The third annual Miss Frontier Texas competition began last month and the individual contests will continue until the second week of April.

On Feb. 18 contestants gathered at Frontier Texas to compete on their Texas History knowledge and how to cook on a Dutch oven.

The next competition is March 22 and is the “Saddle and Shoot” where all the contestants will saddle a horse, shoot a buffalo gun and present an essay to the judges. Only 12 of the contestants will advance from the contest.

The last contest will be two days in April when the contestants are tested to pitch their own tent, cook on a Dutch oven and more frontier tasks such as sewing or lassoing.

On Saturday April 12, the 2014 Miss Frontier Texas will be crowned and awarded a $3,000 scholarship and a pair of custom boots from James Leddy Boots.

Brenna Jefferies, senior ad/PR major from Argyle and the Morris and Mitchel representative for Frontier Texas, competed in the event three years ago and has continued her involvement with the contest by working with Frontier Texas.

“I’m definitely going to miss it [next year],” Jefferies said. “But I know it’s prepared me. I’m so grateful for everything I’ve done [with Frontier Texas].”

This year there are eight ACU girls competing in the Miss Frontier Texas competition.

“It’s a good mix of girls,” Jefferies said. “I’m really excited because they all seem really enthusiastic about it as a whole.”

Alicia Adams, junior nursing major from Boerne, is participating because of the challenge Miss Frontier Texas provides. Adams is anxious for chasing the chicken and most excited to get to know all the contestants and the camping portion of the contest.

Annie Bailey, freshman ad/PR major from Abilene, is participating and was referred to the event by a woman at Ball Ranch. Bailey is familiar with horses and camping but is most looking forward to cooking on the Dutch oven, and most nervous for shooting the buffalo gun.

Alexa Burkhart, junior animal science major from Sanger, Calif., joined the event because of how fun it would be to compete and it would push her to do something she’s never done before. Burkhart is most interested in the “Saddle and Shoot” event, but concerned about cooking on the Dutch oven.

Ashton Darrow, sophomore business management major, has always had a passion for Texas history and is participating in Miss Frontier Texas as a way to experience the hardships that the early Texas settlers had. Growing up, she’s familiar with many of the events and is most excited to shoot the buffalo gun. However, Darrow is nervous for the saddling.

Lizzie Folwell, junior marketing and management major from Abilene, joined the event to learn more about the area she calls home and to meet new girls in a fun and competitive way. Folwell is excited and nervous for the cooking challenge.

Sierra Reed, freshman kinesiology major from Dripping Springs, joined the event after being approached about it from Brenna Jefferies. Reed is looking forward to just be a part of it and make some good friends, but is most nervous for cooking in the Dutch oven cooking event.

Morgan Ruble, sophomore animal science major from Copper Canyon, is participating in the event in the hopes of earning the scholarship money, trying new things and meeting new people. Ruble is most worried about the presentation contestants must give, but is excited for cooking on the Dutch oven.

Veronica Shaeffer, freshman animal science major from Paso Robles, Calif., couldn’t be reached for a comment.