Sawyer Wareham, a freshman at Norwood High School, will represent the 2026 San Miguel Basin Rodeo as the senior rodeo queen. With a background in working with horses, she started riding when she was just 5 years old. She’s participated in a variety of disciplines, including rodeo, ranch work, horse showing at the West Slope Reining Horse Association events in Montrose, and also helping friends in the branding pens.
She told the Forum she’s excited to have received the honor of queen.
“I am very blessed to have this opportunity to represent my hometown, especially during our country's 250th birthday year,” she said. “I am excited to help at the San Miguel Basin Rodeo, carry a flag, ride in my hot lap, and help with the stick horse races. I can't wait to see our community there. This will be the best rodeo yet.”
Wareham, who has a love for agriculture, just finished the San Miguel Basin Fair. This was her second year competing in the 4-H poultry and rabbit shows as a livestock club member.
“In the market turkey show, I won grand champion and reserve champion with my turkeys, Nina and Cracker,” she said. “I enjoyed using my feathered friend, Maisey, in the turkey showmanship contest.”
Additionally, her Rex rabbits earned third place in the market show too.
“Fair is a week of hard work, early mornings, late nights, and lots of fun and memories made in between with friends,” she said. “I love seeing our communities come together to support the kids.”
With fair over, she now has rodeo to look forward to; she said she loves the excitement of it. For her queenship, the community will notice she’s riding a Palomino. Named Prim, the horse is a 3-year old mare she’s been riding for her family. Wareham said Prim is a talented horse who changes leads smoothly and loves “to kick it up when asked.”
For junior rodeo, she’ll enter breakaway roping, team roping, ribbon roping, barrels and poles.
“I have been working on training a 3-year-old barrel horse and a 4-year-old roping horse,” she said.
Part of the fun of being a queen is dressing up and looking the part. As far as western wear goes, Wareham said she loves wearing Ariat and Wrangler brands. During rodeo season, she said it's fun to wear her buckle crown and matching belt buckle.
“I also love wearing buckles I have earned from the San Miguel Basin Fair,” she said. “I am partial to the designs of the rabbit showmanship buckles I earned last year and this year at fair. They are so pretty.”
She said she’s ready for rodeo weekend, which happens July 31 and Aug. 1, in Norwood at the San Miguel Basin Fairgrounds.
“I am very excited to compete and ride,” she said.
Wareham will also participate in the Pioneer Day festivities in September.
Sharing rodeo royalty honors with her for 2026 are Chloe Sherman as the rodeo sweetheart and also Illiana Henderson as the junior queen.
