Grant County rodeo royalty prepare to ride

Published 2:54 pm Tuesday, September 6, 2016

Grant County Fair and Rodeo Queen Jessica Carter and Princess Trinity Hutchison will welcome the crowd at Friday and Saturday’s Northwest Professional Rodeo Association Rodeo at the Grant County Fairgrounds in John Day.

Carter said she considers herself blessed to be a part of Grant County.

“I really appreciate the culture and the heritage of it,” she said. “I also appreciate rodeo, because it reflects my own life, somewhat, so I want to represent Grant County throughout all of Oregon and my own lifestyle of ranching.”

Carter is the daughter of Mat and Jennifer Carter of Seneca, and she is a senior at Grant Union Junior-Senior High School.

At the Aug. 10-13 Grant County Fair, Carter was awarded champion senior showman for steer and the grand champion market steer. She also won champion senior livestock judge and won reserve champion for a 4-H educational display.

At school, Carter is vice president of Grant Union’s FFA chapter and is treasurer of FFA’s Strawberry Mountain District.

She learned her horsemanship skills working on her family’s ranch, involved in branding, fencing, haying and other jobs.

Carter and Hutchison will stay busy this year and next visiting rodeos and parades in other counties.

“When I go to other rodeos, I’ll promote the Grant County Fair and Rodeo and try to bring more people into our community and help it expand more,” Carter said.

Hutchison will also have the role of promoting the local fair and rodeo.

She is the daughter of Wade and Simmie Waddel of John Day, and she is a sophomore at Grant Union Junior-Senior High School.

She said being a part of the Grant County Fair and Rodeo court is something she’s aspired to since she was younger.

“It’s something I wanted to do to improve and make the program larger,” she said. “I want to be a role model and have younger girls look up to me and try this when they get older. It improves your public speaking and teaches you many lessons that you can carry on for the rest of your life.”

Hutchison was 4-H grand champion for sewing and won the fashion review, modeling the navy blue romper she won in the sewing division. She also won a 4-H blue ribbon, showing a pig.

Hutchison has been heavily involved in youth rodeo events, the Cinnabar Mountain Playdays and the Cowkids Rodeo, competing since age 2.

She won her division in goat tying and dummy roping, and placed third in barrels at the Aug. 14 Cowkids Rodeo, and she placed third for the senior division at the Aug. 20-21 Cinnabar Mountain Playdays rodeo.

When she’s not doing rodeo or helping on the family farm, Hutchison also participates in sports, including volleyball and track.

Hutchison said she and Carter will hold fundraisers this year to help with their travel and wardrobe expenses.

The pair recently met with Pendleton Round Up’s 2013 Queen Brittany Doherty who taught them arena safety, how to ride in at the opening of the NPRA Rodeo and various ways to promote the fair and rodeo.

“I might try for Miss NPRA and then from there the Pendleton Round Up court,” Hutchison said.

6 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Sept. 9 and 10

Admission is $8 each day; children under 5 and adults over 65 have free admission.

Rodeo Slack starts at 8 a.m. Saturday and is free.

Lindsey Wyllie of John Day will announce at the rodeo.

“It is the last weekend of the regular season,” he said. “It decides who goes on to the finals and who is out.”

He added younger competitors will go up against seasoned cowboys.

“It’s going to be electric,” Wyllie said. “Come out and root on your favorites.”