Queen's-eye view

QUINCY — Moses Lake Roundup rodeo week kicked off with the beating of blades and a bird’s-eye view of the Columbia River.

The rodeo queens have enough duties over the course of the year to stretch from here to ol’ Cheyenne, but on Wednesday they got to have a little fun as part of the deal. Cave B Estate Winery & Resort hosted a helicopter flight over the Columbia Basin for Miss Moses Lake Roundup Queen, Stephanie Tolley; Miss Rodeo Washington, Macy LaValley; and Miss Rodeo America, Katherine Merck. The flight provided by Flying M Air, also included Miss Rodeo Colorado Madelaine Mills.

“I’m an adrenaline junkie, so anything that makes my stomach crawl up to my head is fine with me,” said LaValley, who is studying communications at Eastern Washington University. “But this was smoother than most airplanes, there was a nice breeze. I got to sit right in the front seat and it was incredible.”

The winery features spectacular views of one of the most notable rivers in America, but as the four-seat helicopter lifted off for its tour through Columbia Basin skies, it promised an even more spectacular view.

“Honestly, I didn’t even know we were going up until I could see the ground below. It was such an amazing experience and a once-in-a-lifetime kind of thing,” said Tolley, who is studying to be a elementary school teacher at Columbia Basin College. “The river is gorgeous. Just to have that in our backyard … what a gift. You always know it’s gorgeous, but when you see it in a helicopter, you can really take the whole thing in and realize that you’re so small in such a big world.”

Merck is the first Miss Rodeo Washington to wear the Miss Rodeo America crown. The fact she is from Spokane makes it even more special. She will be a part of the week’s activities, but what a way to kick things off in the Columbia Basin, she said.

“Excitement took over for any fear. It was truly incredible,” said Merck, who was in her final year of Law School at Gonzaga University School of Law. “To see my home state from the sky and kick off Moses Lake Roundup with this is phenomenal. That’s the Columbia River. Most people see it driving over the bridge, driving along side, but to see it from the sky you can really see its true might. The size, the power of that river and to know that our agriculture is possible because of that Columbia River is a special feeling. Agriculture is the backbone of our state, so to see that from the sky was a totally different experience.”

For the first time in recent Moses Lake rodeo history, all three rodeo queens are from the east side of Washington. Merck and LaValley are from Spokane and Tolley is from Othello.

Mills made the trip over from Castle Rock, Colo. She grew up in Little Britches Rodeo, so when she fell into Miss Rodeo Colorado it was a natural fit.

“I don’t normally get to go outside of the state in the summer, so it’s pretty neat to be able to come up here to Washington and hang out with Macy and Stephanie and Katherine has been a great experience,” said Mills, who received her degree in mass communications at West Texas A&M. “Rodeo has always been one of my passions since I grew up competing in it. It’s also a industry that I’d like to be in, so it’s been a great opportunity to learn about production and learn about rodeo. I actually had a chance to sit down and talk with (legendary stock contractor) Harry Vold, which was so incredibly special.” Vold is one of only two stock contractors to provide stock to all 54 National Finals Rodeos.

They are educated. They are beautiful and they are the ambassadors to a proud rodeo heritage like the Moses Lake Roundup. All will have a part in the 73rd Moses Lake Roundup, which starts tonight with the pre-show at 6:30 p.m. The rodeo starts at 7:30 p.m.