This year’s competition was hot. Extremely hot. As in 98 degrees hot. But everyone kept their cool.
“Even though the girls were in 30 pounds of show clothes, they all had smiles on their faces and encouraged one another,” said Krissy Tighe, organizer of the Middletown Days royal court competition. “The sportsmanship was wonderful this year.”
The competition involved 10 categories. The daytime portion was all about demonstrating horsemanship and riding skills. Then the girls got cleaned up and switch gears for the evening portion which included modeling, speech, an interview and a written test.
To prepare for the competition, which was held on Saturday, the candidates attended weekly clinics beginning in April. They were coached by Tighe and other local experts.
The horse portion of the event was judged by Jean Gay of Middletown and returning judge Michele Ulrech. Gay helped create the Middletown Days queen and Princess contest. She has spent many years in the horse show world. Ulrech is a professional horsewoman who works closely with the Livermore Rodeo Queen Contest.
The evening portion was judged by Rob Brown, Lake county supervisor, and Jolene DelZompo, who is knowledgeable about beauty pageants.
The candidates this year are all active in sports. The youngest was 8 year old Lalia Brown. She is a 2nd grader at Minnie Cannon Elementary school. This was her first year riding and her first competition. She rode her Welsh pony named, “Hey, Victor, What about your dad?” She enjoys basketball and cheering for the Middletown Colts football team.
Jada Totton, an 11 year old 5th grader also enjoys basketball. She plays on a traveling basketball and soccer team. She rode her 19 year old quarter horse mare, “Izzzie.” She is also a modeling student with the Julie Nation Academy.
Faith Anderson is 13 years old and going into the 8th grade this year. She is on the middle school volleyball team. She loves riding her 8 year old quarter horse gelding, Dusty. She is this year’s Princess Runner Up.
Princess Lily Emerson is 11 years old and is going into the 7th grade. Her favorite activities are Riding her horses and soccer. She competed on her 5 year old quarter horse gelding, “Tyson.” Lily was the Princess runner up in 2013, and 2014.
Jenny Kuykendall is this year’s Middletown Days Queen. She is 17 Years old and just graduated from Middletown High School. She plans on attending Yuba College in the fall. She rode her 8 year old quarter horse mare, “Boo-Boo.” She was also the Queen runner up in 2014.
Along with all the preparation and execution of what they learned, the queen candidates had to sell $950 in beef raffle tickets and the princesses $650. Raffle tickets will be sold throughout the weekend and can be purchased from any member of the Royal Court. First place is half a beef, second is a hind quarter, third is a front quarter. The drawing will be held following the Hide Ride and Rescue Races on Sunday, June 21. You need not be present to win.
Thank you to the Browning Family and Middletown Cattle Company for donating the 2014 and 2015 beef for the Queen’s Raffle.
