There is a new queen in Liberty County. Ellie Brett, of Hardin, was crowned Miss Rodeo Trinity Valley Exposition on Saturday during rodeo events in Liberty.
To be selected as queen, Brett bested the competition in horsemanship, speech, modeling, impromptu questions, personal interview and ticket sales. Contestants also competed in a social media contest to determine which candidate is most photogenic. The first runner-up in the contest is Mary Dowdell.
A Miss Teen Rodeo Trinity Valley Exposition was also announced on Saturday. This contest is for girls ages 10-14. Blakelee Siros was picked as Miss Teen Rodeo TVE.
Both Brett and Siros will hold their titles until next October when new rodeo queens will be crowned. For winning the contest, each girl received a custom saddle, buckle, crown, sash and other prizes.
“The eighteen-year-old rodeo queen and her princess told me that rodeo people, including themselves, ‘hated Democrats, environmentalists, and gays.’ I was astonished that their political and social outlook could be reduced to such simple platitudes of hate. And why?” (–from “Rodeo Queens and the American Dream,” by Joan Burbick, Public Affairs, NYC, 2002)
Relatedly, see prize-winning documentary, “BUCKING TRADITION” – http://www.buckingtradition.com (also available on YouTube).