Is there such a thing as too much curl?

That question, and many others, drew more than 20 rodeo queen hopefuls and their parents to Casper this weekend for the Miss Rodeo Wyoming 2007 clinic.

Wearing cowboy hats and shiny belt buckles, the girls studied some of the keys to pageant success: horsemanship, public speaking, makeup and, of course, hair.

"They help you pinpoint what you need to work on," said Erika Backes, a 21-year-old college student who drove up from Cheyenne for the clinic.

Backes spent Saturday afternoon learning how to best curl her hair and answer impromptu questions from pageant judges.

"With each clinic, you learn something new," she said.

The two-day clinic is designed to prepare girls for future rodeo pageants, said clinic director Suzanne Brownell. During such competitions, girls must demonstrate horsemanship, give a speech, model western outfits and answer questions from judges.

The clinic, held at Casper's Holiday Inn on the River, drew 22 girls and 16 parents. The girls ranged in age from 13 to 24 and from all over Wyoming, as well as Nebraska and Montana.

In one room, Amanda Jenkins, Miss Rodeo America 2006, offered public speaking advice. Don't ramble, stay positive, and avoid a death grip on the microphone.

"Give your speech to anybody who will listen," she said.

Next door, Linda Myers, a Sheridan resident and Miss Rodeo Wyoming Association president, gave tips on styling rodeo queen hair. To a rapt audience, she demonstrated techniques for adding volume to hair on sisters Courtney and Chelsey Porter, of Riverton.

The keys to queen hair, Myers said, include a good stylist and the right curlers.

"Don't spray your hair with your hat on," she reminded the girls.

Afterward, Courtney Porter, the Wyoming State Winter Fair 2007 Junior Queen, said she found the tips helpful.

"Volume is very important," she said. "It doesn't take a gallon of hair spray to make it work."

Reach Joshua Wolfson at (307) 266-0582 or at josh.wolfson@casperstartribune.net.