By Whitney Baxter
Lauren Jaschke is in her happy spot any time she’s atop a horse.
“There’s no greater feeling than loping a horse through an open field or carrying the American flag around a rodeo arena,” said Jaschke, a graduate student in sustainable agriculture.
She’ll fly the flag through many more arenas in the coming year as the recently crowned 2027 Miss Rodeo Iowa.
A hard-earned hobby
As a kid, Jaschke was intrigued by horses. There was just one problem – she lived in the city limits of Polk City, Iowa, where horses are not allowed. Determined not to let that stop her, she walked dogs and worked other odd jobs as a 14-year-old to pay for horse riding and management lessons from a local student who had just graduated high school. Jaschke later showed the horse at the local county fair.
“That lit a fire in me, and my horse experience just took off from there,” Jaschke said.
She convinced her parents to let her purchase a horse – using money from those odd jobs – and have it housed at a nearby boarding facility. Soon after, seeing this wasn’t a fleeting infatuation, her parents bought an acreage near Slater where Jaschke could house her horse, Scribbles.
Since then, Scribbles and Jaschke have traveled across the country, competitively barrel racing at rodeos and other events.
Jaschke also began competing in rodeo pageants. She earned the titles of Miss Cyclone Stampede in 2023 and Miss Sydney Iowa Rodeo Queen in 2025. At the encouragement of fellow rodeo enthusiasts, she entered the Miss Rodeo Iowa pageant.
“I’m grateful for the opportunity to serve as Miss Rodeo Iowa,” Jaschke said. “It’s such an honor to hold the title and think about how far I’ve come since those first horse lessons in middle school.”
Combining her two passions
At Iowa State University, Jaschke has found a way to combine her equine passion with her other passion – plants. She graduated in 2024 with a bachelor’s degree in agronomy and a minor in biology and now focuses on forages as a graduate student under the guidance of Shelby Gruss, assistant professor of agronomy and forage extension specialist.
One of Jaschke’s projects looks at combining a nurse crop, such as a summer annual, with alfalfa, a slower-growing plant often fed to horses. The nurse crop can suppress weeds and help hold the soil in place while the alfalfa establishes.
Another project explores intercropping summer annuals and cover crops to extend the grazing season. For example, one crop could be planted in the early spring or fall, with the second crop planted later in the spring while the first crop is still growing. If horses and other animals can graze in pastures longer from spring through fall, livestock owners can save money by buying less feed during the winter.
“Through my research, I’m looking at how we can better produce forage for our animals and in a more sustainable manner,” Jaschke said.
Gruss said Jaschke jumped right in when she joined her research team. Gruss has been inspired by how well Jaschke balances her educational commitments with her involvement with Iowa State’s rodeo team and volunteering in the 4-H community.
“Lauren is a very hard-working student and is passionate about developing more resilient systems for crops,” Gruss said. “She has taken the lead on projects and has ownership of them. These have been great experiences for her as a master’s student and will prepare her for a professional role after graduation.”
Jaschke hopes to become an Iowa State Extension agent or Practical Farmers of Iowa employee and help fellow horse owners and farmers improve their crop management practices.
The art of perseverance
Barrel racing is a tough sport, Jaschke said. Many times throughout her college career, she placed just a spot or two shy of making the top 10. But she didn’t give up. Her persistence paid off, and she qualified for short goes (final rounds) five times while in college.
“When you’re competing against hundreds of others to advance to the final round, it can be disappointing to miss it by just a few spots,” Jaschke said. “But you’ve just got to keep going.”
A highlight came last year when she made the short go as the only Iowa State representative in the Cyclone Stampede held at the Hansen Agriculture Student Learning Center.
“It was a super cool experience to compete in the championship round at our hometown rodeo with all the Iowa State fans in the audience,” Jaschke said. “I’ve never heard Hansen as loud as my run that night.”
Jill Paxton, assistant teaching professor of animal science and Iowa State Rodeo Club advisor, said Jaschke has been a valued and committed member of Iowa State’s rodeo team.
“The Iowa State University Rodeo Club could not be prouder to have Lauren as a member of our team and club,” Paxton said. “She represents the very best of Iowa State Rodeo – hard work, sportsmanship, leadership and a deep commitment to the western way of life. We are incredibly proud to see her carry those qualities forward as Miss Rodeo Iowa 2027.”
Following graduation in December, Jaschke will begin a year-long schedule of promoting the rodeo sport and interacting with the community as Miss Rodeo Iowa. Then in December 2027, she will represent Iowa in the Miss Rodeo America competition in Las Vegas.
“I hope I can inspire the next generation to love horses and rodeo as much as I do,” Jaschke said.