05/28/2026
Meet the judges for the Miss Rodeo Cherokee 2026 pageant!
Melissa (Tabke) Wonnenberg
Melissa Tabke grew up in Marcus, IA and graduated from Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn High School. She was very involved in 4-H with the Cherokee County Cavaliers and 4-H County Council as well as Iowa High School Rodeo. She was Miss Rodeo Cherokee 2009. Melissa attended Texas Tech University and holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Animal Science. After grad school, Melissa spent 4 years in West Africa working with 4-H programs in Ghana and Liberia. Upon moving back to the US, Melissa worked for Colorado State University Extension. She and her husband landed back in the Midwest a few years later when they had the chance to buy an acreage in South Dakota. She currently works at the University of South Dakota in student affairs as the Assistant Director of the Opportunity Center and Leadership Development, helping students make the most of their college experience while growing their leadership skills.
Jolene Westercamp
Jolene Westercamp has proudly held multiple rodeo queen titles throughout the years, most recently serving as Miss Rodeo Iowa 2025. Through her experiences representing the sport of rodeo and the western way of life, she has developed a strong passion for the rodeo queen community and the opportunities it provides young women.
Today, Jolene enjoys giving back by mentoring and encouraging young queens as they begin their own journeys in rodeo royalty. She continues to stay actively involved by serving as an honorary member and social media director for the Miss Rodeo Iowa board, as well as pageant coordinator for the Iowa Rodeo Cowboys Association pageant. She is honored to support and inspire the next generation of rodeo queens while continuing to serve the western industry as a judge, mentor, and leader.
