Sean C. Morgan
Four girls are competing to become the 2004 rodeo queen.
They include 2003 Duchess Teri Rush of Lebanon, Amanda Hilburn of Sweet Home, Courtney Walker of Sweet Home and Megan McDougal of Lebanon.
All four will represent the rodeo in the Christmas parade and other events leading up to a spring coronation.
The “royal court” met with the rodeo board on Tuesday last week and demonstrated its horsemanship skills on Nov. 1.
Teri Rush
Teri Rush, 17, the daughter of Deb Caudill and Rod Rush, is a senior at Lebanon High School.
She is enrolled in advanced placement classes including chemistry and calculus and is an honor student.
She plans to attend college next year where she will take classes involving pediatrics and nursing then pursue a career in the medical field.
Her parents bought her a horse when she was six years old, she said. “As soon as I sat upon my first horse, I knew that it was going to be a true passion I would forever love.”
She spent years trail riding and working cattle at her grandparents’ farm then joined 4-H, riding in both 4-H and open shows. She learned her real desire was gaming, “a completely different event from anything I had ever done.”
Riding her mother’s horse, Sugar, with the help of her coaches, she got better at gaming on the equestrian team at her high school.
She remains a member of the equestrian team and the Silver Bits and Spurs 4-H club. She also competes in gaming events.
“I have always enjoyed watching rodeo queens ever since I was a little girl, and now that I am able to compete for one of these titles, I hope to accomplish another one of my life’s goals,” Rush said.
Megan McDougal
Megan McDougal, 18, the daughter of Cindy McDougal, is a student at Linn-Benton Community College.
She was a member of the Lebanon Explosion Dance Team, 4-H and the high school equestrian team. She was on the high school honor roll.
She plans to become an elementary teacher in five years while accomplishing her goal of promoting the sport of rodeo.
“My parents got me my own pony when I took my first steps,” McDougal said. “I have had a passion for horses unlike anything else. I have had and been around horses my whole life.”
She and her mother raised and showed “minis.”
“I wanted my own mini-horse, so I promised my mom that I would do the dishes for a whole year to get a baby,” McDougal said. “I took him (Gambler) all the way to nationals in West Virginia and took seventh in the nation. I still own him today, but I no longer show him for I am focused on becoming a rodeo queen.
“I have had a lifelong dream of becoming rodeo queen, to follow in my mother’s footsteps, to be someone that little girls can look up to as they ride by, just like I was as a little girl.”
Amanda Hilburn
Amanda Hilburn, 16, the daughter of Billie Bjornsen, is a junior at Sweet Home High School.
She plans to attend college after high school. She has been on honor roll since the eighth grade and was student of the month her sophomore year.
She is active in 4-H and the equestrian team. She plans to qualify for state competition in the figure eight event. In 4-H, she qualified for state in the flag race.
“I had loads of fun going with my county,” Hilburn said. “I got a chance to meet and talk with the really exceptional gamers and state, and I learned some techniques from them.”
After high school and college, Hilburn wants to be a first- and second-grade teacher.
“I have wanted to become a rodeo queen for a long time,” Hilburn said. “I have ever since I was a little girl. My younger sister and I would run around and play with my mom’s tiara. We would pretend we were rodeo princesses.”
She lost interest in horses in the sixth grade. In the eighth grade, she watched her sister in 4-H from the sidelines.
“I found my heart and passion for horses again,” Hilburn said. “I started to ride and have become what I am now. I’ve learned a lot in two years. Many people say I have improved a lot, and I finally realized that I have. The reason I wanted to improve so much on my riding skills was because I wanted to become a rodeo queen. I’m putting my knowledge to the test now, and I plan to learn plenty more than I do now.”
Courtney Walker
Courtney Walker, 18, the daughter of Greg and Eva Deggelman, is a senior at Sweet Home High School.
She volunteers during the summer with the Lebanon Animal Clinic. She participated in 4-H and has been on honor roll throughout high school. She is on the varsity cheerleading squad and plays softball and volleyball.
She plans to enroll at Linn-Benton Community College next fall to become certified in the Veterinary Technology Program.
“I have always loved horses,” Walker said. “I can remember going to my grandparents and watching the horses graze all day long. My Aunt Denise would take me out to the horses and let me ride her horse, Chance. I was two years old the first time I sat on h is back.…
“Many of you know that Chance is who I am riding today. I am going to have my very first friend with me to enjoy the experience I am about have becoming a princess for the 2004 Calapooia Rodeo Court. Together Chance and I hope to be queened this spring.”