CHAT News File Photo

By Chris Brown

You could be royal

Applications for Stampede Rodeo Royalty now online

Apr 13, 2022 | 2:45 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Queen Makayla Gross and princess Bailee McNaughton will hand in their sashes this summer and application packages are now online for local women who want to be the Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede’s next royal pair.

The competition will take place July 13-16 and contestants will be judged on horsemanship, public speaking and how they interact with the public. The crowning will take place during the Friday rodeo on July 29.

Queen committee chair Lori Siedlecki says contestants should be themselves during the competition week.

“That’s who they are afterwards and that’s who the community sees afterwards so realistically be yourself enjoy the time that you are running through the competition,” she says. “Horsemanship’s big, right? They need to be able to ride a horse for sure, but yeah, be yourself.”

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Entries will be accepted until May 31, are capped at eight and contestants must be between 18 and 24 years old on July 1 of this year.

Contestants must also be single, never married, not pregnant, nor had a child, nor living common-law, must be a Canadian citizen and eligible to acquire a Canadian passport and must not have a criminal record and consent to a security check. They also must be a resident of the Medicine Hat area with an exception for those raised in the area but away for the past year due to educational, health or job reasons.

Contestants also need to be committed to the duties and responsibilities should they win. Events range from rodeos, parades and community appearances to visiting seniors’ homes and schools.

“There’s over 75 events that they attend throughout the year so they’re pretty busy,” says Siedlecki.

More information on the Rodeo Royalty competition is available on the Stampede’s website.