Mother-daughter duo share rodeo queen history

For Nuggett and Talli Carmalt, rodeo royalty travels by bloodline.

The mother-daughter duo is the only such pair in Montana to be crowned Northwest Montana Pro Rodeo Queen since the pageant debuted in 1985.

“I think it’s in our blood,” said Talli. The reigning rodeo queen’s coronation took place in August, 30 years after her mother earned the same award in 1989.

“We’re definitely unique in our situation,” she observed.

“It’s definitely fun for us as a mother-daughter,” pair, Nuggett added.

Both women— third and fourth-generation natives of the Flathead Valley — said they started riding horses before they could walk. “I think I was probably on a horse before I was born,” Talli said with a laugh, and Nuggett confirmed she was still riding while pregnant with her daughter.

“I’ve always had an innate connection with horses,” Nuggett explained.

Like her mother, Talli started learning the ropes—literally—at a young age through activities like 4-H. Though she never shared her mother’s enthusiasm for lessons, she remembered, “I was a pretty aggressive rider when I was little.” By 5 or 6 years old, she had started “competing with a tiny little hat on.”

In 2014, the “tiny little hat” was replaced by her first major crown when she gained statewide recognition as Miss Teen Rodeo Montana. “Ever since I was Teen there’s been a passion for competing,” she said.

“She has her own road,” Nuggett insisted, but she said she always hoped Talli would follow in her footsteps, “because it was a really good experience.”

Beyond the accolades and horsemanship skills, Nuggett said the rodeo helps girls become more outgoing, confident and independent. “It’s a really good, all-around wholesome lifestyle,” she said.

At the same time, Talli reported, “It’s pretty intense.”

Contestants compete in a wide array of categories, including speech, modeling, photogenics, horsemanship, a personal interview and a written test. “You get scored on every single thing you do,” Talli said.

That intensity has remained consistent since Nuggett first won the crown in 1989. “The criteria for the pageant has stayed the same,” she said, although the fashion has changed dramatically.

“There’s been quite a change from my polyester days to Talli’s leather days,” Nuggett observed, remembering the colorful polyester outfits and large hairdos that gave way to today’s bejeweled leather dresses and redesigned hats and boots.

“It evolved for sure,” Talli added.

But polyester or leather, jewels or no, the rodeo is about a lot more than dresses and crowns. “It’s not just glamor and glitz,” Nuggett pointed out. “It’s hard work.”

She shared how Talli fed her horse in frigid temperatures, drove her horse trailer by herself to unfamiliar towns all across the state, and entered the Northwest Montana Pro Rodeo twice to no avail before winning her current title.

“They’re great experiences, whether you win or lose,” Nuggett said. “That’s one thing I’ve tried to instill in her—You are not giving up. You’re going to smile and you’re going to show up, girl.”

“That’s been burned into my brain,” Talli confirmed.

Despite the hard work and numerous challenges, Nuggett said, “It’s fun. A lot of this has been good bonding. At pageants, we go shopping together, we stay in hotels together and I can watch [her].”

“It’s indescribable. I feel blessed to have my daughter feel that close to me.”

Talli agreed: “You want that one thing you can do together…If I ever have a kid I’d hope they follow in my footsteps.”

And it doesn’t require a deep family legacy to get involved and make the most out of local rodeo opportunities.

“You don’t have to have the top-of-the-line leather dress,” or other elite accoutrements, Nuggett said. “If you’re outgoing, if you love the sport, try out,” she urged.

Reporter Bret Anne Serbin may be reached at bserbin@dailyinterlake.com or 758-4459.