Williams Lake has not one, but two queens of rodeo.
While Cheyleigh Sand was accepting her crown as the Williams Lake Stampede Queen June 13, Melanie Wintjes was busy at the Kamloops Exhibition Association grounds June 12-14 at the B.C. High School Rodeo Finals (BCHSRF) becoming the B.C. High School Rodeo Queen.
“I’m so excited,” Wintjes said. “I really want to do the best I can. I’m so dedicated to this and focused on everything I have coming up.”
Wintjes will be competing for the title of the National High School Finals Rodeo Queen July 10-18 in Rock Springs, Wyoming, then travelling to Nanton, Alta., to represent the sport of rodeo July 23-25 at the Canadian High School Rodeo Finals.
At the BCHSRF queen contestants were judged based on a two minute speech, modelling, personality and appearance, and an impromptu question and answer, followed by a written exam and personal interviews.
During the NHSFR Wintjes will compete against 46 other contestants consisting of winners from across the U.S., five Canadian provinces and Australia. The NHSFR will feature more than 1,500 contestants.
“I’m there to help and promote B.C.,” Wintjes said.
Throughout the year Wintjes, who will enter her Grade 12 year this September at Lake City Secondary School, will represent the sport alongside the BCHSR Princess, Courtney May of Abbotsford.
The Saturday championship performance at the NHSFR will be televised nationally as part of the Cinch High School Rodeo Tour telecast series on the U.S. channel, RFD-TV. Live broadcasts will also air online at NHSRATV.com.