Behind the scenes, rodeo royalty candidates work hard

It's time once again for the Vernon County Youth Fair Rodeo. when Rodeo Queen and Princess candidates try to win your votes selling tickets to the rodeo. This year, three queen candidates and four princess candidates are vying for the crowns.

Vying for prize money in the rodeo, which is ACRA/MRCA sanctioned, contestants will face off in steer wrestling, bull riding, bareback broncs, calf roping, saddle broncs, barrel racing and team roping. The rodeo will run Thursday, Friday and Saturday at the Vernon County fairgrounds on Centennial Boulevard and starts at 8 o'clock each evening.

Queen candidates are Sopphia Bunn, Heather Humphrey and Allie Irwin. The reigning queen is Kristin Dilly. Princess candidates include Kianna Mogan, Emily Peterson, Becca Raper and Katrina Snyder. The reigning princess is Hanna Bates.

Sopphia said she was urged to run for queen by her cousin, Kristin Dilly, so she could turn the crown over to a relative. "My cousin, who is queen now, wanted me to run for it so she could give me the crown," Sopphia said

Getting to be the rodeo queen could help with school, she added, saying. "It helps with scholarships. You're just about guaranteed one."

Sopphia is the 17-year-old daughter of Ronnie Bunn and Nikki Rainey and will be a senior at Nevada High School this fall. She is an active member of the FFA and enjoys summer softball. She loves to ride horses, work with animals and hang out with family and friends. Her plans for the future include going to Texas A&M, becoming a certified veterinarian in zoology.

Heather is the 16-year-old daughter of James and Lisa Stinnet and will be a sophomore at NHS this fall. She is a member of the Nevada FFA and is involved in track and softball. She enjoys riding horses as well as four-wheelers and hanging out with her friends. Her plans include going to the University of Tennessee and becoming a certified equine veterinarian.

Allie is the 16-year-old daughter of David and Cindy Irwin and will be a junior at NHS this fall. Allie is a member of the student council and Spanish club, she plays basketball and volleyball and is a member of the Clayton 4-H. She volunteers at the recycling center and at her church. She enjoys showing pigs, riding horses and hanging out with her friends and family.

Kianna is the 10-year-old daughter of Mike and Jennifer Snyder and Gerald and Dixie Mogan. She is in fourth grade at El Dorado Springs. Kianna is a member of the Melody Makers fourth and fifth grade choir, Readers are Leaders Club, the Just Say No Club and is an office-holder in the Walker 4-H. She is active in the horse, rabbit, bucket calf and exploring projects. Kianna enjoys riding her horse Smokey, gymnastics, doing dance and spending time with her rabbits and her calf, Spring.

Emily is the 12-year-old daughter of Shane and Lisa Peterson and will be in the eighth grade at Bronaugh this fall.

This is Emily's first year in 4-H. She is a member of the horse club and has a 24-year-old Arabian named Ahab.

"She loves to ride and she's said she wants to train horses like her mom," Lisa Peterson said. "She loves rodeos and she rides a lot."

Emily has worked hard to sell tickets but faced some stiff competition from a conflict with Good Ol' Days on a sales trip to Fort Scott.

"We've gone out to neighbors and families; we've even been to Fort Scott," Lisa said. "She didn't do too well over there, with Good Ol' Days going on at the same time."

Becca is the 8-year-old daughter of Jeff and Missy Raper, and is in the third grade at Bronaugh where she is involved with elementary cheerleading. She is a member of the Bronaugh 4-H and enjoys trail-riding, showdeo and fishing.

Katrina is the 7-year-old daughter of Mike and Jennifer Snyder and is in the second grade at El Dorado Springs school. Snyder is a member of the Readers are Leaders, the Walker 4-H Clover Kids.

Katrina enjoys dancing, gymnastics, spending time with her calf, Ginger; riding her horse, Possum, and spending time with her sister.

She plans on attending college and wants to become a horse trainer.