Taking the reins of royalty

Rodeo queen, princess to appear at upcoming county fair

SHELLY DONAHUE/VIEWA belt buckle is included with the title of Clark County Rodeo Queen. Clockwise from top left, Miss Clark County Rodeo Princess competitor Kayla Leachman prepares to show the judges her horsemanship skills. Fellow princess contestant Kaley Sproul, who later won the title, answers equestrian-related questions posed by the judges. Kurt Jasperson assists Harmony Ricley as she takes part in the horsemanship round of the Miss Clark County Rodeo Queen contest.Photos By Shelly Donahue/view Harmony Ricley prepares for the horsemanship portion of the Miss Clark County Rodeo Queen competition on March 12. Ricley won the title.shelly donahue/View Clockwise from top left, Miss Clark County Rodeo Princess competitor Kayla Leachman prepares to show the judges her horsemanship skills. Fellow princess contestant Kaley Sproul, who later won the title, answers equestrian-related questions posed by the judges. Kurt Jasperson assists Harmony Ricley as she takes part in the horsemanship round of the Miss Clark County Rodeo Queen contest.Photos By Shelly Donahue/view Advertisement

Harmony Ricley paraded across the stage of the Old Logandale School with a big smile and even bigger hair under her cowgirl hat. She looked like the picture-perfect Miss Clark County Rodeo Queen, and probably would have won the contest even if she weren't the only contestant.

Jennifer Marshall, the pageant's assistant coordinator, said 2007 has been a slow year for pageants all over the state.

Ricley, a Las Vegas resident, said she had never been in a beauty pageant before and that she had a lot of help from the people around her.

"I was told you don't start with that fake plastered smile right away. You 'ta da,' " she said, as she gestured the appropriate time to flash a big smile.

Although Ricley was the only contestant for queen, she wasn't alone on the stage on this early March morning in Logandale. Kayla Leachman and Kaley Sproul, both of Logandale, participated in the princess contest. A Miss Clark County Rodeo Queen must be between ages 17 to 22, and a princess must be between ages 12 to 16.

All three contestants gave speeches, modeled, answered questions and even played Pictionary for the three judges and an audience of about 25. Ricley, 19, gave a speech on how the rodeo relates to ranching; Leachman, 15, spoke about the history of the rodeo; and Sproul, 13, who later took the princess crown, spoke about what it was like to be a cowgirl in the past.

The girls continued with 15-minute private interviews with the judges, all rodeo pageant veterans. Ali Swan is a former Miss Idaho High School Rodeo Queen; Utah native Tonya Burton has been a pageant judge for years; and Mesquite resident Larry Spitale is the father of Kristina Spitale, the current Miss Rodeo Nevada.

"The judges aren't local," Marshall said. "We don't want them to know any of the girls."

Pageant coordinator Mandee Davis added of the judges, "We just make sure they have been involved in pageants."

While the girls waited for their turn in the interview room, last year's queen, Kallie Wickel, 18, and princess, Alyssa O'Toole, 14, provided some encouragement for the nervous contestants. Wickel and O'Toole said they spent the past year representing Clark County at fairs and other events. Wickel, a Foothill High School senior, traveled to the Reno Rodeo, while O'Toole, a Moapa Valley High School student, said she traveled to the Elko Rodeo.

Marshall said the queen and princess travel to about 12 rodeos while they hold the titles.

"I want to be the rodeo queen to let people know the Clark County Fair is here and Las Vegas is a big part of it," Ricley said.

Although the contestants were judged based on appearance, personality and speech, a large part of their reign as Miss Clark County Rodeo Queen or Princess is horsemanship.

The contestants are required to own their own horse and tack. The queen and princess must have control of mount, proper arena etiquette, balance and ability. They also must be able to do a presentation ride, also known as the Queen Run.

All three contestants demonstrated the Queen Run at the end of their horsemanship competition. While riding their horses at a fast speed, they waved with a cupped hand, as a queen would, and they didn't forget to smile.

Debbie Spitale, Kristina Spitale's mother, said her daughter took time off from school to participate and travel with the rodeo. "There's no book in life that can teach them what they learn with this," she said.

Ricley and Sproul will attend the 20th annual Clark County Fair and Rodeo beginning Thursday at 1301 W. Whipple Ave. in Logandale.

Each year, more than 70,000 people visit the fair, which has musical acts, pig racing, food, a carnival, animal judging competitions, juggling acts, pedal tractor races, train rides and the Tigers of India, as well as the rodeo. Country singer Blake Shelton is this year's main concert attraction. He will perform at 8:30 p.m. Thursday.

Tickets range from $6 to $40 per day, depending on the combination of fair admission and tickets for carnival rides, concert tickets and rodeo event tickets purchased. Fair admission is required for ages 5 years and older. For more information, visit www.ccfair.com.