PENDLETON — Alex Featherstone of Pendleton will be the queen of the Pendleton Round-Up for 2012. Her princesses will be Kymee Braseth of La Grande, Brittany Doherty of Pilot Rock, Katie Harris of Pendleton and Jessica Hughes of Heppner. 

The court was announced at an annual breakfast today (Dec. 17) at the home of Heather and Doug Corey in Adams. The breakfast was also hosted by Steve and Susan Corey, Tom and Ellyn Weeks, Joan Corey, Kipp and Cydney Curtis, Michael and Jenny Corey and Tyson and Megan Furstenberg.

“Every year I am amazed at the caliber of the young women who donate a year of their lives to promote the Round-Up,” President Dennis Hunt said. “This group of ladies is outstanding and I know they will make us proud.”

Court director Heather Corey agreed.

“The poise these five young women possess is truly remarkable,” she said. “I am looking forward to a busy and rewarding year with not only these girls, but with their families as well.”

Corey also said it is obvious that being a queen or princess for the Pendleton Round-Up is still as important as it was when royalty first graced the rodeo.

“We had so many great applicants,” she said “It’s exciting to see the caliber of young women who are willing to put their personal plans aside to make Round-Up the center of their existence for a year.”

Alex Featherstone, 21, is the daughter of Barry and Maryl Featherstone of Pendleton. She was a princess in 2010. She graduated from Pendleton High School in 2008, where she was awarded the Lantern Cup and the Citizenship Cup.  She is now majoring in political science at Willamette University in Salem. At Willamette, she is a member of the Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society.

She has been a pennant bearer for Round-Up and has volunteered with Tough Enough to Wear Pink, the souvenir booth, and at the work party. She’s been riding for 10 years. Her grandmother, Betty Holt Graybeal, was a princess the first year the royalty jumped over the wooden fence. Her great uncle Walter Holt was a Round-Up director and her family members are long-time volunteers for the rodeo. She is the first in her family to be queen of the Round-Up.

Kymee Braseth, 21, is the daughter of Craig and Kay Braseth of La Grande. She graduated from Imbler High School in 2008 and is majoring in dental hygiene at Eastern Oregon University in La Grande.  In high school she was yearbook editor, played varsity basketball and was active in FFA, receiving her state and American degree.

Her parents have been Round-Up volunteers in Room 17 for the last three years. Braseth has been riding horses for more than 18 years. She served as the queen of the 2008 Eastern Oregon Livestock Show. Being with her parents during their volunteer work, she has met and been impressed by the young women on the court as well as the rodeo itself.

 Brittany Doherty, 20, is the daughter of Raymond and Teri Doherty of Pilot Rock. She graduated from Pilot Rock High School in 2009. While at PRHS, she played volleyball, basketball and softball, making all-league in all three sports. She was also a member of the National Honor Society. She is now majoring in early childhood development and education at Oregon State University in Corvallis where she is on the honor roll. She earned her associate’s transfer degree at Blue Mountain Community College in Pendleton.

She has served as a Round-Up pennant bearer and as a member of the Happy Canyon Quadrille. She’s been riding horses for 10 years. Doherty’s family has volunteered for Round-Up in many capacities including moving stock, helping in the arena and selling beer chips.  Her great grandfather also provided bucking stock for the rodeo.

Katie Harris, 20, is the daughter of Stuart and Deborah Harris of Pendleton. She graduated from Pendleton High School in 2009, where she earned high honors. She now attends Blue Mountain Community College in Pendleton and wants to complete her computer science and business studies at Oregon State University after she gets her transfer degree. At BMCC she’s been on the Dean’s List and honors list multiple times and has been named Native American Student of the Month.

Harris and her family are active volunteers in the Round-Up and have been since 1910. She has served as a pennant bearer, danced in the arena, and helped work the cattle before slack. She’s been riding horses for about seven years. Her great aunt, Virginia Wilkinson was queen of the Round-Up in 1948. Her family has also been involved in both Chief Joseph Days and the Reno Rodeo. Harris was a Happy Canyon princess in 2010.

Jessica Hughes, 19, is the daughter of Kevin and Angie Hughes of Heppner. She graduated in 2010 from Heppner High School and now attends Blue Mountain Community College in Pendleton where she’s majoring in elementary education. In high school she was all league in basketball and volleyball, and made the honor roll all four years. In college her name has appeared on both the President’s and the Dean’s lists.

Neither Hughes nor her family have a volunteer history with Round-Up. Her busy schedule in high school sports prevented them from being able to do so. She competed in high school rodeo for all four years of high school career. Attending the rodeo is one of her favorite family events, and she says she looks forward to watching the queen and princesses jump the fence each year in the grand entry. She’s been riding horses for 17 years.

The 2012 Round-Up court will be formally introduced to the Round-Up directors at a dinner in March. They will travel throughout the west promoting the rodeo at a variety of events and will reign over the 102nd Pendleton Round-Up the second full week of September.

Category: Features, People & Volunteers, Queen And Court

Category: Events, News & Updates, People & Volunteers, Queen And Court, Results

Mackenzie Beard, 20, of Pendleton is the queen of the 2011 Round-Up.  Mackenzie  is the daughter of Pat Beard of Helix and Leslie and Tom Lovell of Pendleton. She was a Round-Up princess in 2009 and graduated from Pendleton High School in 2008. She is the fourth generation of her family to be involved in Round-Up. Her great grandfather provided horses for the wild horse race and drove in the stage coach races. Her grandfather, Frank Beard, was the main stock contractor from 1990-2002 and her father has worked as a pickup man.

Beard has been a pennant bearer for Round-Up and has participated in the annual work party. She has 16 years of riding experience. At PHS she was a member of the Japanese exchange trip to Pendleton’s sister city, was selected to speak at graduation and was publicist for the Associated Student Body. She is currently attending Oregon State University in Corvallis where she is majoring in merchandising management.

Allison Frey, 19, is the daughter of A.J. Frey of Pendleton and Susan and Kevin Brown of Touchet, Wash.  Her father has volunteered for Round-Up on the feed crew. Her mother has volunteered selling programs and her stepfather is also a volunteer.

The princess has been a pennant bearer, sold programs and painted bleachers, ushered and cleaned seats. She’s been riding horses for 17 years. She graduated in 2009 from PHS where she was on the honor roll, was a varsity member of the equestrian team, played volleyball and won several other awards. She is a student at Blue Mountain Community College studying science for a transfer degree. She’s a member of the BMCC rodeo team.

Brittney Granger, 20, is the daughter of Kevin and Cindy Granger of Milton-Freewater. While her family has not volunteered for Round-Up they are active volunteers in their community. The princess has served as a princess and then 2009 queen of Pioneer Posse and was a princess for the 2010 Walla Walla Fair & Frontier Days.

She graduated in 2009 from McLoughlin High School. While at Mac-Hi, Granger was a varsity soccer and basketball player and was active in FFA, holding several offices. She hosted a Japanese exchange student for a year and served as a princess on the 2009 homecoming court. She has 14 years of riding experience. Currently, she is enrolled in the nursing program at Blue Mountain Community College.

Cory O’Neill, 18, is the daughter of Dave and Terri O’Neill of Pendleton. Her father has volunteered for Round-Up for several years and is currently the director in charge of livestock. She has been a pennant bearer, worked for the run-out crew in the arena during slack and been a shuttle driver for contestants and volunteers.

The princess has 16 years of riding experience. She graduated from PHS in 2010. While in high school she played soccer and participated in track and field.  She placed third in the 200 meter dash and fourth in the 100 meter dash at the state track competition. She was also a member of the National Honor Society and garnered several other awards for academics. She is now attending Eastern Oregon University on both athletic and academic scholarships majoring in biology in preparation for her studies to be a veterinarian.

Sarah Smith, 20, is the daughter of Troy and Joanne Smith of Pendleton. Her family has volunteered for Round-Up since 2008. The princess herself has been a pennant bearer, a Centennial flag bearer, worked at the Buckle Club Dinner, and worked in the ticket booth. In addition, she’s volunteered for Happy Canyon for four years, has modeled in the Round-Up fashion show, and taken part in the annual work party.

Smith has 13 years riding experience. She graduated in 2008 from PHS. While in high school, she was named to the honor roll and awarded the Citizenship Cup. As a member of Rhythmic Mode she was selected freshman dancer of the year. Her other activities included choir, tennis and Link Crew leader. She is currently a student at Oregon State University where she is studying exercise sports science.  She has received a Blue Mountain Community College Foundation scholarship and a Umatilla County Fair scholarship.

Photos courtesy of Studio 421

Category: Queen And Court

Mackenzie Beard, 20, of Pendleton is the queen of the 2011 Round-Up. Joining her will be princesses Allison Frey, Brittney Granger, Cory O’Neill and Sarah Smith. The court was introduced to the media this morning at a breakfast at the home of Steve and Susan Corey.

“I am so excited to begin my tenure as a Round-Up director with these five young women,” Court Director Heather Corey said. “Their poise and grace will ensure Round-Up will start its second century with excellent role models for the generations to come.”

Round-Up President Dennis Hunt agreed.

“The 2011 court is, once again, going to represent Round-Up and the entire community as we set the stage for this year’s event,” he said. “Our royalty is always looked upon as the benchmark for rodeo courts and these young women will continue to promote the Pendleton Round-Up with the same quality and class as previous court members have done.”

Mackenzie Beard is the daughter of Pat Beard of Helix and Leslie and Tom Lovell of Pendleton. She was a Round-Up princess in 2009 and graduated from Pendleton High School in 2008. She is the fourth generation of her family to be involved in Round-Up. Her great grandfather provided horses for the wild horse race and drove in the stage coach races. Her grandfather, Frank Beard, was the main stock contractor from 1990-2002 and her father has worked as a pickup man.

Beard has been a pennant bearer for Round-Up and has participated in the annual work party. She has 16 years of riding experience. At PHS she was a member of the Japanese exchange trip to Pendleton’s sister city, was selected to speak at graduation and was publicist for the Associated Student Body. She is currently attending Oregon State University in Corvallis where she is majoring in merchandising management.

Allison Frey, 19, is the daughter of A.J. Frey of Pendleton and Susan and Kevin Brown of Touchet, Wash.  Her father has volunteered for Round-Up on the feed crew. Her mother has volunteered selling programs and her stepfather is also a volunteer.

The princess has been a pennant bearer, sold programs and painted bleachers, ushered and cleaned seats. She’s been riding horses for 17 years. She graduated in 2009 from PHS where she was on the honor roll, was a varsity member of the equestrian team, played volleyball and won several other awards. She is a student at Blue Mountain Community College studying science for a transfer degree. She’s a member of the BMCC rodeo team.

Brittney Granger, 20, is the daughter of Kevin and Cindy Granger of Milton-Freewater. While her family has not volunteered for Round-Up they are active volunteers in their community. The princess has served as a princess and then 2009 queen of Pioneer Posse and was a princess for the 2010 Walla Walla Fair & Frontier Days.

She graduated in 2009 from McLoughlin High School. While at Mac-Hi, Granger was a varsity soccer and basketball player and was active in FFA, holding several offices. She hosted a Japanese exchange student for a year and served as a princess on the 2009 homecoming court. She has 14 years of riding experience. Currently, she is enrolled in the nursing program at Blue Mountain Community College.

Cory O’Neill, 18, is the daughter of Dave and Terri O’Neill of Pendleton. Her father has volunteered for Round-Up for several years and is currently the director in charge of livestock. She has been a pennant bearer, worked for the run-out crew in the arena during slack and been a shuttle driver for contestants and volunteers.

The princess has 16 years of riding experience. She graduated from PHS in 2010. While in high school she played soccer and participated in track and field.  She placed third in the 200 meter dash and fourth in the 100 meter dash at the state track competition. She was also a member of the National Honor Society and garnered several other awards for academics. She is now attending Eastern Oregon University on both athletic and academic scholarships majoring in biology in preparation for her studies to be a veterinarian.

Sarah Smith, 20, is the daughter of Troy and Joanne Smith of Pendleton. Her family has volunteered for Round-Up since 2008. The princess herself has been a pennant bearer, a Centennial flag bearer, worked at the Buckle Club Dinner, and worked in the ticket booth. In addition, she’s volunteered for Happy Canyon for four years, has modeled in the Round-Up fashion show, and taken part in the annual work party.

Smith has 13 years riding experience. She graduated in 2008 from PHS. While in high school, she was named to the honor roll and awarded the Citizenship Cup. As a member of Rhythmic Mode she was selected freshman dancer of the year. Her other activities included choir, tennis and Link Crew leader. She is currently a student at Oregon State University where she is studying exercise sports science.  She has received a Blue Mountain Community College Foundation scholarship and a Umatilla County Fair scholarship.

In addition to Steve and Susan Corey the breakfast was hosted by Doug and Heather Corey, Tom and Ellyn Weeks, Joan Corey, Cydney Corey, Michael and Jenny Corey and Tyson and Megan Furstenberg. The court will make their first public appearance at the annual Introduction Party in March 2011.

Category: Features, News & Updates, People & Volunteers, Queen And Court