The Cleveland Livestock Show Rodeo Queen Contest is set to take place on March 22 at the Bar J Arena, owned by Jimmy and Susan Rollins of Tarkington. This prestigious event will test contestants in interviews, a written exam, and horsemanship as they vie for the title of 2025 Cleveland Livestock Show Rodeo Queen.
The crowning of the new Rodeo Queen will take place on Saturday, March 29, during the Cleveland Livestock Show and Rodeo, which will be held on March 28-29 at 7:30 p.m. each night. Sarah Bush, the reigning Miss Cleveland Livestock Show Rodeo, will pass down the crown to the new queen during the festivities.
This year, four outstanding young ladies are competing for the crown:
- Lily Bly – 17-year-old daughter of Kyle and Kelly Botruff, attending Frederick Douglass Learning Academy. A fun fact about Lily is that she can ride a horse while standing up.
- April Vazquez-Ruiz – 17-year-old daughter of Francisco Vazquez and Cassandra Ruiz, attending Magnolia High School. April has been riding horses since she was just 2 years old.
- Kadie Ponders – 18-year-old daughter of Daniel and Willa Ponders, attending Coldspring-Oakhurst High School. Kadie is a talented portrait painter.
- Kaylee Goolsby – 15-year-old daughter of Larry Goolsby and Candy McMasters, attending Christian Life Center Academy in Kingwood. Kaylee has an entrepreneurial spirit—she owns her own business, “Kaylee’s Snack Shack.”
These young ladies will showcase their horsemanship, poise, and knowledge of rodeo traditions as they compete for the coveted title. The new Rodeo Queen will serve as an ambassador for the Cleveland Livestock Show and Rodeo, representing the event throughout the year.