After the fashion show and after the Stampede Queen coronation on Saturday evening there were lots of hugs and expressions of gratitude for all the help contestants and reigning royalty have received from family and community supporters.
Incoming 2016/17 Stampede Queen Cheyenne Shoults said she is very excited to become the Stampede Queen and is looking forward to the year ahead being an ambassador for the Williams Lake Stampede and the City of Williams.
She extends special appreciation to her parents and family for their support and all the help she received from her sponsor and Stampede Queen committee members.
“We are very proud of her,” said Karen Sokolan, who escorted Cheyenne to her seat during the Stampede Queen Coronation held at Pioneer Complex Saturday evening. Karen and her husband, Barry, own Mueller Electric (Div. II) Ltd. which sponsored Cheyene.
Cheyenne graduated from high school in June, and says she will take a year off from further studies to serve as Stampede Queen.
After that she plans to take training to become a paramedic.
“I’d like to be one of the people who is able to help in any situation,” Cheyenne said.
She said her decision to become a paramedic was firmed up after seeing a film on the recent bombings in Paris and being struck by the fact that many of the people who were not injured didn’t have the basic skills needed to medically assist those who were injured.
Retiring 2015/16 Stampede Queen Cheyleigh Sand said she will work full time for another year and then go to BCIT in Vancouver to take the media arts and broadcasting program.
Tanisleigh Evans Miss Eldorado Log Hauling Ltd. also graduated this year and plans to remain free for the coming year to pursue her passion for barrel racing at as many rodeos as she can. She is also looking forward to getting more practice in the roping events.
Dana Rook said she is looking forward to Stampede and attending the Canadian Finals Rodeo in Edmonton later in the year. She has also been accepted into the military and expects to be called up later this year.
Alexis Forseille is retiring this year as chair of the Stampede Queen’s Committee to pursue higher education.
She finished two years of university with the goal of becoming a veterinarian, but after working in the field for a while, she has decided to become a veterinary technician, a program she will pursue at TRU in Kamloops.