The Home of Champions Rodeo Pageant will be held on July 6-7, 2007 to choose the 2008 titleholders. An orientation and written test will take place from 7-9 pm on Friday, July 6th, while the horsemanship, personal interviews, and public speaking will take place on Saturday, July 7th. Queen contestants must be high school graduates and under 24 years old; Princess contestants must be in high school; and Little Miss contestants must be still be in elementary school or junior high. All ages are determined as of December 31, 2007. Contestants must be residents of Carbon, Stillwater, or Yellowstone counties, have never been married, and cannot have held the title for which they are running for more than one year.

Before the judging begins, contestants will ride in this year’s rodeo parades as well as help with the July 2nd Kiddie Rodeo at Pride Park and the rodeo performances up at the rodeo grounds on July 2nd, 3rd, and 4th. While not mandatory, participation is highly recommended during this year’s rodeo and will help contestants get to know one another beforehand and make the pageant more fun.

At the conclusion of the Pageant on July 7th, the three winners will become “Ladies-In-Waiting” for the remainder of 2007 and be eligible to accompany the current royalty to 2007 appearances. In addition, they will hold their titles from January 1, 2008 through December 31, 2008, including reigning over the 2008 Home of Champions rodeo. Along with a beautiful Montana Silversmith trophy buckle and other prizes, each titleholder will also win an educational scholarship at the end of her reign. Horsemanship winners and Personality winners will also receive scholarships and prizes.

Interested persons should request an application by calling Kathe Mensik at 446-4168. Applications must be completed and postmarked by Monday, June 11, 2007.

In addition, the Pageant is looking for interested volunteers to help with the planning and execution of this year’s contest. The pageant’s goal is to support our local young ladies as they endeavor to grow in self-confidence, poise, horsemanship, public speaking, current events, and agricultural knowledge (including equine and rodeo) through pageant preparation and the competition itself. The opportunities and experiences the winners receive as they promote the Home of Champions rodeo, the pageant & rodeo sponsors, and our beautiful area with all its recreational opportunities at events around the state will help reinforce these goals as well as develop servant-hearts in these young ladies as they give a year of their lives as our Ambassadors for Professional Rodeo and the Red Lodge area. If these goals speak to your heart and you have a desire to help, please contact Kathe Mensik at 446-4168. No rodeo experience or knowledge is necessary—just a willingness to lend a hand.