Miss Rodeo to crown new queen

QUINCY - Kylie Kooistra of Quincy is still enjoying her year as Miss Rodeo Washington, and Saturday she'll crown the 2013 Miss at the Moses Lake Roundup rodeo.

With four months left of her reign, Kooistra still has a lot to look forward to, especially an appearance at her hometown rodeo, the Moses Lake Roundup.

This year's Miss Rodeo Washington contestants are Jessica Tennant of Deer Park and Katie Fergus of Okanogan. The winner will be crowned at about 7 p.m. during the rodeo. She will take over for Kooistra in January.

Also to be crowned Saturday, at about 4 p.m., before the rodeo, are Miss Teen Rodeo Washington and Junior Miss Rodeo Washington. The Miss Teen contestants include Ruby Mineer of Ellensburg.

Kooistra was named 2012 Miss Rodeo Washington last Labor Day weekend at the Ellensburg Rodeo. The prestigious title had been her life-long dream.

"The year has been everything I expected and more," she said.

From Calgary, Alberta to Florida, Kooistra's journey has covered more than 30,000 miles promoting the Evergreen State and the sport of professional rodeo.

"I'm anxious to find out who will represent the Evergreen State in 2013," she said.

Before she's finished with her reign, Kooistra will make appearances at every pro rodeo in Washington State. Then she will compete for the crown of Miss Rodeo America in Las Vegas during a pageant the week of Dec. 6-12. She is a communications and sociology student at Eastern Washington University.

Miss Rodeo Washington serves as the official spokesperson for the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association, the PRCA. She goes through a tough selection process, as do the contestants for all three titles. The new queen will be crowned on Saturday, August 18, at a 7 p.m. awards presentation.

- Staff report