The 2012 Stampede Queen contestants have had a couple of very busy months, since beginning their training Jan. 25, says Stampede Queen’s committee member Sharon MacDonald.
“In two short months one of these young ladies will be crowned Williams Lake Stampede Queen and Williams Lake Stampede Princess for 2012,” MacDonald says.
The next big adventure for the contestants will be helping out this weekend at the 22nd annual Williams Lake Indoor Rodeo taking place April 20-22 at the Cariboo Memorial Complex.
Miss Gustafson’s Dodge Michelle Ball, Miss Boitanio Mall Terris Billyboy, Miss Lake Excavating Ltd. Alexis Forseille, and Miss Overlander/Ramada Hotel Christina Walsh will be greeting rodeo fans Friday, Saturday and Sunday as they come in the door before each performance, selling programs and will be officially introduced on Saturday at the rodeo.
The contestants and reigning royalty will help with the volunteer dinner Saturday evening. The Queens Committee will be selling pizza at the dances Friday and Saturday in Rink #2 as a fundraiser to help with travelling expenses for the incoming royalty.
The band Third Degree plays Friday night starting at 6 p.m. in Rink 2. There is no cover charge for the Friday, adult-only event. Saturday night the band Mosquito Creek plays for the Barn Dance starting at 9 p.m.
Tickets for this event are available at the rodeo office on the upper level of Boitanio Mall.
The reigning royalty Stampede Queen Davana Mahon, and Princesses Bobi Bracewell and Alexia Colton will also be attending the Bull Sale this week as well as the bull sale’s evening dinner.
Bracewell will also sing the national anthem during the opening ceremonies for each of the Indoor Rodeo performances this weekend.
Since starting their training, MacDonald says this year’s Stampede Queen contestants have been busy attending Toastmaster’s sessions to polish up on their public speaking skills, brushing up on their horsemanship skills and rodeo knowledge, and studying local history and community affairs.
They have also been attending numerous community events such as the Stampeder hockey games, Stampede dinner and auction, Rick Hansen 25th Anniversary Relay commemorating his Man in Motion world tour, the Rose Lake/Miocene 4-H Club’s Easter Petty Zoo in Boitanio Mall and the Bowl for Kids Sake tournament last weekend for Big Brothers and Big Sisters.
They helped to register people for the The Nutrition Fun Run and participated in the five-kilometre portion of the run in their cowboy boots. “That’s dedication,” MacDonald says.
They visited the Museum of the Cariboo Chilcotin where they took off their hats and crowns, and banners and got down to the business of cleaning saddles, polishing silver and learning about our local history.
They were also treated to a tour of the Tourism Discovery Centre where they learned about all the books about our region that can be purchased there as well as about local tourism. For more on the bull sale and indoor rodeo activities this week call 250-398-3334 and check out advertisements in the Tribune.