Red Desert Roundup Rodeo royalty crowned

The Red Desert Roundup Rodeo Queen pageant was held October 23, in Rock Springs. It is sanctioned and sponsored by the Red Desert Roundup Rodeo held July 28-29, 2023, in Rock Springs. The royalty have several appearances scheduled this summer including the Overland Stage Stampede Rodeo, Sweetwater County Fair, and Daggett County PRCA Heritage Rodeo & Celebration.

Crowned as the 2023 Red Desert Roundup Rodeo Princess was Taylor Hernandez of Fontenelle. She also received the overall horsemanship award. Taylor is an 8th grader at the one room Thoman Ranch School. She is the 5th generation to work on her families ranch at Fontenelle. She is in the Corral Crew 4-H club in 11 disciplines including livestock, shooting sports, and fashion where she has won many awards. Her passions include anything to do with horses, singing, and writing. She hopes to become a cosmetologist and a vet.

The 2023 RDR Princess 1st Attendant went to Kyesha Call. She won the congeniality award voted on by her peers. Kyesha is a junior at Farson-Eden High School. She resides in Farson. She is a member of the South-East Idaho Gem and Mineral club. She enjoys riding horses, rock hounding, outdoor activities, sewing, traveling, and spending time with family and friends. Her goal is to become a forensic scientist, attend college, and compete in rodeo queen pageants.

The Junior Princess is Izabelle Pedri of Rock Springs. Izabelle is in the 6th grade at Pilot Butte Elementary. She is a member of Corral Crew 4-H, Student Council, Wild West Outlaw's, Sweetwater County Sorting Club, and plays Junior Jazz basketball and Softball. She has won several horse all arounds and was the citizenship award recipient and honor student. She enjoys riding horses, spending time with family, and wants to see others succeed.

Junior Princess 1st Attendant, from Rock Springs, is Ashten Folks. She is a 5th grader at Farson Eden Elementary. She is in the Sagehoppers 4-H horse and beef club, Sweetwater County 4-H Shooting Sports, Hotdoggers 4-H dog project, and Wild West Outlaws gymkhana where she has won several awards. She enjoys riding her horse, basketball, and dirt biking. She wants to be a role model to younger girls by reinforcing their dreams can come true by believing in themselves.

The contestants were judged in two age divisions in the categories of horsemanship, personality, and appearance by a panel of three judges including Cassie Jenkins and Cortland Jenkins of Afton, WY, and Pam Rivers from Riverton. Events that took place were the horsemanship competition at the Sweetwater Events Complex, where each contestant was required to do a reining pattern on their horse, carry a flag and do a presentation run. Private timed interviews with the judges were conducted at the White Mountain Library in Rock Springs. Knowledge was tested in the areas of horsemanship, rodeo, current events, and personal goals. Following the interviews, the contestants were required to give a 2-minute speech, model a western outfit, and answer an impromptu question. The afternoon culminated with the crowning of the 2023 Red Desert Roundup Rodeo royalty.

Titleholders received flowers donated by Touch of Class Floral, a banner, and matching jackets and shirts. The princess and junior princess were awarded with a tiara and buckle. Red Desert Roundup Rodeo Committee members present to crown the new royalty were Kim Little (Vice-President), Peggy Little, Rick Hawkins, Kyra Folks (the outgoing 2022 RDR Princess), and Tracie Westerberg (the outgoing 2022 RDR Jr Princess).

The committee would like to thank everyone who helped support the program. It wouldn't be possible without the generous support of the volunteers and especially the sponsors. The pageant provides an excellent opportunity for young women to expand their life skills in interviewing, public relations, and public speaking while gaining self-confidence.

For more information on the pageant and photos go to Red Desert Roundup Rodeo Queen Royalty on facebook.