The 2000 Miss Days of the Old West royalty was announced July 4 at the
final of three Independence Day rodeos at Hailey Rodeo Arena.
New Hailey Queen is Jana Wilding, 17, the daughter of Frank and Jeannette
Wilding of Idaho Falls.
As overall high-point winner, Wilding earned a Tex Tan saddle from the
Sawtooth Rangers Riding Club, with a silver cantle plate from Sawtooth Equine Service, and
a matching breast collar from Wood River Equine Hospital.
The new Teen Queen is Tara Rushton, the 16-year old daughter of Boyd and
Barbara Rushton of Bellevue.
Hailey’s 2000 Junior Queen is Kortnee Hurless, 12, of Bellevue, the
daughter of Mike and Shelly Hurless.
In all, 12 deserving young women sought spots in the 2000 Miss Days of the
Old West royalty. Two were Queen contestants. Five competed for Teen Queen. And five
participated for Junior Queen.
The annual Fourth of July contest was sponsored by the Sawtooth Rangers
Riding Club.
Contest coordinator for the seventh consecutive year was Michelle Bobbitt
of Bellevue, assisted by Kim Butler.
Judges were Debbie McClain, Leigh Fosnot, Selbi Board, Mike Kimball,
Leslie Connor and Angie Jones.
Leading up to the coronation of the Independence Day royalty was a series
of events and contests to determine the most worthy of the candidates.
New this year was a freestyle competition where competitors dressed up in
costumes and performed any type of riding pattern or rail work to music.
The New Queen
Incoming Senior Queen Jana Wilding recently graduated from West
Jefferson High School with high honors.
Jana was the varsity cheer captain, secretary of the WJ Rodeo Team,
co-drill mistress and a member of the Future Farmers of America and National Honor
Society. She was the 2000 West Jefferson Junior Miss and was also a 2000 Idaho Junior Miss
Finalist.
Wilding has been an active participant in District One High School Rodeo
for the past four years, competing in barrel racing and pole bending.
She was named District Queen in 1999 and 2000 and also made the Wrangler
All Star Team.
Jana has taught dance and gymnastics for five years. Her other interests
include skiing, welding, camping and making scrapbooks.
She will be attending Idaho State University in the fall to major in
physical education and double minor in dance and health.
Jana won several individual titles and prizes this year at the Days of the
Old West.
For being named Senior Queen, Jana won a silver buckle from
Sawtooth Auto Sales, a bouquet of roses from the Idaho Mountain Express, a sashe
from the Sawtooth Rangers, silver bracelet from Power Engineers, one free sketch from
Helga Steadman, a pair of diamond earrings from Herrett’s Jewelry, a hanging flower
basket from Sun Valley Garden Center, and schropy from Valley Auto Body, Bruce’s
Automotive, Integration and Control Services.
Jana also was Senior Queen Miss Photogenics. She won Poise and
Personality and Senior Queen Horsemanship.
Her prizes were a photo sitting from F-Stop Camera & Video, $25 in
film processing from Flolo’s, hair product and a gift certificate for a haircut from
Marinello’s Hair Styling Salon, and a blanket from Jeff Neel, CPA.
As winner of the freestyle horsemanship honors, Jana won a pair of
hand-tooled split reins courtesy of Rafter K Saddlery/Mike Kimball.
The Senior Queen first runner-up was Cheryl Marie Pyne of Hailey.
She is the 19-year old daughter of Maurice and Merla Pyne. Cheryl was born
and raised in the Wood River Valley and graduated from Wood River High School in 1999.
Cheryl is enrolled in the American Airlines Academy in Daytona Beach,
Florida, where she will attend classes this fall in preparation in becoming an airline
stewardess.
Her hobbies include riding her horse, January, camping and helping young
children with the sport of rodeo.
Cheryl’s prizes were a free pizza gift certificate from South Valley
Pizzeria, silver saddle earrings from Sawtooth Tack & Feed, and two hours of training
from Shane Wagoner.
2000 Teen Queen
New Teen Queen Tara Rushton was just named second runner-up in the
queen contest at the 2000 Idaho State High School Rodeo Finals in Pocatello.
Tara loves to go camping, fishing and hunting. She likes spending good
quality time with her family. She also enjoys going on long horseback rides and floating
the river.
Tara just completed her sophomore year at Wood River High School where she
competed in basketball, track and field, and rodeo.
For being named Teen Queen, Tara won a silver buckle from Sawtooth
Auto Sales, bouquet of roses from Countryside Florist, sashe from the Sawtooth Rangers,
silver bracelet from JMAC Business Mgmt. and Cornerstone Realty, a gift certificate from
Hair & Nail Works, $20 in dry cleaning from Vogue Cleaners, and schropy from Farm
Bureau/James Turley, Ross Lumber Inc. and Jesse’s Country Grill.
Tara also was Teen Queen Miss Photogenics. She won Poise and
Personality and Teen Queen Horsemanship.
Her prizes were a photo sitting from F-Stop Camera & Video, $25 in
film processing from Flolo’s, hair product from Growing Concern, and a blanket from
Practical Rent-a-Car.
The Teen Queen first runner-up was Monica Stoddard, 16. She will be
a junior at Nampa Senior High School. Her parents are Tim and Kim Stoddard of Nampa.
Monica has participated in high school rodeo and 4-H for two years. She was the 1999-2000
Weiser Valley Round-Up Junior Queen and loves to rodeo, dance, swim and shop.
Her prizes were antler earrings from Lazy H Spear Appaloosas, $30 gift
certificate from The Pizza Factory and a pair of split reins from Wolfe’s Saddlery.
The Teen Queen second runner-up was Andrea Barendregt, 16, who
lives in Rupert with her parents.
Her prizes were a $20 gift certificate from The Drug Store and a $10 gift
certificate from Applebee’s Grill & Bar.
The Teen Queen third runner-up was Alicia Shaw, the 17-year old
daughter of Hubert and Rita Shaw of Dietrich.
Alicia enjoys singing, playing volleyball, riding her horse Voodoo and
being with friends and family. She will be a contestant in the Miss Junior America contest
in August.
Her prize was antler earrings from Lazy H Spear Appaloosas.
Hailey Junior Queen
The new Days of the Old West Junior Queen is Kortnee Hurless, 12,
of Bellevue. She is the daughter of Mike and Shelly Hurless.
For being named Junior Queen, Kortnee won a silver buckle from
Sawtooth Auto Sales, bouquet of roses from Valley Market, sashe from the Sawtooth Rangers,
silver bracelet from Wood River Welding and Glenn’s Grocery, gift certificate for a
bag of grain from LMF Feed, $20 gift certificate from Smoky Mountain Pizza, and schropy
from Professional Installers and Remodelers.
As the winner of Junior Queen Horsemanship, Kortnee carried away a
blanket from Guffy’s.
The first runner-up in the Junior Queen contest was Candace
"Candi" Hamrick. She is the 13-year old daughter of Dan and Lorraine Hamrick
of Jerome.
Candi’s interests include being with family, her horses and friends.
Her goals include winning this contest and progressing on to win Miss Rodeo America in the
future.
Her prizes were a gift certificate for a haircut from Studio 717 Salon,
earrings from Bob’s Sport, Pawn & Lock, and a $15 gift certificate from
Jaker’s in Twin Falls.
Candi also won Junior Queen Miss Photogenics and Poise &
Personality.
Her prizes were a photo sitting from F-Stop Camera & Video, and a $40
gift certificate from Cari’s Hair Care.
The second runner-up in the Junior Queen contest was Cassi Ann Rushton,
the 12-year-old daughter of Boyd and Barbara Rushton of Bellevue.
Cassi was first runner-up in the Hailey Junior Queen contest last July.
She was also awarded the Junior Queen Poise and Personality title.
This fall, Cassi will be in the seventh grade at Hailey’s Wood River
Middle School.
Her prizes were a $15 gift certificate from The Drug Store and a $10 gift
certificate from Applebee’s Grill & Bar.
Cassi also won the Miss Congeniality contest. She claimed a gift
basket from Webb’s Landscape and Nursery.
Third runner-up in the Junior Queen contest was Hayley Hinojosa.
She lives in Bellevue on a small ranch with her parents Mike and Cindy
Hinojosa.
The 10-year-old attends Hemingway Elementary School in Ketchum. As a
member of the Sagebrush 4-H Riding Club, she loves to horseback ride. Hayley won a gold
medal in the U.S. Figure Skating Competition in Sun Valley.
Her prize was antler earrings from Lacy H Spear Appaloosas.
Other prizes
Receiving bouquets of flowers from the Sawtooth Rangers was the outgoing
royalty from 1999. They were:
1999 Hailey Senior Queen
