This year’s Williams Lake Stampede Queen contestants made their first public appearances Sunday during the annual Mother’s Day Pancacke Breakfast.
The event, hosted by the Lions and Lioness Clubs of Williams Lake and held in the Save-On-Foods parking lot, saw contestants volunteering throughout the day doing various jobs and helping serve breakfasts to hundreds of people who attended.
This year’s contestants are Miss Gustafson’s Dodge Kaylee Billyboy, Miss Tim Hortons Williams Lake Brianna Wyness and Miss Beaver Valley Feeds Tennale Sailor.
And since last year, the contest has changed to make it more accomodating for busy contestants.
In the past, contestants were required to participate in skill building workshops and make public appearances on an escalating schedule for about six months before the crowning in June, however, the contest now runs for a shorter period of time, said Davana Mahon, the 2011 Stampede Queen and new Stampede Queen contest co-ordinator.
The competition runs June 12-25 this summer, while the contest was open to young women ages 17 to 23 to apply.
Judging components include horsemanship (20 per cent), public speaking and personal interview (30 per cent), a written exam on knowledge of rodeo and Williams Lake (10 per cent), participation in a fashion show (10 per cent) and overall personality, poise and maturity (30 per cent).
This year, only a Stampede Queen will be crowned.