Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years
Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years
Miss Rodeo Wyoming Reata Cook quizzes Fair Royalty Program members on their rodeo knowledge with a game of bingo. Cook visited the Washakie County Fair grounds on March 15.
Reata Cook made a visit to the Washakie County Fairgrounds on March 15 to get young girls excited about fair pageantry.
Cook, who was crowned Miss Rodeo Wyoming 2023 in August of last year, and was Miss Sheridan WYO Rodeo before that, was invited to Worland to speak as part of the Washakie County Fair Royalty Program. She told the girls present about her life as a rodeo queen, played games with them and, of course, took pictures with them.
Bethany Stiver, the County Fair Royalty organizer, said that they invited Cook to Worland in an effort to promote the program after restarting it last year following years of inactivity. Stiver said "Our participation numbers have been small. It makes sense, because our program has been dormant for quite a few years. We were looking for ways this year to inspire some excitement in the program, so we reached out to the Miss Rodeo Wyoming organization to see if we could potentially get Reata to come over and speak to a group."
Stiver said of Cook's visit "She was fantastic, and a lot of those girls were very excited to have her there. We are looking forward to a return trip from her maybe this summer or fall."
Washakie County Fair Royalty, according to Stiver, is all about "promoting the state of Wyoming and the lifestyle that we live." The program serves to advocate for 4-H, FFA and Washakie County, and teaches young girls confidence, public speaking skills, interview skills and how to be involved in their community. Stiver said that the program does not require participants to own a horse or know how to ride one to benefit from it.
Stiver said that they are currently planning on having a pageant on May 4 at the Washakie Museum and Cultural Center. Applications will be made available soon to sign up for the pageant.
The royalty is open to any Washakie County young lady, ages 5 to 8 as of Jan. 1 for junior princess, ages 9 to 13 as of Jan. 1 for princess and ages 14 to 19 as of Jan. 1 for queen.
There will also be a Fair Royalty program workshop with a virtual guest on April 13. Look for more information on the Washakie County Fair Facebook page and website, washakiecountyfair.com.
