Ellensburg Rodeo Hall of Fame 2011

This year I was honored, along with 300+ other past Ellensburg Rodeo Queen's and Princesses to be inducted into the Ellensburg Rodeo Hall of Fame on September 1, 2011.  It was especially touching because I was inducted along with my mom, Mary McManamy Seubert, who was Queen in 1960.  We are only 1 of 5 mother daughter royalty and 1 of 2 that were both Queens. 


Lynn Sullivan, Rochelle Bierek and me



The night of the banquet was a lot of fun, and I had the pleasure of seeing Rochelle Bierek, who was on the 1987 court with me.  I didn't know Rochelle until the Court Selection Banquet but we became fast friends and stayed in touch ever since.  I feel really lucky to have a friend like her, even though we don't see each other much, we have that lasting bond from our year on the royal court. 

I was also lucky to have my good friend, who I have reconnected with over the past two years, Lynn Goodrich Sullivan and her husband Eamon sit at our family table.  She designs jewelry and I was very proud to wear her designs the entire weekend.  If you have a chance check out her website: http://www.cowgirldivaz.com/ and you have to know it's not just for cowgirls.  I wear her earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and rings out on the town in DC and even to school to pick up Piper. 

Brad is such a good sport about these events.  He loves the rodeo but the banquet can sometimes drag on.  Piper is lucky, she could fall asleep.  First she was in my arms but at some point we realized I would have to stand up and do my 'Queen' wave.  (Elbow Elbow Wrist Wrist Wrist, you bet there is skill involved).  I had to transfer her to Brad, but as you can see Brad was wishing he could curl up like Piper and sleep too.  I think the emcee could do a little less chatting and a lot more 'here to present our next inductee is ...' and let that person do an introduction.  I don't think I'm the only one who feels this way either.

Finally it was time to individually introduce the royal court that was in attendance, and there were 75 or so of us there.  We were introduce by decades, which was kind of cool.  The first Miss Rodeo Washington was an Ellensburg Rodeo Queen, from the 1950's.  The picture shows just a snapshot of us all up on the stage.  After the banquet all of us that were gathered took our sarape's and got organized for a group picture.  It was pretty neat and I enjoyed getting to meet other women that have been on the court.  Linda Anderson Dozier (1959 Queen) gave a wonderful speech about the year in the life as a member of the Ellensburg Rodeo Royal Court.  Even though her year was 1959 and mine was 1987 it was very similar. Except for the 10 day etiquette class they did prior to Seafair.  Ha, I would have gone a little crazy with beauty queens that knew nothing about a horse, nor had any desire to be in a dusty arena with cowboys. 

As I thought back on my year as the Ellensburg Rodeo Queen in 1987, representing my hometown and one of the top 10 rodeo's in the nation, I felt really happy and proud.  I was happy to have been given that opportunity by the Ellensburg Rodeo Board, and proud that I was part of a group of women that are all so accomplished and remain like me an ambassador of the Ellensburg Rodeo.  What a great night for all of us.

But, the weekend was just getting started, the banquet kicks off the entire Labor Day festivities on Thursday night.  By Saturday morning I was back in my directors chair, on the sidewalk of University Way across from Central Washington University broadcasting the rodeo parade.  I am proud to say it was my 22nd year and it's been a great partnership for me with the rodeo and especially with ECTV Channel 2 and all the people that work there.  Look who I got to announce as they went by...the newly enshrined Past Ellensburg Rodeo Royalty!



Liz Shenyer (2010 Queen) Obie O'brien with Piper and me

 At the end of the parade every year I have brought Piper on air to say hi.  This year she was pretty cute, and by pretty cute I mean she actually said something.  (She also chose not to slap a democratic blue sticker on her forehead, which was nice.  If you can find the parade online reference 2008 I think).  However, once she said something she was ready to get off my lap ~not an option when you are live.  Thus this picture.