Wednesday, June 30, 2004

Miss Days of the Old West royalty lines up

Independence Day queen contest in Hailey

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The Sawtooth Rangers Riding Club has announced the candidates for the 2004 Miss Days of the Old West royalty.

They will add a lot of color to the upcoming rodeo weekend.

As a group they are attractive, talented, skilled on their horses and determined to do their part in the promotion of rodeo in Hailey over the Independence Day holiday.

Twelve 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 57th annual Hailey rodeo, the great-granddaughter of the man who coined the name "Days of the Old West," will compete again in 2004.

Felicity McGraw, 13, is great-granddaughter of the late Tiny McGraw, a legendary blacksmith who came up with the "Days of the Old West" in a contest over 50 years ago.

This year’s royalty candidates will attend a mandatory meeting Thursday, July 1 at 9 a.m. at Hailey Grange Hall.

They’ll have their tea (speeches/interviews) Friday, July 2 at 10 a.m. at Hailey Grange Hall, arriving at 9 a.m. Horsemanship competition takes place Saturday, July 3 at 9 a.m. at Hailey Rodeo Arena, and they’ll be arriving at 8 a.m.

The girls will ride in Hailey’s Mile Long Parade Sunday, July 4. Of course they will take part and play big roles in the three Days of the Old West PRCA rodeos—set for Friday through Sunday, July 2-4. And the winners will be revealed at the July 4 show.

At the coronation, the high-point winner will receive a saddle from Sawtooth Rangers Riding Club, complete with matching breast collar from Wood River Equine Hospital.

This year’s contest coordinator is Janell Ramm, who has taken over for Michelle Bobbitt of Bellevue.

Judges include Pat Branch, Cindy Gochnour and Austin Amaya.

 

 

Reigning royalty

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2003 Hailey Senior Queen

Shayne Krasowski, 20, is the daughter of Dennis and Mary Krasowski of Salmon.

She is currently a junior at Lewis-Clark State College in Lewiston, where she was recently accepted into the nursing program. After completing the program, Shayne will graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree and will become a registered nurse. Her goal is to specialize in obstetrics.

Shayne Krasowski
2003 Hailey Senior Queen

Her other interests include rodeo, hunting, fishing, camping, weight lifting and four wheeling.

Shayne participated in high school rodeo in team roping, breakaway roping, barrels and poles. She was the Salmon River Rodeo Queen in 2000.

Last July in Hailey, she won Miss Days of the Old West Senior Queen horsemanship, Miss Photogenics, personality and appearance, and speech. She said, "I am proud to have reigned as Hailey Days of the Old West Senior Queen, and I’d like to express my deepest gratitude to all the local businesses and individuals who have graciously contributed to the Days of the Old West queen contest."

 

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2003 Hailey Teen Queen

Cassi Ann Rushton is the 16-year-old daughter of Boyd and Barbra Rushton of Bellevue.

Cassi Ann Rushton
2003 Hailey Teen Queen

She enjoys riding horses, rollerskating, rodeoing and spending lots of time with her friends and family.

Two years ago in Hailey, Cassi won the Teen Queen personality and appearance contest. She was the first runner-up in the event in 2002. Then, last year, Cassi won the Teen Queen title and horsemanship contest. And she was the overall high-point winner of the entire 2003 competition.

 

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2003 Hailey Junior Queen

Whitney Summers
2003 Hailey Junior Queen

Whitney Summers, 13, from Nampa, loves her horses and the sport of rodeo. Besides competing in barrel racing and pole bending, she maintains a 4.0 GPA in school. Whitney enjoys dancing, running, volleyball, skiing, 4-H, sewing and shopping. She is a daughter of Carissa Summers.

Last year in Hailey, Whitney won prizes for Miss Photogenics, personality and appearance, speech, horsemanship and freestyle horsemanship.

 

 

2004 contestants

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Senior Queen candidate

Melinda Markin, 18, graduated from Wood River High School in Hailey this past June and plans to attend Albertson College in Caldwell this fall. A member of the National Honor Society, Melinda graduated WRHS with a 3.84 GPA.

Melinda Markin
Senior` Queen contestant

She has been involved in many extracurricular activities including volleyball, basketball, tennis, debate and the Swing Dance Club. Melinda has been vice president of her class twice, president once, the treasurer of the Interact Club twice, and was a student representative on several school committees. She volunteered 780 hours of community service during her high school years. Melinda has been in 4-H for 10 years.

A resident of Hailey for 11 years, Melinda has been rodeo queening since she was 12. She loves to ride her horse, Buddy, and competes with him in the Idaho State Horse Show Association.

In 2002, Melinda won the Miss Days of the Old West Teen Queen title and Teen horsemanship at Hailey. She was also the overall high-point winner two years ago, receiving a Tex Tan saddle from the Sawtooth Rangers and matching breast collar from Wood River Equine Hospital.

 

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Teen Queen contestants

There are seven contestants in the hotly-contested class.

 

Kandace Boggs
Teen Queen contestant

Kandace Boggs, 15, a sophomore at Camas County High School in Fairfield, is the daughter of Harold (Lisa) Boggs of Hagerman, and Darla Boggs of Fairfield. She enjoys showing her horse in the summer months, with reining and hunt/jump her favorites.

Kandace enjoys a variety of sports and horse-related activities. As a freshman, she played volleyball and lettered in basketball and track. She received the Outstanding Student-Athlete award for carrying a 4.0 GPA. She also earned the Outstanding Freshman FFA member honor and has won numerous 4-H awards.

 

Kylie Freestone
Teen Queen contestant

Kylie Freestone, 13, is the daughter of John and Leslie England. She will be riding her horse Buckwheat. Kylie is involved in rodeo, 4-H, AQHA horse shows and reining competitions.

 

 

 

 

Megan Larkin
Teen Queen contestant

Megan Larkin, 15, is the daughter of Jim and Cindy Miller of Jerome. She will be attending Jerome High School as junior this fall. There, she is active in activities like FFA, track and Rodeo Club. Megan is also interested in 4-H, swimming, basketball, snowboarding, horse shows and of course, rodeo.

 

Kelsie Maloney, is the 16-year-old daughter of Dave and Melissa Maloney of Kuna. She will be a junior at Kuna High School. Kelsie was first runner-up in the 2003 Miss Days of the Old West Teen Queen contest. She also took the prizes for Teen Queen personality and appearance and Teen Queen speech last year.

Kelsie Maloney
Teen Queen contestant

If Kelsie isn’t trail riding with her horses, you can find her camping, floating down the Indian Creek with friends, or at home designing her own rodeo clothing.

She is active in the Idaho Girls Rodeo Association, the Ten Mile Riding Club, Kuna High School’s Advanced Women’s Choir and the Eh-Capa Bareback Riders.

Kelsie’s previous awards include 2003 Miss Teen Rodeo Jerome, Idaho Girls Rodeo Association Junior Queen in 2002 and Ten Mile Riding Club 2000 Princess.

She hopes to become an anesthesiologist and run an Equine Rescue Facility for abused and neglected horses.

Kelsie would like to wish all the girls good luck—and to ride it like you stole it!

 

Felicity McGraw, 13, is a ninth grade student in Hailey. Her parents are Gary McGraw and Jenny Howard.

Felicity McGraw
Teen Queen contestant

This is Felicity’s third year competing in rodeo royalty competition. She was the second runner-up in the 2003 Miss Days of the Old West Junior Queen contest. She is very active in the Equine 4-H group and is an intermediate pole bender and barrel racer. She loves the outdoors, music and riding her horse.

Felicity has a very special compassion for all animals. After high school she would like to pursue a career in the veterinary field, specializing in equine medicine.

 

Madalyn Miller
Teen Queen contestant

Madalyn Miller, 17, a Wood River High School senior, is the daughter of Don and Barb Miller of Bellevue. She is a member of the National Honor Society, local 4-H Club the Desert Mountain Rangers, the high school rodeo team and multiple horse showing organizations. Madalyn would like to thank her mom for all the support she has shown throughout her riding career.

 

Krystal Tracy
Teen Queen contestant

Krystal Tracy is a daughter of Tom and Heidi Tracy, who are Sawtooth Rangers and are proud of all her accomplishments and free spirit. Krystal’s love for horses started at the young age of six, when she had her first riding lesson. Her favorite event is barrels, because she likes to go fast.

Krystal was first runner-up in last year’s Miss Days of the Old West Junior Queen contest. And she earned the honor of Miss Congeniality at the Champions Rodeo Camp Queen Contest in 2003.

 

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Junior Queen contestants

 

Alexis Bennett
Junior Queen contestant

Alexis Bennett, an incoming eighth grader at Middleton Middle School, is the daughter of Michelle Bennett of Middleton and Jeff Bennett of Meridian. She participates in volleyball, softball and track for her school. An honor roll student, Alexis is also involved in student council and Advanced Learning Team. In her spare time she loves rodeo, reining and riding her horse around her ranch.

 

Michala Davidson
Junior Queen contestant

Michala Davidson, 9, is the daughter of Jill Davidson of Eden. She is a fourth grader at Acorn Learning Center. Michala is active in 4-H where she has a horse project and a swine project. Her hobbies are riding her horse, singing, reading, snow skiing and going fishing with her grandpa.

 

Shaylee England
Junior Queen contestant

Shaylee England, 9, is the daughter of John and Leslie England of Pocatello. She loves to rodeo, participate in 4-H and go on trail rides. She will be riding her horse Cowboy.

 

 

 

Jessica Watts
Junior Queen contestant

Jessica Watts, 10, a fifth grader at Discovery Elementary, is the daughter of Stan and Debbie Watts of Meridian. She currently holds the title of Miss Lil’ Bit Rodeo Idaho and is traveling the state representing the sport of rodeo. Jessica’s favorite events are barrels and poles. She is a member of NBHA, Gem State Rodeo Association and Idaho Girls’ Rodeo Association.

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