The Silver State International Rodeo began its week with the queen contest horsemanship and orientation on Monday in the large arena at the Winnemucca Events Complex.
Seven girls will vie for the esteemed title of Miss Silver State International Rodeo Queen 2015 this year. The girls will continue with the test and interview portion of the contest on Tuesday and then the speech and modeling on Wednesday at 2 p.m. at the West Hall of the Convention Center. The public is invited to attend free of charge all of these events with the exception of the test and interviews on Tuesday.
The queen will be crowned on Saturday in the small arena at the Winnemucca Events Complex at 5:30 p.m. A panel of judges will have the distinguished job of choosing the best girl for the job.
Kaitlyn DeMott
(California)
Kaitlyn DeMott is a 17-year old 11th grader attending Vasquez High School in Agua Dulce, Calif. She is the daughter of Brett and Karrie DeMott. DeMott competes in the rodeo events of pole bending, breakaway roping and goat tying. This is her second year in high school rodeo.
DeMott is an athlete on the varsity cross country team and track and field team. She participates in the Agua Dulce Scholarship Pageant and volunteers on the Agua Dulce Country Fair Committee. She would like to attend a four-year university and study to become a pilot in the United States Air Force.
Her horse George, is a 21-year old buckskin paint/ quarter horse that has been used for breakaway roping the last two years.
Maggie RayLynne Stermetz
(Washington)
Stermetz is a 16-year old 10th grader attending Kittitas Secondary School in Ellensburg, Wash. She is the daughter of Kurt and Heather Stermetz. She competes in the rodeo events of light rifle, cutting and the queen contest. This is her first year in high school rodeo.
Stermetz does her best in her school work and is very involved as an agriculture student in FFA and 4H. She has served as president, secretary, historian and treasurer for 4H and is currently part of the parliamentary team in FFA. She volunteers at the Spirit Therapeutic Riding Center and plays on a local volleyball team. She shows swine and beef as part of her FFA team.
Her horse Rooster, is a six-year old bald faced chestnut gelding. When Stermetz climbs on his back all the worries of the day fade away and life is good.
Saige Kjos
(British Columbia)
Kjos is a 17-year old 11th grader attending North Peace Secondary School in Fort St. John. She is the daughter of Marty and Mirimam Kjos. She competes in the rodeo events of barrel racing, pole bending and the queen event. This is her second year in high school rodeo.
Kjos has earned the academic award of the Work Ethic Honor Roll. She enjoys hunting, fishing, volunteer work at the vet clinic and as a candy striper at the hospital. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends. Kjos enjoys the life of ranching.
She has competed as a figure skater and dancer in the past. She is part of the link crew at her school where she has begun a mentorship program for younger students. Her horse Reddy, is a reigning cow horse that she recently acquired and they are getting to know each other.
TateLynne Waddell
(Montana)
Waddell is a 17-year old 11th grader attending Helena High School in, Helena Mont. She is the daughter of Kea Smith and David Waddell. She competes in the events of barrel racing and pole bending. This is Waddell’s third year in high school rodeo.
She is an honor roll student, receiving scholarships in 4H. Waddell was invited on scholarship to the 2014 Montana University of Technologies STEM Workshop for young women. She competes in open, 4H and APHA horse shows and runs jackpot barrel races and pole bending events and enjoys traveling.
She plays volleyball and has worked as a sports and tumbling instructor running classes for three to eleven year old students. Waddell has had a partnership with her horse Booie for the last 11 years. They have traveled many places together winning numerous awards.
Audrey VanBuren
(Nevada)
VanBuren is a 14-year old 9th grader attending Albert M Lowry High School in Winnemucca. She is the daughter of Jeff and Danyle Nimmick. She competes in the rodeo events of breakaway, pole bending, barrel racing and the queen contest. This is her first year in high school rodeo.
VanBuren has maintained a 3.0 GPA throughout her school career. She was asked to attend the Academy of Future Physicians in Washington D.C. and the Business Conference at Stanford University. She has been recognized for her academic achievements for the last three years.
She is very involved with her horses in the local rodeo club and local jackpot barrel races. She was selected the Humboldt County High School Rodeo queen this year. VanBuren tries to live a full life by enjoying fishing, riding jet skis, swimming, mudding, camping and spending quality time with her family and friends.
VanBuren has many horses at various levels of ability in many different disciplines. Her horse Hork is her queen horse that she also uses for turning and burning the barrels and poles. They have a special relationship and amazing communication which shows in their performance in the arena.
Lindsie Arekene Perkins
(Utah)
Perkins is a 16-year old 10th grader attending Panguitch High School in Panguitch, Utah. She is the daughter of Ralph and Natalie Perkins. Perkins competes in the events of barrel racing, pole bending, breakaway roping, goat tying, team roping, reined cow horse and the queen event. She has been in high school rodeo for two years.
She is a 4.0 student in the National Honor Society. Her academic accomplishments include top bio ag student, equine science student, natural resource student, FFA chapter secretary for two years, current FFA chapter president, FFA creed winner and state finalist, FFA greenhand degree and FFA chapter degree.
She likes to sing and play her guitar and loves to work on the ranch, show livestock, go fishing, go hunting, and anything that involves horses. Perkins has a trio of horses. Honey is her reining horse, Smurf is her rope and goat tying horse and Tiny is her barrel racing and pole bending horse.
McKenna Ward
(Idaho)
Ward is a 16-year old 10th grader attending Burley High School in Burley, Idaho. She is the daughter of Arland and Jennifer Ward. Ward competes in the rodeo events of barrel racing, pole bending, reined cow horse and the queen contest. She has been in high school rodeo for two years.
Ward is an honor roll student and very active in FFA. She has earned her FFA star greenhand degree, the FFA chapter degree and an FFA top academic award. She loves to go camping, boating and snowboarding and likes to hang out with her friends and family.
Honey is her horse name and cow cutting is her game. She is an AQHA registered seven- year old mare. Ward loves to compete with Honey in the newly added reining event.