Kennedy Gibson of Ozark graduated from Vienna High School and continued her education at Southeastern Illinois College and Murray State University. Kennedy plans to become a high school agriculture teacher to help students better understand and appreciate the agriculture industry.

Kennedy competes in barrel racing and chuckwagon racing, and she owns and drives her own chuckwagon team. She was the 2025 Seven Springs Lodge Reserve Champion in the 46” Mule Division and received the Horsemanship Award at the 2024 Miss Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo Pageant. She later earned the title of Miss Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo 2024-25. 

Outside of rodeo, Kennedy enjoys singing, photography, hiking, and painting. She pursued the title of Miss Rodeo Illinois to represent the sport she loves and to advocate for both rodeo and agriculture across the state. As Miss Rodeo Illinois, she will travel across the state, the country, and Canada promoting the western way of life, agriculture, and rodeo. She will then go on to compete for the coveted title of Miss Rodeo America crown, held in conjunction with the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo this December.