Washington County Enterprise-Leader
All The Queen’s Horses
RODEO QUEEN CELEBRATES LIFE-CHANGING REIGN
LINCOLN — All the queen’s horses and all the queen’s friends contributed to what current Lincoln Riding Club Queen Loran Lopez, describes as a life-changing reign.
“I have traveled from Oklahoma all the way down to Texarkana with my title, and it has been life-changing,” Lopez said. “My title has given me the chance to meet some incredible people, tell countless children all about the sport of rodeo, and allowed me to grow as a person myself and come out of my comfort zone. Passing my title down to the new Miss Lincoln Riding Club is going to be bittersweet. I am so excited for the 2017 contest. I want to say good luck to all the beautiful ladies competing this year.”
Lopez, 21-year-old daughter of Billye and Michael Hesson, of Booneville, won the title of Lincoln Riding Club Queen during the 2016 rodeo pageant. Now, that her reign is about up, Lopez is counting her memories as a blessing. She will preside over the 2017 Lincoln Rodeo, Thursday through Saturday, May 18-20, at the Lincoln Riding Club Arena. A new queen will be announced at the conclusion of the rodeo on Saturday and Lopez will take her place among past royalty, who have graced the event.
“Throughout my journey as Miss Lincoln Riding Club, I have had some great sponsors and an even greater support system,” Lopez said. “I want to thank JJ’s Grill for sponsoring me and working around my crazy schedule. I would also like to thank my wonderful grandparents who haul me all across the state whenever I need them.”
Lopez has three horses, Sammy, Shasta and Selena, and all have played a role during her reign.
“Selena is old and retired, Sammy is my main queening horse that I take everywhere, but Shasta is starting to step up and be a part of more activities,” Lopez said, adding, “I am in the process of finishing Shasta on barrels. We won our first buckle at a fall series in November.”
Shasta is a 6-year-old palomino mare and Lopez has become quite fond of her barrel horse in-training.
Lopez is currently a junior at the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith, majoring in radiography. She will graduate in May 2018, and from there would like to go further as a radiation therapist at an oncology center, or get a career as an ultrasound technician. She hasn’t decided that yet.
When she is not on her horses or in the classroom, Lopez likes to spend her free time hanging out with friends and family, going on minivacations, and watching her little brother play baseball.
“I enjoy the outdoors and all that lives in it,” Lopez said. “My year as Miss Lincoln Riding Club has been incredible. It has definitely flown by, and it has been a blessing to represent such an awesome rodeo and club. Being Miss Lincoln Riding Club has been such an amazing opportunity.”