Six young ladies are vying for three titles at this year’s Whitesboro Riding Club (WRC) July 4 Rodeo. A Rodeo Queen, Princess and Buckerette will be crowned at the event on Saturday, July 6. Contestants are judged on horsemanship, interviews and ticket sales. Meet this year’s Rodeo Royalty.
Vying for Queen:
Mikayla Lee is 14 years old and will be a sophomore at S&S High School. She enjoys hippology, quiz bowl, volleyball, riding, powerlifting and track. She is currently the Silver Saddle 4-H county council delegate.
Dana Mathis is a 13-year-old young lady who lives in Collinsville, TX. Dana is a homeschooled student who takes part in homeschool basketball and other activities. She enjoys leading youth Wednesday night worship, shooting guns, riding horses, fishing with her dad, and all outdoor activities. She enjoys challenging herself. Dana knows Sign Language and is currently learning Spanish and Korean. After school her ultimate goal is to serve her country by joining the U.S. Navy. Dana is new to the rodeo life and has fallen in love with it. She hopes to inspire other young ladies that no matter how scary trying something new may seem, it is rewarding and so much fun. You never know when you may find a new love, like she has in rodeo culture.
Vying for Princess:
Scarlet Engle is an 11-year-old who attends Collinsville Jr. High. In her spare time, she enjoys being with her friends and family and helping her mom with their show horses. Her true love and hobbies are barrel racing and roping on her horses, Columbo and Yella. She also enjoys showing AQHA halter horses. When she gets older, Scarlet would like to pursue a career as a vet or professional barrel racer. She is most proud of being a hard worker and a kind person.
Magnolia Sheppard is the 6-year-old daughter of Colby and McKenzie Sheppard and is from Whitesboro, Texas. Magnolia is known for her heart the size of Texas and winning the Bearcat Character Award two years in a row. When she’s not on her horse Cheerio, Magnolia can be found on the soccer field, in the gymnastics gym or in the dance studio. She is a proud member of the Whitesboro Riding Club and loves helping put on the rodeo each year. Magnolia wants to continue competing in the rodeo and grow her horsemanship skills. When she grows up, she would like to be a veterinarian.
Vying for Buckerette:
Everly Gantenbein is a five-year-old proud resident of Pottsboro, Texas. She and her horse Roscoe are extremely excited about this year’s rodeo. This will be Everly’s first event and she has been practicing really hard. She and Roscoe are learning so many new things together. When she grows up, Everly wants to be a hair stylist or a horse trainer. On hot summer days, you can find Everly with her horse, swimming or playing with her Barbies.
Jolee Sheppard is the five-year-old daughter of Colby and McKenzie Sheppard of Whitesboro, TX. Jolee has a fearless spirit, never meeting a challenge she couldn’t overcome. She has a heart for all animals, but holds a special place for her horse, Bubba. Jolee is excited to be a Kindergartener at Whitesboro ISD this year. When she isn’t riding, she is an avid soccer player, gymnast and dancer. She loves being a part of the Whitesboro Riding Club and the annual rodeo. When she grows up, she wants to be an archaeologist.