Rodeo Queen Contest Seeking Candidates
By Diane Booth Conway,
Merced County Fair Communications & Marketing Director

   If you excel in horsemanship, are good at public speaking, have a nice personality and good appearance and think you would be the ideal person to promote the sport of rodeo, the Merced Rodeo Committee wants you.
   The Merced Rodeo Committee is looking for young women to participate in the 2008 Merced County Fair Rodeo Queen contest. To be eligible, young women must be 14 to 22 years old as of July 1, 2008 and have never been married. The competition is open to residents of Merced, Madera, Mariposa and Stanislaus counties.
   Committee organizers stress this competition is not a beauty contest. Contestants will be judged on horsemanship, personality, public speaking, appearance and promotion of the sport of rodeo. The winner will receive prizes including a saddle, crown, custom sash and belt buckle.
   The application deadline is May 9. A contest orientation date will soon be announced. Those interested in applying for the queen contest should contact Amanda Jensen at (559) 665-3056 or mercedrodeo@yahoo.com
   The contest schedule includes an on stage performance, June 25, at the Merced County Fairgrounds, a horsemanship competition on July 13 at the Merced Horsemen’s Arena, participation in the annual Friends Helping Friends event at the fair on July 18 and the queen will be announced and crowned at the fair’s rodeo, July 19.
   Cinda Mattrocce, a Madera High School graduate, is the 2007 Merced County Fair Rodeo Queen. Cinda is the daughter of David and Nancy Mattrocce of Madera. She won the competition’s "On Stage Performance Award."
   The first runner-up is Michelle Tipton, a Reedley College student. She is the daughter of Geoff and Tammy Tipton of Raymond. Michelle won the "Personal Interview Award" and the "Sponsorship Award."
   The 2008 Merced County Fair is July 15-20. The fair theme is "Come Rock With The Flock," a celebration of sheep, one of the county's top agricultural products.
   For information, call the fair office at 722-1507 or email to Info@MercedCountyFair.com or fax at 722-3773. Visit the 2008 Merced County Fair’s award-winning website, www.MercedCountyFair.com

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