A total of six participants will be seeking to be the 1997 101 Wild West Rodeo Queen as competition unfolds this week heading to the Saturday night coronation.

The six include Rebecca Cherry of Colcord. Okla.; Lacey Dale Cully of Shidler; Carrie Markley of Mustang; Krystal Martin of rural Ponca City; Lindsey R. Shelton of Kellyville, Okla.; and Christy Dawn Simmons of Waurika.

The queen's competition offers a wealth of gifts and prizes including a handmade, hand tooled and sterling trimmed queen's saddle, donated by Steve and Terry Huston of Trout Funeral Home.

Activities for the candidates include a Queen's luncheon and style show, appearances in the Saturday parade, media appearances and interviews, as well as appearances and auto-graph sessions during each night's rodeo performances.

The contestants are judged 40 percent on horsemanship, 30 percent on public speaking, 15 percent each on appearance and personality.

Rebecca Cherry is the daughter of Elzie and Ann Cherry, Colcord and the 18-year-old attends Northeastern State University. Her hobbies and activities includes competing in queen contests, riding horses and going to rodeos.

Lacey Dale Cully, 16, is the daughter of Debbie Cully and Paul Cully. She attends McPherson (Kan.) High School includes rodeoing as her favorite hobby. She plans to major in mass communications. with a desire to work for a major television network to interview PRCA cowboys and cowgirls, enter the Miss Rodeo Kansas and hopefully the Miss Rodeo America pageant.

Carrie Markley is the 21-year- old daughter of William and Carla Markley of Mustang and is currently attending Oklahoma State University majoring in elementary education and minoring in communications. Besides taking part in rodeo pageant competitions, she also rides with a precision drill team. She also enjoys public speaking and training horses and works with children every chance she gets.

Krystal Martin of rural Ponca City is the 18-year-old daughter of Jim Martin and Nancy Mooney. She enjoys breaking horses, competing in jackpot ropings and rodeos and helping her family and trail rides. She is being sponsored locally by Osage Feed and Tack and Jimmy's Western Wear.

Lindsey R. Shelton is the 20-year-old daughter of Karen Foley and Dempsey Shelton and attends Tulsa Community College, She enjoys participating in Rodeo Queen pageants, showing horses and giving riding lessons.

Christy Dawn Simmons is the daughter of Jim and Connie Simmons, Waurika. She is a 21-year-old student at Oklahoma State University and enjoys playing piano, working with animals, and collecting stamps and bells.