For the week of June 26 - July 2, 2002

2002 Miss Days of the Old West gets ready

Sawtooth Rangers reveal candidates

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The candidates for the 2002 Miss Days of the Old West royalty have been announced by the Sawtooth Rangers Riding Club—and once again, they comprise a talented group.

Ten candidates are getting ready to dress their best and impress the judges with their riding ability. The annual contest is held during the Days of the Old West rodeo in Hailey.

As an added touch during this year’s 55th annual Hailey rodeo, the great-granddaughter of the man who coined the named "Days of the Old West," will compete in 2002.

Wood River Middle School student Felicity McGraw, 11, will compete in a rodeo princess contest for the first time.

She is the great-granddaughter of the late Tiny McGraw, a legendary local blacksmith who came up with the name Days of the Old West in a contest over a half century ago.

This year’s royalty candidates will compete Wednesday, July 3 in horsemanship at 9 a.m. at Hailey Rodeo Arena. The tea (speeches and interviews) starts at 3 p.m. next Wednesday at Hailey Grange Hall.

The girls will ride in Hailey’s Mile Long Parade Thursday, July 4 and serve food at the Button Barbecue after the parade. Then they will compete in the three rodeos—Thursday through Saturday, July 4-6.

This year’s royalty will be revealed at the July 6 performance.

Contest coordinator for the ninth consecutive year is Michelle Bobbitt of Bellevue.

 

This year’s candidates

· Senior Queen—The one candidate is Bekki Fayle, daughter of Curtis and Shannon Fayle of Salmon. She is majoring in Equine Science and Communications at the College of Southern Idaho in Twin Falls.

· Teen Queen—There are six candidates in a hotly-contested class.

They are Tricia Crump, 14, of Pocatello; Cassi Ann Rushton, 14, of Bellevue; Caitlin McGuire, 16, of Jerome; Stephanie Jorgensen, 16, of Blackfoot; Jaclyn Bruhn, 17, of Filer; and Melinda Markin, 16, of Hailey.

· Junior Queen—There are three candidates. They are:

Jentry Perkins, 13, of Hailey; Felicity McGraw, 11, of Hailey; and Kassie Willie, 13, of Pocatello.

 

Reigning royalty

The reigning Hailey queen is Allyson "Ali" Swan, 19, daughter of the late George Swan and Becky Swan, of Twin Falls. She is also the reigning Miss Teen Rodeo Idaho 2002—the third straight year that a Hailey queen has won that honor.

The reigning Teen Queen is Morgan Anselmi, 15, a Shelley High School student who lives in Idaho Falls with her grandparents.

Hailey’s reigning Junior Queen is Kali Jo Hess, 14, daughter of Mike and Sheree Hess of American Falls. She is a ninth-grader at American Falls High School.

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