Court photographs courtesy of Creekside Studios of Scappoose, Oregon

Pictured left to right:  Princess Alishea Jones, Queen Mackenzie Carr, Princess Katie VanWinkle

RODEO COURT NEWS

The Columbia County Fair and Rodeo Court invites you to attend the Columbia County Fair and Rodeo held the third full week in July each year in St. Helens, Oregon.  The rodeo court pageant is held the Friday of fair week, with official reigns beginning the following January 1.  If you are interested in trying out for the court, please contact Jean McPherson at ccrodeo@hotmail.com or 503-481-3384 for an application and rules. 
 
The court is available for public appearances throughout the Northwest.  If you would like to schedule an appearance or sponsor the court, please contact Jean McPherson

 Queen Mackenzie Carr

Queen Mackenzie Carr is the daughter of Alan and Barb Carr of Vernonia,
Oregon. She is a graduating senior and Valedictorian of Vernonia High
School and was selected as the 2007 Homecoming Queen. She is a member of the varsity volleyball and track teams and a past member of the Oregon High School Equestrian Team, for which she earned three varsity letters. Mackenzie is also a member of The National Honor Society and Who's Who Among High School Students. Mackenzie competes with Cowlitz Volleyball Club and is an active member of horse 4-H, competing at the local and state level. She plans to attend college majoring in Engineering. Mackenzie served as a Princess on the 2007 Columbia County Fair and Rodeo Court. Her rodeo partners are Charlie, a 17 year old Thoroughbred gelding, and Pedro, a 15 year old Paint gelding.

 Princess Alishea Jones

Princess Alishea Jones is the daughter of Darin and Malinda Jones of Rainier Oregon. She is a junior at St. Helens High School. She is an active member of the Oregon High School Equestrian team, where she earned her 1st varsity letter her freshman year. She received the honor of NW district timed event high point winner her junior year. Alishea has been the OHSET youth representative for the last two years. She has also participated in Horse 4-H for 8 years, local and state levels. Alishea rides as a member of NW5D, BRN4D, and NWYRA along with many other open races, barrel racing all over the northwest. She was a member of the 2007 Columbia County flag team and is looking forward to spending 2008 promoting Colombia County Fair and Rodeo. Her equine rodeo partners are Piffer, a 5 year old Quarter horse gelding, and Gypsy, an 8-year-old quarter horse mare.

Princess Katie Van Winkle

Princess Katie Van Winkle of Warren is the daughter of Scott and Karen Van Winkle. Katie is a junior at St. Helens High School where she participates in Drama, OHSET, Link Crew, and Student Council. She is taking some college level courses, and writes for the school newspaper. Katie won the National Council of English Teachers writing award and honorable mention for the Sala-Kryzek Holocaust writing award. She has also been published in a Portland literary magazine called Ink-filled Page. Katie has been a Columbia County 4-H member for six years. Her rodeo partner is Simon, a registered paint gelding.

2008 COLUMBIA COUNTY FLAG TEAM

Tabitha Hrabik

Ashley Paleck

Emily Simpson

2008 Miss Rodeo Oregon

Nichole Andrews of Scappoose was recently named as the 2008 Miss Rodeo Oregon.  After a four day competition, held in conjunction with the St. Paul Rodeo, Nichole was announced as the winner of the Horsemanship, Speech, Personality, Appearance, Knowledge, and Photogenic awards, as well as winning the title of 2008 Miss Rodeo Oregon.  Nichole will officially begin her reign January 1, 2008 and will represent Oregon and the sport of professional rodeo throughout Oregon and the U.S., culminating in the Miss Rodeo America pageant in December 2008.  Nichole served as the 2004 Columbia County Fair and Rodeo Princess and 2005 Queen.  Congratulations, Nichole!

2008 Miss NPRA (Northwest Professional Rodeo Association)

At the 2007 NPRA Finals, Alice Monroe of Warren was announced as the 2008 Miss Northwest Professional Rodeo Association (NPRA) at the annual NPRA Finals in Sisters, Oregon.  In addition to the title, she won the Speech, Personality, and Photogenic awards, Alice is the daughter of Bill and Paula Monroe of Warren. She is a junior at Eastern Oregon University in La Grande, Oregon, majoring in Rangeland Management and Ecology with a minor in Animal Science and Crops and Soil Science. Her goals after graduation are to pursue a career working to preserve and maintain forests and rangelands. She plays on the EOU equestrian polo team and is an active member in the Range and Newman clubs.  Alice represented Columbia County as the 2003 Fair and Rodeo Queen.  She is excited to represent the NPRA and says, “To be crowned the 2008 Miss NPRA will allow me to grow as a person as I represent the sport of rodeo all over the Northwest. The title is not only an opportunity for me to educate others on the sport, but also a chance to meet new people along the way. “ 

2008 Miss Teen Rodeo Oregon Ashley Ekstrom

Ashley Ekstrom is the eighteen-year old daughter of Brent and Michelle Ekstrom of Rainier.  A 2007 graduate of St. Helens High School, she participated in 4-H, OHSET, Wrestling Statistician, Future Business Leaders of America, Ford Family Foundation for Community Building, and the S.T.A.R.S. program. She plans to attend Lower Columbia College in the Spring of 2008 and eventually earn a masters degree in nursing with a minor in public relations.  She is presently employed as an Educational Assistant with Northwest Regional Educational Services District working with special needs children.  Ashley has spent the last two years proudly representing Columbia County Fair and Rodeo as their Flag team Captain, 2006 Princess and the 2007 Columbia County Queen.  Ashley enjoys spending time with her family, riding and training horses, team penning with her brother, coaching younger children in 4-H and staying active in her community.  She is excited about her upcoming year as Miss Teen Rodeo Oregon 2008.