , Bi Saddular ( Facebook ) , and many many more.  A very special thank you to her mother and father, Charles and Sally Gulizia, and everyone else who has helped her along the way.

The PRCA CA Circuit Finals Rodeo would like to congratulate Cat on her reign and thank her for her support and help in the arena at the 2013 PRCA California Circuit Finals Rodeo.  We wish you all the best as you finish your reign and wish you all the best!  Be sure to mark your calendars for the Kern County Sheriff's Reserve Stampede Days Rodeo - May 2 & 3, 2014!

Click here to view all PRCA California Circuit Royalty.