DISPLAYING THE rodeo queen saddle are sponsors from Trout Funeral Home, Terry and Steve Huston. The saddle will go to the 101 Wild West Rodeo Queen Saturday night during ceremonies beginning at 7:30 p.m. in the 101 Ranch Rodeo Arena, North Ash Street and West Prospect Avenue, prior to the final night of the rodeo.

Four Contestants Vie For 101 Wild West Rodeo Queen

Four contestants will be vying for the 101 Wild West Rodeo Queen title this week, culminating with the coronation ceremony at 7-30 p m Saturday in the 101 Ranch Rodeo Arena.

The competition has been opened back up to invite statewide competitors after two years of keeping the competition within a 50 mile radius.

And while the rodeo committee decided a year ago to include men that opened up a Rodeo Ambassador competition, the 1996 committee returned the event to a 101 Wild West Rodeo Queen when there were no male competitors for the ambassador title in 1995.

Tara Banks is the reigning 101 Wild West Rodeo Queen.

The queen competition offers a number of gifts and prizes including a homemade, hand tooled and sterling trimmed queen's saddle valued well over $1,200. Steve and Terry Huston of Trout Funeral are providing the saddle this year.

Activities during the week include a Queen's luncheon and style show, appearances in the parade, media appearances and interviews and autograph sessions during each night's rodeo performance.

Contestants are judged 40 percent on horsemanship. 30 percent public speaking. 15 percent each on appearance and personality.

The four contestants include Amy Bull, McAlester; Amanda Payne, Shidler; Stacy Pontious, Shidler; and Robin Bailey, Ponca City.

Amy Bull is the 16-year-old daughter of Raymond and Marie Her hobbies include barrel racing, pleasure riding, roping an ball.

Amanda Payne is the 18-year-old daughter of John and Judy and likes going to rodeos and fishing with her clad. She also barrel racing. The past year, Amanda has been traveling on the road with her dad, the One Armed Bandit.

Stacy Pontious is the 17-year-old daughter of Lee and Linda Pontious of Shidler. Stacy enjoys riding horses and competing in rodeos. She was first runner-up in the queen's competition at Sedan.

Robin Bailey is the 20-year-old daughter of Robert and Maxine Baileyof Ponca City and is pursuing a career in nursing at Pioneer Technology Center.