Why I'm Running for Mrs. Wyoming America

Why I'm Running for Mrs. Wyoming America

 Mrs. Oil City 2026 on Small Business, Youth, and What Casper Means to Me
(Community Roots: Mrs. Oil City 2026 Facebook page)

"Just a girl, saying a prayer and putting on her heels to face the day." 

I'll be honest with you, entering a pageant was never really on my radar. I'm a boutique owner. A mom. A wrestling parent who spends her weekends on gym floors.

I'm the person who shows up early to help set up for community events and stays late to make sure everything gets done. That's just who I am.

But when I learned about the Mrs. Wyoming America pageant and the opportunity to compete with a platform - a real message, not just a crown - something clicked.

Because I had something to say.

What Community Roots Actually Means

My platform is called Community Roots: Growing Small Business, Growing Future Leaders.

Here's the simple version: when you shop local, you're doing more than supporting a small business owner.

You're funding the things that make a community strong - youth sports programs, school fundraisers, first jobs for teenagers, mentorship, and the kind of connections that shape young people for the rest of their lives.

Small businesses are often the first ones to write that sponsorship check. The first ones to hire a nervous 16-year-old. The first ones to show up when a youth organization needs help.

When businesses close - and we've lost too many good ones in Casper in the last few years - that support disappears too. The ripple effect is real, and it lands hardest on our kids.

This isn't abstract to me. I live it every single day.

I See It at The Cadillac Cowgirl

I've owned The Cadillac Cowgirl here in downtown Casper since 2019 (you can learn more about me and my story here).

In that time, I've sponsored local events, supported other small businesses, hired from this community, and watched firsthand how interconnected we all are.

I serve as Treasurer for the Downtown Casper Business Association and help plan events like Crazy Days - things that bring people downtown and keep local businesses alive. I've donated more to local causes than I probably should admit.

I do it because I believe in this place.

Being a small business owner has also taught me a lot about resilience - from buying the store in 2019, to finding out I was pregnant a month later, then navigating Covid while nearly nine months along with my husband working away in the oil field. 

You learn pretty quickly what you're made of. And you learn to ask for help. Which, honestly, is a skill I'm still working on.

I See It as a Wrestling Mom

My boys wrestle. If you're part of a wrestling family, you already know: the sport is so much more than what happens on the mat.

 I've watched my kids raise their hands in victory. I've held them after hard losses.

Both moments matter. Both moments shape them into the young men they're becoming.

Youth programs, like wrestling, 4-H, band, drama, whatever it is for your kid, do something that can't be taught in a classroom.

They build confidence, discipline, resilience, and the ability to get back up.

When we invest in those programs, we're investing in people who will one day lead this community.

That's exactly why the connection between small business and youth development isn't just my platform. It's my conviction.

The Journey So Far

Since being applying to be Mrs. Oil City 2026 in order to run for Mrs. Wyoming America, I've been humbled by the support I've received from friends, family, customers, and community members. 

The generosity of people who believe in this platform has meant more to our family than I can express.

I'm actively seeking sponsors to help fund my preparation for the Mrs. Wyoming America pageant in late June 2026. Sponsorships go directly toward the costs of competition - wardrobe, travel, and the work of showing up and representing Casper well on a state stage.

If you're a local business or individual who believes in what Community Roots stands for, I'd love to talk. You don't have to be a Casper resident to sponsor - anyone who cares about strong communities and thriving local economies is welcome. 

If you're interested, you can get in touch by 

How You Can Help

Even if a formal sponsorship isn't the right fit for you, there are a few simple ways to support this journey:

 When we invest locally, we invest generationally.

 That's not just a tagline - it's what I believe with my whole heart.

 Thank you for being part of this community. And thank you for letting me represent it.

-Calley Kaltenheuser, The Cadillac Cowgirl | Mrs. Oil City 2026

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