Rodeo royalty crowned

link Staff photo: Aubry Buzek

Outgoing Pioneer Days Rodeo Queen Janay Blevins, 20, crowns and pinns a sash on this year’s pageant winner, Kyla Myers, 18, Monday at the Curry County Events Center. Contestants competed in personality, appearance, and horsemanship to win the crown.

Here she is — after a long day of speeches and riding, Kyla Myers was crowned Pioneer Days Rodeo Queen Monday at the Curry County Events Center.

“I’m feeling pretty good,” Myers said with a smile after the coronation.

Myers, 18, said winning the crown has been her goal since she became Little Buckaroo Rodeo Queen when she was 8.

Myers is currently a sophomore at New Mexico State University.

“I really want to take some time from school for Curry County and make sure that I do the best I can as Pioneer Days Rodeo Queen,” Myers said.

Myers said as the queen her responsibility is to reign over the Pioneer Days Rodeo, and the rest of the year her duties involve working at the county fair, attending events, speaking to members of the community, and advocating for the rodeo.

During the pageant each contestant had to give a speech in front of a crowd, go through an interview with the judges, and show each of their horses in a reining pattern for the horsemanship contest.

Pageant organizer Lexi Myers said each category was 100 points, and judging this group was tough because of the skill level of each participant.

But the pageant was about more than a shiny crown.

“It’s life-building for them,” said Myers. “It helps on their communication skills, it helps their confidence … it’s life skills they can use now through life.”

Outgoing Pioneer Days Rodeo Queen Janay Blevins, 20, said her time with the crown was “quite a ride.”

“I am really grateful to have done it and learned this much,” Blevins said. “And I’m really excited to carry the flag — it’s really an honor.”

Blevins said her next goal is to run for the New Mexico State Fair Rodeo Queen.

Pioneer Days Rodeo Princess Deanne Guthrie, 16, said her favorite part of the competition was riding her horse.

“I’m looking forward to the rodeo and seeing new people and meeting people,” Guthrie said. “And also I’m ready to do the special needs, and I get to go to Roswell and Melrose and meet people.”

Little Buckaroo Rodeo Queen Dayna Meeks, 9, said in her speech the Pioneer Days Rodeo and Parade is a week “that Clovis truly opens its arms and invites everyone to be a part of this amazing western heritage.

“Hospitality — it’s a big word, but easy to spell,” Meeks said to the crowded room. “C-L-O-V-I-S.”

Little Buckaroo Rodeo Princess Lily Mcfarlane, 8, said her favorite part of the competition was having fun riding her horse; an effort that she said earned the mare five carrots.

“I’m feeling really impressed with myself,” Mcfarlane said.

The Pioneer Days Rodeo Princess ambassador is Sailor Jackson, 15; the Little Buckaroo Rodeo Princess ambassador is Robin Porter, 6; and Little Buckaroo Rodeo Queen ambassador is Sammi Osborne, 9.

Outgoing Little Buckaroo Rodeo Queen Heidi McFarlane, 8, will be competing in the Miss Rodeo New Mexico Pageant later this week.

“I’m proud of every one of them,” Myers said. “Even the judges said the quality of this group is unbelievable.”