101 Wild West Rodeo Queen Attracting Top
Competitors
The 101 Wild West Rodeo Queen's Competition continues to attract
top-notch horsewomen for the honor of serving as the historic rodeo
queen, according to Pageant Director, Linda Mauk.
"Our queen's competition offers a wealth of gifts and prizes,
including a handmade, hand tooled queen's saddle valued well over
$1,200.
Numerous Ponca City merchants have donated awards and gifts for the
queen, horsemanship and runner-up winners.
Ponca Tribal Member Rosetta LeClair has hand-beaded a traveling
tiara and sash for our queen, keeping the Native American influence
a part of the 101 Heritage.
Activities for the candidates include a Queen's luncheon and style
show, appearances in the parade, media appearances and interviews,
as well as appearances and autograph sessions during each night's
rodeo performances.
The contestants are judged 40% on horsemanship, 30% on public
speaking, 15% each on appearance and 15% on personality. The
coronation will be during Saturday's performance.
The contestants are:
 |
 |
 |
 |
Kimber Craighead,
Mustang |
Brenda Linde,
Pawhuska |
Laura Sentel,
Ponca City |
Tori Walton,
Newkirk |
Kimber Craighead is the 18-year-old daughter of Gary and
Susan Craighead of Mustang. She is currently attending the
University of Central Oklahoma, where she is pursuing a degree in
nursing.
At an early age, she fell in love with horses and has always been
competitive. She found rodeo to be her outlet for being competitive
while doing something she loved. Since that time she has completed
in horsemanship activities such as barrel racing, pole bending and
breakaway roping.
Kimber's awards include 2001 Miss Rodeo Oklahoma Teen, 2000 Reserve
World Champion Pole Bender at the Palomino World Show, 2000 Selling
Rodeo Queen and 1999 First Runner-Up Miss Rodeo Princess. She also
enjoys snowboarding, snow skiing, whitewater rafting, fast pitch
softball and cheerleading.
Brandi Linde is the 22-year-old daughter of Randy and Lorraine
Linde of Pawhuska. She attended Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College on
a Rodeo Scholarship and plans to obtain a degree as a Veterinary
Technician.
Linde has been roping since the age of 8 and has received awards and
saddles in team roping. She also enjoys basketball, softball and
spending time with her family.
Laura Sentel is the 19-year-old daughter of Lonnie and Jennifer
Sentel of Ponca City. She is currently attending Meridian Technology
Center where she is studying radiology.
Laura has acquired numerous awards while competing in barrel racing,
pole bending and goat tying. She has also won the 2002 first runner
up in the Braman rodeo queen contest, 2002 first runner up in the
101 Wild West Rodeo queen contest and 2003 Miss Congeniality in the
101 Wild West Rodeo queen contest. She also enjoys softball,
swimming, river rafting and just spending time with family and
friends.
Tori Walton is the 13-year-old daughter of Glenn and Lora Walton of
Newkirk. She is a 3 year member of the Martha Washington 4-H club
participating in the horse project. As a 2 year member of the
Newkirk Chapter of the Future Fanners of America, she enjoys
livestock judging and showing swine. In past years she has
participated in many sports including dance, softball, basketball
and cheerleading.
Tori is a first year member of the Oklahoma Kansas Youth Rodeo
Association competing in barrel racing and pole bending. Tori has
participated in the Arkansas City Mavericks Rodeo Princess contest
for 2 years and is the reining Princess for 2004. As a freshman at
Newkirk High School she has chosen classes that will bring her
closer to her goals of attending Oklahoma State University and
majoring in veterinary medicine.
Tori enjoys helping her mother at her child care center and tries
to be a great role model for other children of her community.
Mustang Contestant Named Queen
KIMBER
CRAIGHEAD, left, was named the 101 Wild West Rodeo Queen Saturday
night during the final 2004 rodeo performance. Lacey Stubblefield,
right, Miss Oklahoma Rodeo 2004, assisted with the coronation.
Craighead is from Mustang, Okla., and Stubblefield is a native of
Enid. (News Photo by Lela Bouse-McCracken)
101 Wild West Rodeo Queen - 2004 Results
Kimber Craighead, Queen, Horsemanship and Speech Winner
Torri Walton, 1st Runner-Up
Laura Sentel, 2nd Runner-Up, Ticket Sales Winner and Miss
Congeniality
