Dogwood Frontier Pro Rodeo set June 23-24 in Palestine
By Cheril Vernon
Messenger Copy Editor
PALESTINE – Grab your boots and your cowboy hat, because the Dogwood Frontier Pro Rodeo is coming up this weekend.
The rodeo will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, June 23-24 at the Anderson County Youth Livestock Riding & Roping Arena, located off U.S. 287 North of Palestine.
“It’s a CPRA/ UPRA rodeo with bareback riding, saddleback riding, calf-roping, team roping, barrel racing and bull riding,” rodeo organizer Jimmy Ray said. “There will be some good livestock.”
“We also will have mutton busting for the little kids.”
Kids will need to enter the mutton busting competition an hour before the rodeo starts with the rodeo secretary “where all the cowboys and cowgirls check in at the arena,” Ray said.
“If you want to come see a good rodeo and have a good time, come on out, rain or shine.”
A drawing will be held for a gas-powered mini bike during the rodeo. Tickets are $5 a piece or five for $20.
Tickets for the rodeo are available in advance at Cavender’s Boot City in Palestine for $10.
Tickets at the gate will be $12. Children age 6 and under get in free.
The Dogwood Frontier Pro Rodeo Queen, Princess and Little Miss contestants will be introduced on Friday night during the rodeo. The winners will be announced during Saturday night’s rodeo.
Here is a list of the participants:
• 2016 Miss Dogwood Frontier Rodeo Queen: Bradi Jo Brownlow – 18-year-old daughter of Trista Brownlow and Will and Rori Brownlow. She graduated from Cayuga ISD in May and was accepted to Texas A&M University. Bradi Jo wants to major in animal science, to become Veterinarian. She enjoys fishing, working on cars, roping, and the time she spends with her rodeo pageant girls. Bradi Jo rides a sorrel quarter horse named, “Big.”
• 2017 Rodeo Queen Contestant: Madelynn West – 17-year-old daughter of Robert and Jennifer West. She attends school in Elkhart ISD. Her hobbies include volleyball, welding, livestock judging, western pleasure, AQHA all around, and everything else to do with horses and riding. Last year, she won 1st Runner up and would really like to win the Rodeo Queen title this year. Madelynn rides a grey quarter horse named, “Sassy”.
• 2017 Rodeo Queen Contestant: Katie Timmons -16-year-old daughter of Kristi Timmons and Kevin and Lucinda Timmons. She attends school in Neches ISD, where she is involved with volleyball, Ag mechanics, FFA, and FCCLA. Katie has recently earned several paychecks running barrels at local area barrel racing competitions. She also likes to go hunting. Her future ambition is to attend Tarleton University to major in Ag Education. Katie would love to represent Anderson County as the 2017 Rodeo Queen. Rodeo and her western lifestyle has shaped who she is today and she would like to promote the sport of rodeo as a role model for her peers. Katie rides a palomino quarter horse named, “C.”
• 2017 Rodeo Queen Contestant: Ashleigh Wilbanks – 17-year-old daughter of Kenneth and Linda Wilbanks. She graduated from Neches ISD in May and was accepted into the Cosmetology program at Trinity Valley Community College this fall. Ashleigh’s hobbies have included horseback riding, softball, showing animals for FFA, and recently working with a local horse trainer. Ashleigh is a member of the Frankston Riding Club, where she has won numerous trophies and awards at playdays. Ashleigh is self-taught on riding horses and has now trained several of her own horses. She rides a sorrel quarter horse named, “Tahoe.”
• 2016 Miss Dogwood Frontier Rodeo Princess Contestant: Brooke Steubing – 16-year-old daughter of Lucky and Angela Steubing. She attends school in Elkhart ISD where she is involved in the FFA. Her hobbies include barrel racing, western pleasure, and hanging out with friends. Brooke has enjoyed representing Anderson County as the 2016 Miss Dogwood Frontier Rodeo Princess and loves being a positive role model for all young girls interested in the sport. She attends Cedar Creek Missionary Baptist Church. Brooke rides a sorrel quarter horse named, “Big Boy.”
• 2017 Rodeo Princess Contestant: Hannah Missildine – 10-year-old daughter of Ben and Lisa Missildine. She attends school at Slocum ISD. Hannah is the 2016 Lil’ Miss 1st Runner up. In addition to horseback riding, she enjoys video games and being involved in the Ioni Creek 4H. Her favorite horse events are running barrels and poles. When she grows up she would like to be a veterinarian, because of her love for all animals. The person she looks up to most is her aunt. Hannah rides a bay Tennessee Walker named, “Rusty.”
• 2017 Rodeo Princess Contestant: Celina Hutcherson – 11-year-old daughter of Charles and Jennifer Hutcherson. She attends school at Westwood ISD. Celina is the 2016 Rodeo Princess 1st Runner up and would really like to win the Rodeo Princess title this year. She enjoys riding horses and showing animals with her 4H group. Her future ambition is to be a veterinarian. Celina has grown up riding horses. She rides a white and brown paint horse named, “Apache”.
• 2016 Miss Dogwood Frontier Rodeo Lil’ Miss & 2017 Rodeo Princess Contestant:
Bailey Thornton – 9-year-old daughter of Brandon and April Thornton. She attends school in Slocum ISD. Bailey’s hobbies include reading, cheerleading, competing in rodeo events such as goat tying, barrels, poles, and she also like to go muddin’ on her 4wheeler. Bailey attends playdays at Triple S Cowboy Church. She enjoys spending time with her family and watching her parents rope. Bailey cannot wait for the day she can compete in roping with them. Bailey is the 2016 Lil’ Miss Rodeo and would love to win the 2017 Rodeo Princess title. She loves to go to special rodeo events and meet new people and enjoys representing the Dogwood Frontier Rodeo. Bailey rides a bay quarter horse named, “Jeff”.
• 2017 Rodeo Lil’ Miss Contestant: Addyson “Addy” Richmond – 8-year-old daughter of Clayton and Lisa Richmond. Addyson is homeschooled by her parents. She is a member of Frankston Riding Club where she has won numerous trophies and ribbons at playdays running barrels, poles, and flags. When she grows up she would like to be a veterinarian. She loves to ride horses and enjoys meeting other girls who also like to ride. Addyson rides a chestnut Fox Trotter named, “Hope”.
• 2017 Rodeo Lil’ Miss Contestant ‑ Isabella “Izzy” Holloway – 7-year-old daughter of Blake and Andrea Holloway. She attends school at Neches ISD where she is on the “A” honor roll. Izzy enjoys swimming, fishing, trail riding, and playday events, such as barrels and poles. She also likes to read and enjoys the summer reading program at the Palestine library. She attends Lone Pine Baptist Church and enjoys VBS in the summertime. This is her first year to compete in the rodeo pageant and she would like to win a saddle and crown. Izzy rides a light palomino Fox Trotter named, “Legacy.”
2017 Rodeo Lil’ Miss Contestant: Allie Thornton – 7-year-old daughter of Brandon and April Thornton. She attends school in Slocum ISD. Allie’s hobbies include arts and crafts, reading, running barrels and poles, goat tying, and going muddin’ on her 4wheeler. She also enjoys spending time with her family and watching her parents rope. She cannot wait until she is old enough to rope with her parents. Allie attends playdays at Triple S Cowboy Church. Allie would love to win the title of Rodeo Lil’ Miss to represent the Dogwood Frontier Rodeo. Allie wants to be someone the little kids will look up to. She also wants to win the saddle, buckle, and crown. Allie rides a bay quarter horse named, “Harley.”
• 2017 Rodeo Lil’ Miss Contestant: Nora Grabiel – 7-year-old daughter of Tobey Galetzka and Tony Grabiel. She attends school in Slocum ISD. Nora’s hobbies include cheerleading, dancing, AQHA shows, club shows, and cutting horses. When she grows up she would like to be a teacher. She would like to win the Rodeo Lil’ Miss title to continue to ride horses and to meet people who love horses and animals. She would also like to run for Rodeo Princess and Rodeo Queen when she is old enough. Nora rides a chestnut quarter horse named, “Frank.”
