06/23/2026
Madison Arnold - Miss Rodeo South Dakota 2026
Where the wide-open plains meet the golden gleam of the World's Only Corn Palace, Madison Arnold, proudly calls Mitchell, SD, home. A recent graduate of the University of Minnesota, Madison earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a minor in Marine Biology. During her time, she balanced academics with athletics as an NCAA Division I athlete and completed neuroscience research at the University of Minnesota Medical School. Today, she serves her community as an EMT.
Madison's love for the Western lifestyle runs deep and it showed early on! When she was little, she kept her parents busy as she signed up for just about every discipline 4-H had to offer. Madison rode everything from reining, ranch riding, barrels, and poles to show jumping and hunt seat equitation, embracing every opportunity to learn and grow in the saddle. Her passion carried her into continued involvement with the American Quarter Horse Association, the National Reining Horse Association, the Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association (CMSA), and of course, rodeo! In 2025, Madison proved that hard work pays off when she earned the title of CMSA Level 1 High Point Champion and finished the season ranked among the Top 10 CMSA Rookies in the world.
Looking ahead, Madison is excited to see what 2026 has in store and is honored to represent the great state of South Dakota. She looks forward to traveling the state, meeting rodeo fans, and celebrating the Western way of life alongside the communities that make it so special. With gratitude for where she comes from and enthusiasm for the road ahead, Madison is proud to carry South Dakota's rodeo tradition with her every step of the journey and can't wait to see where the year takes her.
