Washington County Enterprise-Leader
Royalty Showcase
JUNIOR QUEEN TO PERFORM ANTHEM
LINCOLN — Each year the annual Lincoln Riding Club Rodeo opens up a pageant competition showcasing royalty.
Two area cowgirls contend for Miss Lincoln Riding Club rodeo queen. Hannah Taylor, of Fayetteville, finished as First Runner-Up in 2017; is up against challenger Kylee Bobacher, of Westville, Okla. Vying for junior queen are: Judy Gail McNeely, of Westville, Okla.; and Mika Arnold, of Lincoln, younger sister of reigning LRC junior queen Alexis Arnold. The princess competition has a trio of candidates: Chloie Thomas, of Farmington; Brooklyn Teague, of Siloam Springs; and Emily Burke, of Watts, Okla.
The 2018 royalty pageant wraps up with coronation at the start of Saturday’s performance on the final night of the Lincoln Rodeo on Saturday, Aug. 11.
Lincoln Riding Club royalty contests are not limited to just Arkansas contestants. LRC queen, junior queen and princess titles have been open to Oklahoma, Missouri and Kansas girls for several years.
Candidates discover the process to be rigorous. Each candidate must effectively describe how rodeo is part of their life and capitalize upon opportunity to explain why they want to become LRC royalty in an essay submitted to Lincoln Riding Club. Sportsmanship is required at all times before, during and after the contest.
There is much to do preparing their horses and practicing the queen pattern. A well-prepared candidate finds time for rehearsal of speeches and practices modeling skills which are a valuable asset to promoting the Lincoln Rodeo.
As an added bonus this year, Junior Queen Alexis Arnold, who won an LRC sash in 2017, will sing the National Anthem during the 65th annual Lincoln Rodeo on Friday, Aug. 10, 2018.
Rodeo is a business with expenses. In addition to payouts for competitive events during the 65th annual Lincoln Rodeo sanctioned by ACRA and IPRA, Lincoln Riding Club sells royalty sponsorships. According to figures listed on the sponsorship commitment form $600 represents the fee to sponsor all three crowns: queen, junior queen and princess. The same amount $600 sponsors all three buckles for queen, junior queen and princess. Each title also wins a saddle, which requires a $500 sponsor apiece.
LRC also sells a $250 Silver Sponsorship for one buckle sponsorship or one crown sponsorship. A $100 Bronze Sponsorship is available and LRC accepts donations from sponsors not able to fully sponsor the Lincoln Riding Club royalty.