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Contestants Announced for Rodeo
Pageants ~~ The 2007 Miss Rodeo South Dakota and
Junior Miss Rodeo South Dakota Pageants will be held
during the July 4th weekend, in Belle Fourche,
during the Black Hills Roundup. ~~
Three Miss
Rodeo South Dakota (MRSD) contestants will be
competing for the title of Lady-In-Waiting, and will
be officially crowned as Miss Rodeo South Dakota
2008 in early January. Contestants include Amber
Dell, Nisland; Tricia Luckett, Mitchell; and Tara
Trask, Wall.
Lacey Cole, Piedmont, is the reigning queen. Cole
will be competing for the title of Miss Rodeo
America this December in Las Vegas, Nevada, just
prior to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.
The Junior Miss Rodeo South Dakota (JRMRSD)
winner will reign from July 2007 to July 2008. Five
contestants are competing for this title. They
include Jacquee Lee, Vale; Samantha Lee, Vale; Gail
Schalesky, Faith; Jenna Smeenk, Newell; and Hayley
Smith, Rapid City.
Jenny Wilk, Huron, is the reigning junior queen.
The 2007 pageant is schedule for July 1-4 in
Belle Fourche, South Dakota, during the annual Black
Hills Roundup. Coronation for JRMRSD will be held
just prior to the afternoon rodeo performance; MRSD
will be announced during intermission of the same
rodeo.
Pageant divisions include photogenics, speech,
personality, appearance, horsemanship, written test,
and Miss Congeniality. Prizes include scholarships,
chaps, saddles, and other unique items.
There is also a special award for the
high-selling ad salesperson for the Official Pageant
Program, in both divisions.
For more information regarding the MRSD pageant,
contact Denise Ternes at 605-892-3780; regarding the
JRMRSD pageant, contact Cindy Wilk, 605-352-0735.
For more information about the organization and a
schedule of pageant events, visit
www.missrodeosd.com.
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The Western way of life has always been near and
dear to Amber Dell, native of Nisland. Amber grew up
in the shadow of her older brother, Jeff, traveling
through cactus patches, over cow paths, and
eventually down the rodeo road. The little girl did
not stay in the shadow for long as she started
participating in 4-H, Little Britches, and High
School rodeos. Her parents, Ray Dell and Judy Wulf,
knew rodeo and the Western lifestyle they raised
their daughter in would be instilled in her for a
lifetime.
Rodeo has continued to be a valuable part of
Amber’s life through her involvement in collegiate
rodeo. Amber has served as the SDSU Rodeo Team
President while participating in breakaway roping,
goat tying, and barrel racing. There isn’t much this
young cowgirl can’t handle, whether it be organizing
a five-state area college rodeo in Brookings, South
Dakota, or planning travel partners with her fellow
teammates! The collegiate arena offered Amber the
opportunity to take the next step in the rodeo world
and start traveling on the South Dakota Rodeo
Association (SDRA), NPRA, and NBHA circuits.
Twenty-two years has proven to be full of rodeo
activities for Amber.
As Amber has traveled through the upper
Midwest
rodeoing with friends and family, she has realized
the passion that is so strong for a sport that has
offered her so much. In continuing her passion for
rodeo and the Western way of life, Amber has her
sights set on representing a state that she loves,
and a sport that is empowering as Miss Rodeo South
Dakota. On her quest for this title, she has already
been honored with the title of Miss Rodeo SDSU 2007.
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Jacque Lee lives on a ranch by Vale, with her
parents Gene and Kathy Lee, and sister, Samantha.
This 18-year-old is very active in rodeo activities,
but goat tying is her favorite sport. Jacque is the
newly appointed co-Historian for her FFA chapter,
and she is also the secretary for the Newell High
School Rodeo Club. While holding down a
three-quarter to full-time job during the week she
still maintains her grades for Honor Roll. Jacque’s
exciting news this year is she has qualified for
National Little Britches Rodeo Finals in Senior
Girls’ Goat Typing. Jacque would like to wish all
the contestants good luck and God bless.
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Samantha Jean Lee, affectionately known as Sammi
or Sam, is the 16- year-old daughter of Gene and
Kathy Lee of Vale. This brown-haired, green-eyed gal
loves the ranch where she lives. Her hobbies and
interests are riding her mare Babe, starting her
gelding Jose on barrels, and rodeoing with her
sister, Jacque. She attends Newell High School where
she will be entering the 11th grade this fall.
While she is in school, besides her studies, she
is actively involved with FFA, Rodeo Club, Varsity
Basketball, and National Honors Society, while
recently being nominated for Student of the Month.
Samantha is a seven-year member of the Lawrence
County 4-H program where she has been busy with
horse projects and rodeo. Past interests include
photography and gardening. Samantha is the reigning
2006 Miss Newell Labor Day Rodeo Junior queen. Sam
would like to wish all the other contestants good
luck and God bless.
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Tricia Luckett is the 22-year-old daughter of
Jerry Luckett and Gary Luckett, both of
Mitchell. She hangs her hat in Mitchell, South
Dakota, where she is a 2007 graduate of Dakota
Wesleyan University.
Tricia graduated with a Bachelor of Arts
degree majoring in Communications with a minor
in Psychology, and an emphasis in Multi- Media.
Tricia’s elementary and high school years
consisted of traveling the rodeo trail to 4-H
and High School Rodeos with her family. She has
two older brothers, Travis (29) rides barebacks
in NRCA, SDRA and PRCA; and Trevor Bechen (28),
who makes a living farming near Mitchell. Tricia
also has an older sister Teri (24), who is
getting her teaching dgree at DWU, and competed
in Barrel Racing, Pole Bending and Goat Tying as
Tricia did. Tricia also has a full-time job of
being an aunt to her two nephews Cooper (2) and
Stockton (1) Ducheneaux, who not surpisingly
keep her very active!
Tricia’s dream of becoming a rodeo queen
started out at a young age with wanting to
follow in her mom’s footsteps who was the 1975
Miss Rodeo South Dakota. Tricia’s first queen
competition was when she was eight years old,
which is when she found her first love, the job
of a rodeo queen. Tricia has accomplished many
of her goals by holding many titles, such as the
1997 Corn Palace Stampede Princess, 1999 Corn
Palace Stampede Junior Queen, 2000 Junior Miss
Rodeo South Dakota, 2002 Sitting Bull Stampede
Senior Queen, 2004 Miss Black Hills Stock Show
and Rodeo, 2005 Corn Palace Stampede Senior
Queen, and 2006 Miss Rodeo South Dakota First
Runner-Up. Tricia’s dream also came true when
she was asked to carry sponsor flags at the 2007
Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. Tricia’s
dedication to the sport of rodeo has not only
grown with each accomplishment, but has given
her a whole new respect for the sponsors,
contestants, and fans, who make it all happen.
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Gail Irene Schalesky is the 16-year-old daughter
of TW and Faye Schalesky of Faith. Gail will be a
junior this fall at Newell High School where she
plays volleyball and basketball for the Lady Gators,
is a member of the rodeo team, is actively involved
in the FFA, and a member of National Honor Society.
Gail has a younger sister, Carriette, and a younger
brother, Jacob.
Gail is a member of the Antelope 4-H Club where
she holds the office of treasurer. She enjoys
showing all kinds of livestock, rodeoing, and is a
part of the shooting sports program.
Upon graduation from high school Gail’s plans are
to attend SDSU in Brookings, South Dakota, and Iowa
State in Ames, Iowa, majoring in Veterinary
Medicine.
Gail is sponsored by Schalesky Livestock, Faith.
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Jenna Smeenk is 18 years old, and a 2006 graduate
of Newell High School. Her parents are Greg and
Sherry Smeenk. She has one older sister, Trisha, and
one younger brother, Jed.
Jenna has been involved in a wide range of
activities throughout high school. She is a member
of Tina’s Dance Studio of Belle Fourche,
participating in Ballet, Tap, Hip-Hop, and Jazz. She
is very active in High School Rodeo, competing in
barrel racing, pole bending, and the queen contest.
Jenna was on the National Team last year for barrel
racing, traveling all the way to Springfield,
Illinois, to compete at Nationals. She is also the
Treasurer of the Newell High School Rodeo Team.
Other activities Jenna has been involved in include: National Honor’s Society,
Student Council, Cheerleading, Basketball, Volleyball, and Track.
Jenna is the Vice President of the Prairie Pals 4-H
Club, and Treasurer of the Newell FFA Chapter. She
enjoys riding horses, spending time outdoors, and hanging out with her family and friends. This
fall, Jenna will be attending the University of South Dakota in
Vermillion, pursuing a degree as a Criminal Defense
Attorney. She also plans to be on the USD Dance
Team. Jenna would like to wish everyone the best of
luck and God bless! Her sponsor is Dakota Trophy
Realty of Belle Fourche.
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Hayley Smith is the 15-year-old daughter of Tim
and Deanna Smith of Rapid City. Hayley’s academic
activities include Spanish club, volleyball, and
cheerleading. Hayley is involved with the Pennington
County Junior Leaders Association; Country Kids 4-H
Club; AQHYA; National and South Dakota Cutting Horse
Associations; National Little Britches Association;
Rapid City High School Rodeo Club; and National High
School Rodeo Association; and Community Outreach.
Her rodeo events include barrel racing, pole
bending, and the rodeo queen contest. She
participates in horse judging, cattle cutting,
reining, and horse shows. Hayley is the 2006 Central
States Jr. 4-H Rodeo Ambassador, and has won the
Pennington County 4-H Horse Incentive Award for the
past four years. Hayley’s most proud accomplishment
was receiving third in the Average and seventh in
the World at the 2006 National Little Britches Rodeo
in Pole Bending.
After school she would like to attend collage,
pursue a career in Western fashion, and continue to
be involved in rodeo and horses.
Hayley’s sponsors are West Quarter Horse Ranch,
Catherine and Lowell(Odie) West of Pierre.
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Tara Trask is the 21-year-old
daughter of Tracy and Malie Trask of Wall.
She is attending South Dakota State University,
majoring in Speech Communications, with a minor
in Advertising. She plans to obtain her Masters
Degree in Technical Communications.
Tara was the 2003 South Dakota Girls State
Governor, WHS student body president, 2001-2004
South Dakota High School Rodeo Queen, and was
named to the 2002-2004 Wrangler All Star teams.
At SDSU, Tara is an Admissions Ambassador,
Student Ambassador to Warsaw Agricultural
University, and National Scholars Honor Society.
She was the 2005 Miss Rodeo SDSU and is the 2007
Miss Black Hills Stock Show.
Tara’s two passions in life are patriotism
and the sport of rodeo. She hopes to intertwine her passions as Miss
Rodeo South Dakota and spark an interest in
hearts to create die-hard fans of South Dakota’s
offical sport - RODEO!
Tara's sponsor is the Black Hills Stock Show and Rodeo.
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