Southwest Nebraska Rodeo Queen, Junior Queen contest Saturday

McCOOK, Neb. — Three cowgirls will compete Saturday for the 2017 titles of Southwest Nebraska Rodeo Queen and Junior Queen.

The new royalty will take over the reigns of 2016 Queen Halee Kohmetscher of Lawrence and Junior Queen Danielle Forster of Smithfield.

New queen contestants are: Chyanne Friehe, the 17-year-old daughter of Brad and Jennifer Friehe of rural Culbertson and a senior this fall at McCook High School; and Shyann Worm, the 16-year-old daughter of Tonya Lakin and Mike Worm of Taylor and a senior this fall at Burwell High School.

Junior queen contestant is Lacey Langer, the 14-year-old daughter of Jody and Larry Langer of Superior and a sophomore at Superior High School.

The girls’ day-long competition Saturday starts with “Get Acquainted” at 9 a.m., followed by horsemanship and interviews with horsemanship judges at 10 a.m. Further interviews at 1 p.m. will test the girls’ rodeo and general knowledge.

The public is invited, free of charge, to the style show, parade, speech contest and live auction, beginning at 3 p.m. Pageant coordinator Myrna Harper says auction items are “western” or not — “There’s should be something for all to bid on,” she said — and area merchants have donated gift certificates.

The crowning of the new royalty will follow the evening meal.

All events are on the Red Willow County fairgrounds in McCook.

Southwest Nebraska rodeo queens and junior queens travel during their reigns, to activities and events including “Old Settlers Day” in Indianola, the Chase County Fair and Expo in Imperial, “Heritage Days” in McCook, and “NebraskaLand Days,” the Buffalo Bill Rodeo and Miss Rodeo Nebraska and Miss Teen Nebraska pageants in North Platte.

They visit Cambridge and McCook nursing homes and hospitals.

Harper said, “They attend many rodeos and parades throughout Nebraska, promoting the Southwest part of Nebraska and the Southwest Nebraska Rodeo Queen/Junior Queen pageant.”