The judges of the Red Desert Roundup Rodeo Queen pageant spent time with this year's royalty and the outgoing princess. Pictured from let to right are Judge Marlene Mackey, Ashten Folks, Judge Bailee Mackey (Miss Rodeo WY 2024), Kennedy Kleinlein, Judge Payton Mackey, and outgoing 2023 Princess Taylor Hernandez.
Junior Princess Ashten Folks and Junior Princess 1st Attendant Kennedy Kleinlein.
The Red Desert Roundup Rodeo Queen pageant was held October 15 in Rock Springs. It is sanctioned and sponsored by the Red Desert Roundup Rodeo held July 26-27, 2024, 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.
The Junior Princess title went to Ashten Folks from Rock Springs. Ashten attends Farson Eden Middle School as a sixth grader. She is a member of the Wild West Outlaws, Sage Hoppers 4-H, Sweetwater County 4-H Shooting Sports, Farson-Eden Volleyball and basketball. She enjoys showing animals where she has won several awards. Her hobbies include basketball, volleyball, timed events, and hunting. Her mission statement for this year is that no matter how hard it is, or how hard it gets, you're going to make it.
The Junior Princess First Attendant is Kennedy Kleinlein, also from Rock Springs.
Kennedy is in fifth grade at Pilot Butte Elementary. She is involved in the Wild West Outlaws, Sweetwater Ranch Sort Club, Sweetwater County 4-H, and Avengers Soccer. This year, she qualified for the Junior National World Finals barrel racing in Las Vegas. She has won many awards this year with her livestock, including dairy goat, meat bird, and horse. Her hobbies are rock climbing, soccer, reading, and barrel racing.
The contestants were judged in the categories of horsemanship, personality, and appearance by a panel of three judges including Bailee Mackey (Miss Rodeo Wyoming 2024), Marlene Mackey, and Payton Mackey, all from Evanston. 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 two-minute speech, model a western outfit, and answer an impromptu question. The afternoon culminated with the crowning of the 2024 Red Desert Roundup Rodeo royalty.
Titleholders received flowers donated by Touch of Class Floral, a banner, and matching jackets and shirts. The junior princess was awarded with a tiara and buckle. Red Desert Roundup Rodeo outgoing Princess, Taylor Hernandez, was on hand to MC the program and crown the new royalty.
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.
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