Family love queen's crown jewel

Tristyn McDaniel was born and raised in Texico. She is a senior at Texico High School.

McDaniel competed in the Eastern New Mexico State Fair Pioneer Days Rodeo Queen pageant in October and took the crown. She is the reigning Eastern New Mexico State Fair Pioneer Days Rodeo Queen. She competed against six other contestants in the pageant and won first place in the interview, speech, modeling, impromptu questions and horsemanship categories. She said pageants help her with her communication skills and with the confidence to stand on a stage to do a speech, to speak well and to be responsible. She also won five out of the seven categories, a saddle, crown, belt buckle and a $1,000 scholarship.

Courtesy photo

McDaniel participates in Pink Night at the New Mexico State Fair.

McDaniel is the second contestant from Curry County to have won the Eastern New Mexico State Fair Rodeo Queen title. McDaniel — who credits help from the Clovis-Curry County Chamber of Commerce, Clovis and Curry County, Wilma Fulgham, Lexi Myers, the Roswell Fair Board and the Eastern New Mexico State Fair Board, the Pioneer Days Rodeo Queen Board and all friends and family — and said she loves being able to promote the rodeo because it's talking about a subject that she really loves.

She also enjoys playing basketball and softball, hunting and fishing with her family and. She is the treasurer for the Texico High FFA.

What do you enjoy the most about pageants? My favorite part is when I get to meet new people; especially the little kids because they look up to me. Some of them have never even seen a horse before and I get to educate them. It’s just really cool meeting all the kids.

What do you like least about the experience?

That's a hard question. But it's probably the "girly" part of it all… just give me a pair of jeans.

What is your theme song?

‘Oceans’ by Hillsong United.

What’s your favorite TV show, past and present?

I've always liked "Friends" and now I enjoy "Nashville."

Tell us about your pet(s).

We have three blue heelers and a lot of horses. My roping horse and I get along well because we’re both hard headed but we will get the job done. We have our stubbornness in common.

What is the best gift you’ve ever received?

It is the love I get from my family. The material gifts are enjoyed for a while but the love for family is the gift that keeps on giving.

What’s your favorite taste?

White cake with whipped icing.

What’s your favorite smell?

The smell of the mountains (fresh air) and fresh leather.

If you could master one instrument, what would it be?

The fiddle. It could be more of a Charlie Daniels' influence but I've always wanted to play since I was little.

What place would you like to travel to and why?

New York City. Because it's so different from where I live. I wouldn't want to live there but I think it would be a cool experience.

What do you envision your life being like in 10 years?

I want to go to school to be a lawyer so I hope to be working toward that. I want to be married and buy a home but that will all depend on my schooling first.

— Compiled by Correspondent D'Nieka Hartsfield