30-years after Katelyn Parson Kinslow wore a handmade American flag shirt in the Lil Miss Honey Grove Rodeo Princess competition, three-year old Kennedy Grider brought it back to life for the 2024/2025 Lil Miss Paris Rodeo competition.
“We have known Carolyn (Katelyn’s mom) and her family for many years. Her son and my husband grew up together and I grew up with her daughter-in-law,” said Kennedy’s mom, Alex Grider. “During a 4th of July gathering, we were talking about Kennedy running for Lil Miss and Carolyn told me all the stories about Katelyn running for the same title in Honey Grove 30-years ago.”
As they began talking about clothes and how rodeo royalty outfits in toddler sizes are hard to come by, Alex shared of how she was having a shirt handmade by a family friend.
“I wanted to have something made so I could keep it and be able to pass it down to Kennedy’s daughter if she has one someday,” Alex said. “Carolyn said she had done the same thing with her mother making a shirt for Katelyn and said she still had the shirt at home put up.”
Knowing the girls had to wear multiple outfits, Carolyn asked if Kennedy would want to wear the shirt one night during the rodeo.
“Of course I thought that was the sweetest idea and it fit her so well.”
Kennedy finished the competition with the ‘Best Western Wear’ award, which her mom couldn’t have been more proud of being that every outfit she wore throughout the competition had some sort of “family/memorable significance to it.”
“I’m pleased to say that a 30-year old shirt was once again worn and survived by another three-year old running for rodeo royalty,” smiled Alex.
