The Oregon Queen — October/November 2021

November 11, 2021 Off By Lois Forester

Miss Rodeo Oregon 2021 Samantha Henricks!

You cannot think of September in Oregon without thinking of the Pendleton Round Up! This year, I was able to host Miss Rodeo Canada, Miss Rodeo Idaho, Miss Rodeo Wisconsin, Miss Rodeo Virginia, Miss Rodeo Alaska and Miss Rodeo Tennessee. From dinner at Hamley's, to riding in the Westward Ho Parade, visiting the Woolen Mills and Hall of Fame, and of course being able to watch the Pendleton Round Up Performance from not only the grandstands, but the grass, were only a few of the highlights of our time together. We also got to tour the Underground and watch a Happy Canyon performance. Most importantly though, state queens from across the country (and Canada) all are now familiar with the saying, "Let'er Buck!". Thank you to my mom, for being the official chauffeur for the week for all us gals and also a thank you to Carol Shull for planning and organizing the trip!

My next stop brought me to Salem, Oregon for the Northwest Professional Rodeo Association Finals. I was Miss NPRA in 2017 and being able to come back as Miss Rodeo Oregon was a blast. Morgan, Ainsley and I were able to spend the weekend together at the last Oregon rodeo that we all would be on horseback for and we even squeezed in some time for my send off party before Vegas. Thank you to everyone who worked to organize the send off party. Here I was able to give a small sneak peek of my Vegas wardrobe and was presented with a beautiful MRO bracelet that I will show off in Vegas.

The last Oregon rodeo I attended for the year was the Columbia River Circuit Finals in Redmond, Oregon. If you have been following along, you will know that I have been to three Columbia River Circuit Finals during my time as Miss Rodeo Oregon. However, this one was accompanied by the first ever Columbia River Circuit Pageant! I again was accompanied by Madi, Miss Rodeo Washington and Kelsy, Miss Rodeo Alaska and new to the group, Maddie, Miss Columbia River Circuit. A highlight for me was being able to carry the Oregon flag alongside the Washington and Idaho flags. Looking back, I think that is the only time I have ever carried the Oregon flag, so it was only fitting that it was at the last rodeo! I want to give congrats to Britney Norby, who was named the 2022 Miss Columbia River Circuit Queen! I also want to point out that Maddie Coleman and I are the proud owners of Rockstar Custom Leather Chaps. Check out the pictures below!

In October, I accepted the Miss Rodeo America Scholarship Foundation 50 Horse Challenge and was indeed able to swing my leg over 50 horses during the month! It was a challenge, do not get me wrong, but it was very rewarding and fun to test my horsemanship skills all while riding for breast cancer awareness. As the Miss Rodeo America Pageant is closely approaching, I have been finalizing my wardrobe, studying and finishing last minute details. I am very grateful to those who have lent a helping hand in the past few months. The preparation for Miss Rodeo America is like nothing I have ever done before, but I am more than excited to step on the stage at South Point to represent Oregon!

Once again, thank you to everyone who has made my year(s) successful. To my sponsors, family, friends, coaches and supporters, thank you for your guidance, positivity and endless help throughout the last two years and especially in preparation for Miss Rodeo America. I hope to represent you all, myself and the state of Oregon to best of my abilities at the Miss Rodeo America Pageant. See you in Vegas!

Sincerely,

Samantha Henricks, Miss Rodeo Oregon 2020/21

Miss Teen Rodeo Oregon 2021 Ainsley Goughnour!

I can’t believe that it’s already November and my reign is winding down.

I was able to kick off September by carrying the American Flag for my high school’s home football game. I can’t describe the feeling of carrying our country’s colors in my hometown rodeo arena for my school.

On September 17, I made my way to Pendleton for The Westward Ho Parade. Before the parade I had the privilege of meeting many different title holders. I was finally able to meet Miss Rodeo Idaho, Miss Rodeo Virginia, Miss Rodeo Wisconsin, Miss Rodeo Tennessee, and Miss Rodeo Canada, just to list a few. I was also able to talk with past Miss Teen Rodeo Idaho and now your National High School Rodeo Queen and neighboring state sash sister Miss Teen Rodeo Idaho 2021. Morgan and I rode through the parade in a cute little buggy together. After the parade I quickly jumped off the buggy and made my way to a volleyball tournament that happened to be not too far from Pendleton. It was an eventful and exciting weekend.

September also means the NPRA Finals were in town. The NPRA finals were definitely bittersweet as it was the last rodeo Morgan and I would get to ride in. I had the privilege of greeting people as they entered the stadium, hand out programs, participate in grand entry, carry sponsor flags, and push cows. We also had Sam’s send off party and Miss NPRA Nicole’s thank you party. It's always a good weekend when I get to be at a rodeo with Sam and Morgan.

October means pageant season is upon us. I attended and helped at the St. Paul Rodeo Court tryouts. I was able to help set up the trail course and pick up scoresheets. Congratulations to your 2022 St. Paul Rodeo Court Queen Sarah Potter, Princesses Hope Riesterer and Macy Montgomery. They all did a fantastic job and have an amazing year to look forward to. The next weekend was the Northwest Youth Rodeo Court Tryouts. They had four contestants vying for the title. This year, Queen Grace Reed and Princess Grace Mulder will be representing NWYRA.

On October 22nd I had the honor of carrying a casket flag for George Trout (US Navy) at the football game so his family could see his flag fly one more time. I feel so humbled and honored that they trusted me to present this special flag on senior night.

On the 30th I made my way to the Clackamas County Fair and Canby Rodeo Court tryouts. I’m excited to announce that Alexis Goughnour (my sister) is the 2022 Queen along with Princesses Jessica and Mikayla. I look forward to watching all of these ladies rock it next year!

Be on the lookout for information about your 2022 Miss, Teen and Junior Rodeo Oregon’s coronation fundraisers. You won’t want to miss them.

As sad as it is that my reign is coming to a close, I’ve made so many memories and new friends. I’m looking forward to the appearances that I do have left and I love this time of year filled with the MRA pageant, NFR and Christmas parades.

With gratitude,

Ainsley

Junior Miss Rodeo Oregon 2021 Morgan Brownell!

Wow it’s hard to believe this is my last newsletter. I figure why not go out with a bang and recap my last 2 months instead of just 1.

Let’s go back a bit to September and the Pendleton Round-Up. I was able to spend my time in Pendleton with Miss Rodeo Oregon Sam, Miss Rodeo Idaho, Miss Rodeo Tennessee, Miss Rodeo Alaska, Miss Rodeo Wisconsin, Miss Rodeo Virginia and last, but certainly not least, Miss Rodeo Canada. I had a blast with them being able to sign autographs, go to dinner and of course go to Dairy Queen! Along with all of that I was able to participate in the Westward Ho Parade and ride in a buggy along with Ainsley. After that we got to go to the queen's luncheon. I also got to watch not one but two rodeo performances, one of them being the short go and watching all the 2021 Pendleton Round-Up winners be crowned!!

NPRA Finals was a little sad for Ainsley and I being our last rodeo that we got to ride at. Not only did we get to do our last run-ins we also got to run flags during the rodeo. It was so much fun and most definitely an experience to never forget!

Heading into October I was able to go to Jefferson for the Northwest Youth Rodeo Association tryouts. I have been a part of this association for 10 years and I never miss a chance to help out whether it’s getting flags ready for grand entry the next day, carrying sponsor flags, helping during an event or in this case helping with pageant. It was such a good day and congratulations to both the new queen and princess who just so happen to both be named Grace!!

Going to my only rodeo in October was the Columbia River Circuit Finals rodeo in Redmond. It was so much fun being able to not only watch the rodeo Friday and Saturday but also watch the pageant. Congratulations to Britney Norby on winning the title of Miss Columbia River Circuit!! Heading into my last event of October was once again close to home. We had the Clackamas County Fair and Canby Rodeo tryouts. Congratulations to Queen Alexis and Princesses Mikayla and Jessie!! It was so fun to see what all the girls could do and what they brought to the table!

Gratefully,

2020/21 Jr Miss Rodeo Oregon

Morgan Brownell

The Pendleton Mounted Band!

Our board secretary, Carol Shull Zimmerman, not only plans the Queens Trip to Pendleton during the Pendleton Round-Up, but she is an active member of the Pendleton Mounted Band!

The band was formed in 1911 but during the 40's war years were not active. Many of today's participants grew up in Pendleton but return home for Round-Up and to take part yearly. Randy Morgan (past music director of Enterprise High School) is now the music director. Neva Hascall (Pendleton rancher), with the help of her cousin Kari Hascall, provide many of the horses for riders who no longer live in rural areas. They have appeared at many rodeo parades including the Reno Rodeo in Reno, Nevada, Ennis, Montana, Walla Walla, Washington, Sisters, OR, as well as the Portland Rose Parade.

Besides the two Round-Up parades--the Dress Up Parade which kicks off the Pendleton festivities and later on the week the Westward Ho Parade--they also take part in the Happy Canyon performance and play on Friday and Saturday at six stops around the arena while people are finding their seats for the afternoon rodeo performances. Early Saturday mornings of Round-Up, they ride out early to play wake-up calls at many downtown hotels. They also appear at the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) breakfast in Stillman Park, where they play all the military salutes, as well as at some businesses.

Carol carries the American flag in the parades they participate in as well as when they play at arena stops prior to the Round-Up performances. Carol's late husband Wally played trumpet, his brother Gary the clarinet or saxophone, brother Dennis the big bass drum, and brother Jeff plays trombone and his wife Jeanna, the trumpet.

Sponsors of the Pendleton Queens Trip!

Five state queens and Miss Rodeo Canada were the beneficiaries of the Pendleton Round-Up experience this year, made possible by these sponsors--meal vouchers, admission, tours, autograph sessions, and more--many of whose logos or photos are sprinkled throughout this newsletter edition.

We thank: