Old West rodeo royalty collects prizes

The 1999 Miss Days of the Old West royalty was announced at the final of three Independence Day rodeos at Hailey Rodeo Arena.

New Hailey Queen is Katie Marie Almond, 17, of Pocatello.

As overall high-point winner, Almond earned a Tex Tan saddle from the Sawtooth Rangers Riding Club and matching breast collar from Wood River Equine Hospital.

The new Teen Queen is Erin Elizabeth Sullivan, 17, of Jerome. The 1999 Junior Queen is Caitie Swan, 14, of Twin Falls.

In all, 11 deserving young women sought spots in the 1999 Miss Days of the Old West royalty. Two were Queen contestants. Four competed for Teen Queen. And five participated for Junior Queen.

Queen contestants were 18 years of age by Jan. 1, 2000. Teen Queens were 14 by Jan. 1, 1999. Junior Queens were younger than 14.

The annual contest was sponsored by the Sawtooth Rangers Riding Club.

Contest coordinators for the sixth year were Kim Butler of Hailey and 1992 Days of the Old West queen Michelle Bobbitt of Bellevue. Helping them is Karen Truxal.

Tea judges were former Hailey queen Janie Mack, Sandy Lewis and Linda Board. Horsemanship judges were Selbi Board, Lorraine Wilcox and Lewis.

For the poise and personality contest, this year’s speech was on, "Milestones of the Twentieth Century." Contestants also answered an impromptu question.

Each winner in the Queen, Teen Queen and Junior Queen contests got an engraved silver buckle donated by Sawtooth Ford Sales, plus an engraved silver bracelet.

All contestants received Hailey Days of the Old West rodeo t-shirts.

The New Queen

New queen Katie Marie Almond is a daughter of Judy and Dale Almond of Pocatello.

She just graduated from Highland High School, where she was a four-year member of the Highland-Poky Rodeo Club.

This coming fall, Katie plans on attending Ricks College in Rexburg to major in animal science and compete on the school’s rodeo team.

Katie won several individual titles and prizes this year in Hailey.

For being named Senior Queen, she won a sashe from the Sawtooth Rangers, roses from Countryside Florist, a silver buckle from Sawtooth Auto Sales, a silver bracelet from Cornerstone Realty, Glenn’s Grocery and J. Mack Business Management, a $75 gift certificate from The Lonesome Cowboy, and $50 gift certificate from Silverado Western Wear.

She also won Senior Queen Horsemanship and collected a blanket from Sawtooth Engineering.

Katie was Miss Photogenics in the Senior Queen contest, and won a photo sitting from F-Stop Camera & Video, and a $25 film processing gift certificate from Flolo’s.

Almond added the Senior Queen Poise and Personality title, receiving a hair product from Marinello’s.

The first runner-up for Senior Queen was Shannon Fullmer, 17, a daughter of Kelly Selzle of Filer.

Fullmer is a recent Filer High School graduate who plans on majoring in equine studies and obtaining an associate degree at the College of Southern Idaho in Twin Falls, and attending Texas A&M.

Shannon won a free pizza gift certificate from South Valley Pizzeria and an earring/necklace set from Sawtooth Tack and Feed.

1999 Teen Queen

Incoming Hailey Teen Queen is Erin Elizabeth Sullivan, 17, a daughter of Crystal and Mike Sullivan of Jerome.

She will be a senior at Jerome High School. A member of Jerome’s rodeo team, Erin competes in barrel racing, pole bending and queen events.

For being named Hailey Teen Queen, Erin won a silver buckle from Sawtooth Auto Sales, roses from the Idaho Mountain Express, a silver bracelet from Power Engineers, a $50 gift certificate from The Lonesome Cowboy, a $35 gift certificate from Silverado Western Wear, and a $25 gift certificate from Soup Kettle.

Erin was Teen Queen Miss Photogenics, winning a photo sitting from F-Stop Camera & Video.

She also won Teen Queen Horsemanship, and with it a blanket from Practical Rent-a-Car.

Teen Queen first runner-up was LaNae Jensen, 16, a daughter of DeAnn Jensen and Jay Vaughn. She will be a junior at Butte County High School in Arco where she plays varsity basketball.

LaNae won earrings from Venzon Jewelry and a free pizza gift certificate from South Valley Pizzeria.

Second runner-up for Teen Queen was Becky Barsalou, 16, of Salmon. The reigning Lemhi County queen, Becky is an honor roll student at Salmon High School where she will be a junior in 1999-2000.

Her prize was a $15 gift certificate from The Drug Store.

Becky also won Teen Queen Poise and Personality and took home a hair product from Growing Concern. She was this year’s winner of Miss Congeniality, earning a gift basket from Webb’s Nursery.

Hailey Junior Queen

The 1999 Junior Queen is Caitie Swan, 14, a daughter of Becky and George Swan.

Caitie was born and raised on a cattle ranch southwest of Twin Falls. She will be an O’Leary Junior High School ninth-grade student, where she is on the honor roll and is captain of the cheerleading squad.

For being named Junior Queen, Caitie won a silver buckle from Sawtooth Auto Sales, sashe from the Sawtooth Rangers, a silver bracelet from Wood River Welding/Epic Travel, roses from Valley Market, silver earrings from All Creatures Pet Clinic, and $25 gift certificates from The Lonesome Cowboy and Silverado Western Wear.

Caitie was the winner of Junior Queen Miss Photogenics and received a photo sitting from F-Stop Camera & Video.

She also won Junior Queen Horsemanship and a blanket from the Sawtooth Rangers.

The first runner-up was Cassi Ann Rushton, 11, a daughter of Barbara and Boyd Rushton of Bellevue.

Cassi will be a sixth-grade student at Wood River Middle School in Hailey. Cassi enjoys her family, friends, her horse "Mac", playing basketball and collecting Beanie Babies.

She won a $20 gift certificate from Studio 717 Salon and earrings from Bob’s Sport, Pawn and Lock.

Cassi also captured Junior Queen Poise and Personality and a $25 gift certificate from Cari’s Hair Care.

The second runner-up for Junior Queen was Chantell Baker, 14, a daughter of Diane and Mark of Declo. She is a ninth-grade student at Raft River High School in Malta.

She won a $15 gift certificate from The Drug Store.

Other prizes and thanks

Outgoing royalty: Receiving bouquets of flowers from the Sawtooth Rangers was the outgoing royalty. They were:

1998 Queen: Shannon Williams, 19, a daughter of Trish and David Williams of Carmen, Idaho. Shannon just completed her freshman year at Boise State University where she is studying communications.

She was a big winner at Hailey in 1998—winning Miss Congeniality, Queen Miss Photogenics, Poise and Personality and Horsemanship.

1998 Teen Queen: Eddee McClain, 18, a daughter of Debbie and Ron McClain of Kimberly. At Hailey last year, Eddee won Teen Queen Miss Photogenics, Poise and Personality and Horsemanship.

1998 Junior Queen:  Melinda Markin, 13, a daughter of Janet and Dr. David Markin of Hailey. She won Junior Queen Miss Photogenics in 1998.

Contest coordinators Kim Butler and Michelle Bobbitt expressed their thanks to the many individuals, businesses, organizations and sponsors for their help in staging a successful royalty contest, including:

Jeff Neel, CPA, for his donation toward the new junior crown; Atkinsons’ and Guffy’s for the wrist corsages; Webb Nursery for decorations; Kurt Archibald at Sawtooth Ford; Mary Ann Knight and Leslie Fairbrother of Wood River Equine Hospital.

"We couldn’t do it without you," said Butler.