In preparation for the San Miguel Basin Rodeo, the rodeo royalty committee has announced tryouts for rodeo queen, junior queen and sweetheart. Heading the committee are Courtney Lemon and Alex Thompson, the women who resurrected the royalty program last year after it had been on hiatus for a few years previously.
Tryouts are scheduled for June 22, beginning at 11 a.m., at the San Miguel Basin Fairgrounds in the outdoor arena.
The committee said the tryouts are a chance for local young women to demonstrate their horsemanship abilities and poise, as well as their passion for the sport of rodeo. The committee said it’s about being a part of a long-standing tradition and also representing the community with pride.
Tryouts are open to girls ages 10 to 19, who reside in San Miguel or Western Montrose counties. Young women attending tryouts should be able to walk, trot, lope and gallop their horses in a confident and controlled manner. They should try out on the horse they’ll be using, if chosen as royalty. That horse should be able to perform the tasks required for the San Miguel Basin Rodeo, as well parades. Such horses typically don’t spook and are also well behaved around other horses, people and livestock. Both the young women and the horses should be able to carry a flag, though Thompson said an exception might be made for the role of sweetheart.
Lemon and Thompson are getting the judge’s panel together for tryouts. Young women who tried out last year are welcome to do so again, whether they were chosen or not.
They should show up June 22 dressed for the part: blue jeans, a button down shirt, cowboy hat — western attire. They should also be prepared for a few interview questions on western history and rodeo.
The age divisions are as follows: rodeo queen will be selected from ages 16-18; junior queen, ages 13-15; sweetheart, ages 10-12. Thompson said the committee plans to make the announcement of winners that same day. Those selected should know that attending the San Miguel Basin Rodeo and also Pioneer Day are requirements. Some other events could be optional, however. Queen, junior queen and sweetheart will all be receiving crowns, buckles and sashes.
With a month for area young women to plan and prepare, Thompson said she’s looking forward to tryout day.
“I hope we see familiar faces from tryouts last year,” she said over the weekend. “Everybody did such a great job. We are so grateful for Dilyn (Alexander), Shay (Snyder), Haylee (Smith) and Chloe (Sherman). They did an amazing job last year, and we are super excited for a new, or adjusted, group this year.”
Thompson said they’re simply looking for girls who are proud of the local heritage, rodeo and western sports, and who want to represent rodeo and do some public relations, and also have fun — “be good western sport ambassadors, and build some confidence and life skills along the way,” she added.
With questions, the public may contact Lemon at 970-560-1426 or Thompson at 401-829-9943.
The San Miguel Basin Fair is July 11-20, with the junior livestock sale July 19. The San Miguel Basin Rodeo is the weekend after: July 25-26.
