A total of seven contestants have filed to participate in the 101 Rodeo Foundation queen contest to be held this week, which is open to any Oklahoma female resident between the ages of 13-24 wishing to promote the sport of rodeo.

Pageant Director Linda Mauk noted contestants must sell at least $300 in rodeo tickets to qualify, and the contestant selling the most tickets will receive a tooled leather weekender bag valued at $400.

Judging will be scored on horsemanship, 40 percent; public speaking, 30 percent; poise and personality, 15 percent; and appearance, 15 percent.

Prizes include a Hereford saddle, contributed by Trout Funeral Home, Steve and Terri Huston; $300 Conoco credit card; beaded tiara and sash; Red Bluff buckle and Montana Silversmith watch. First runner-up will receive a Red Bluff bracelet and splint boots, sponsored by Cornerstone Restaurant; horsemanship winner will receive a head stall and breast collar, sponsored by Sonic Drive-In.

Other awards include tote bag from Osage Feed and Tackle to Miss Congeniality and head stall and breast collar from Garroutte Products for the speech award.

Contestants, in alphabetical order include: Cassandra Baur, 13, Ponca City; Courtney Burns, 20, Calumet; Jennifer Downen, 15, Altus; Lauren J. Goad,  Ralston; Hallie Godbehere, 17, Ponca City; Megan O'Neill, 17, rural Ponca City; and Sabrina Walton, 21, Enid.

Cassandra Baur is the daughter of Karen Baur and David Baur Jr., and in the ninth grade at Ponca City High School. She has been on the honor roll for two years and a member of the Oklahoma Junior Rodeo Association three years. She competes in  barrel racing and pole bending, she has won three saddles and several buckles and a horse trailer. When not rodeoing she enjoys playing basketball and softball. She is the granddaughter of parla McGuire of Ponca City and Ret. Maj.
(USAF) David H. Baur and Francis Baur of San Antonio, Texas.

Courtney Burns is the daughter of John Burns. of Dallas, Texas and Jamie Burns of Calumet, Okla. She graduated in 1998 from EI Reno High School, and began a degree in Equine Science from Redlands Community College, EI Reno, graduating in May 2000. She will be a junior at Oklahoma State University, with a double major in animal science and agriculture communications, hoping to pursue a career with the PRCA or the American Quarter Horse Association in the public relations department. She enjoys riding horses and spending  time with friends and family, and helping on the farm, and roping.

Jennifer Lanae Downen, the reigning 1999 Grand National Horseman Association QUeen, is the daughter of Myrtle Downen of Altus and Jerry Downen of Lone Wolf. She is a sophomore at Altus High, active in student council, band andFFA and serves as historian for the student council. After high school she plans to pursue a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree at OSU and barrel race with the WPRA. Her days as a cowgirl began at a very early age riding her grey shetland, Smoky. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends.

Lauren J. Goad, is active at Woodland High School, Fairfax, following her middle school years at Woodland Middle School, Ralston. She was an honor roll student and quite active in track and field and basketball. Lauren began riding horses, seated in front of her mother in the saddle, at the age of two and by the time she was four, was able to handle a horse on her own. Lauren has been involved in the family ranch operation and Osage/Pawnee County 4-H Horse Club and Oklahoma/Kansas Youth Rodeo Association, having acquired knowledge and experience to train her own horses for rodeo competition.

Hallie Godbehere is the daughter of Danny and Janel Godbehere and a senior at Ponca City High School. A. member of the Cherokee Strip Riding Club, she has enjoyed playing guitar and bass violin, going to play days and horse shows, and 4-H. She is a native Ponca Citian and has either attended or been a part of rodeo her whole life, with experiences of ranch work, horsemanship skills and public relations abilities would look forward to promoting the sport of rodeo as the 101 Wild West Rodeo Queen.

Megan O'Neill, daughter of Hoyd and LouAnn O'Neill, 8300 South 8 Mile Road in rural Osage County east of Ponca City, will be in her senior year at Ponca City High School graduating in November 2000. Megan likes horseback riding, going four-wheeling, fishing and spending time with family and friends. The 17-year-old O'Neill expressed feelings that it would be important to keep the history of the 101 Ranch alive and as a 101 Wild West Rodeo Queen could do that, although her main goal would be to educate the community of Ponca City on rodeo, and get people more involved in the rodeo activities.

Sabrina Walton, daughter of I Maple and Brenda Phares and Evert and Gayla Walton, is currently attending Northern Oklahoma College in Tonkawa, planning to transfer to Oklahoma State University with hopes to finish her bachelor's degree in athletic training and then pursue a master's in sports medicine. One of her future plans is in the sport of rodeo is to be involved with Justin Sports Medicine Program. Sabrina started riding horses competitively at the age of 14 and has competed in many rodeos, horse shows, round-up club events and queen competitions.

WINNING THE TITLE of 101 Wild West Rodeo Queen was Sabrina Walton, a 21-year-old student at Northern Oklahoma College from Enid.