Washington County Enterprise-Leader
Junior Queen Contest Renewed For 2015
LINCOLN — As the Lincoln Rodeo gets underway this week three cowgirls are vying for Miss Lincoln Riding Club rodeo queen 2015 with an on-going competition to be decided with a coronation at the start of Saturday’s rodeo.
The LRC Royalty committee tries to structure the competition so candidates for queen, junior queen and princess stand to gain from the experience in hope that they’ll come away with knowledge of rodeo and a better understanding of rodeo pageants to help further their careers. What would be a real feather in the hat for Lincoln Riding Club is for their queen to go on to Arkansas State and Arkhoma Old Fort Days Rodeo, Rodeo of the Ozarks, Miss USA or Rodeo America type of contests.
In 2013 and 2014 there were no candidates for junior queen so Taylor Cunningham reigned two years in the title, which was temporarily dropped last year. This year there the contest for junior queen is back. Lincoln Riding Club royalty contests are not limited to just Arkansas contestants and is open to Oklahoma, Missouri and Kansas girls who want to compete and get involved.
Candidates appearing in this week’s rodeo pageant have undergone a rigorous process. Besides preparing their horses and practicing the queen pattern, candidates must rehearse speeches and display modeling skills. Lincoln Riding Club royalty candidates applications were due with an application fee of $35 by April 19. Age categories are as follows: princess, ages 6-10; junior queen, ages 11-15; queen, ages 16-24. Candidates interested in competing next year may look at the applications by downloading 2015 applications from the Lincoln Riding Club website at http:// lincolnridingclub.wix.com/ lincoln-riding-club#!/cbky.
Each candidate was required to describe how rodeo is part of their life and explain why they want to become LRC royalty in a hand-written response. Fees for Little Mister and Little Miss, ages 3-7; were $25 and the final application deadline was May 1. Contestants are expected to maintain sportsmanship before, during and after the contest.
LINCOLN — An important part of Lincoln Rodeo has been reinstated.
After a two-year hiatus the junior queen contest is back on for 2015 as part of the 62nd annual Lincoln Rodeo. The contest went away in 2013 and 2014 due to a lack of interest but is back this year with two strong candidates vying for the crown.
Landree Cunningham, 11, is the daughter of Jason and Brandy Cunningham, of Lincoln. Landree is in the fifth grade at Lincoln Middle School. She plays basketball, softball and loves to sing and dance. She is learning how to play the electric guitar. She is a member of the Sugarhill Church Youth Group. Landree has been riding for about five years. She runs barrels at OJRA and CWRA events. Landree participates in the Lincoln Riding Club playdays. Landree is a member of the Arkansas Fillies, a junior equestrian drill team, which will perform on Thursday during the 2015 Lincoln Rodeo.
Landree hopes to use her knowledge and skills from her previous titles: LRC Rodeo Princess 2013 and LRC Rodeo Little Miss 2010, to help her become the LRC rodeo junior queen 2015. She would love to able represent her hometown rodeo at other rodeos, parades and activities in the tri-state area of Arkansas, Oklahoma and Missouri. Landree has a great role model in rodeo and life in her big sister, Taylor, a two- time LRC junior queen. Landree hopes to become that role model to younger girls and to share her passion for rodeo, horses and Lincoln Riding Club. Landree wants to thank all the rodeo sponsors for this year’s rodeo and wants to wish all the contestants good luck in this year’s contest. She welcomes her community, friends and family to come out and watch the rodeo June 11-13.
Sammie Jo Moore
Sammie Jo Moore, 12, is the daughter of Clayton and Sylvia Moore, of Rose, Okla. She is in sixth grade at Leach Elementary School. Sammie is on the A&B Honor Roll. She is very active in her church. She loves playing sports; she is the first baseman for her softball team, plays basketball and competes in archery. Sammie Jo has received many awards in sports. She loves showing her animals which are horses, rabbits, and chickens where she has won numerous trophies for showing and showmanship. She also loves showing in 4-H photography. Sammie has received many awards
She has been riding her whole life, and competing in barrels since age of four.
“My horse’s name is Sting Rey. He is a 12-year-old gelding and has won more than $18,000 in NCHA earnings (cutting),” Sammie Jo said. “He is very athletic and cowy enough to hold the toughest cow and gentle enough for anyone to ride.”
Sting Rey is sorrel in color and stands 14.3 hands and Sammie Jo says takes very good care of her. Sammie Jo has been competing in pageants she was six. She has already earned many pageant titles. Sammie Jo was the 2009 Little Miss Locust Grove, Oklahoma, 2010 Colcord Oklahoma Princess and Miss Congeniality, 2011 Siloam Springs Arkansas Rodeo Sweetheart, and the 2014 CWRA Rodeo Princess Marchant Hills Arena. Sammie Jo loves rodeo. It has been in her family for many many years. She has a great time with family and friends.
“The love of a horse and rodeo is one of life’s blessings from God,” Sammie Jo said, explaining these are by far her favorite hobbies.
Sammie Jo has won many horse related awards. She won the 2009 Locust Grove 6& under ride alone playday champion saddle, 2010 Locust Grove Reserve playday champion ages 6-8 buckle, Delaware County Fair 8 & under riding champion trophy, 2011 Playday Champion 6-8 Locust Grove Saddle, second overall at Colcord playdays, member of OJRA 2011 buckles third overall in barrels and goat average champ at finals, 2012 OJRA-winner of 8 & under barrel saddle, third in poles and third in goats. She has competed and won in numerous open rodeos.
Sammie Jo thinks Lincoln, Arkansas is a wonderful little town that she loves to come and visit. She is eager to get more kids involved with rodeos, pageants, play- days and similar activities to keep them out of trouble. Sammie Jo emphasizes the main thing she will be is a good Christian role model that people can look up to. Sammie Jo pledges to show contestants and all others good sportsmanship and be there if someone is in need.
Even at her young age, being 12 years old, Sammie Jo admits she has always had a passion for little children and babies. She would love to teach them and help them learn them about horses, showing, rodeos, pageants, good sportsmanship and having a very positive attitude.
“They can do anything if they work hard and put their heart and soul in it,” Sammie Jo said.
She hopes during the experience of competing for junior queen, she will meet new friends, as well as teach people and young ones all about the sport of rodeo. One of her favorite things she looks forward to is carrying the flag with her while traveling to different playdays and parades all over Arkansas and Oklahoma. She would proudly represent the Lincoln Riding Club and the LRC Rodeo and feels this would be an honor for her.