April Vazquez-Ruiz, a 17-year-old student at Magnolia High School, was crowned Miss Cleveland Livestock Show and Rodeo during the annual rodeo festivities held Saturday, March 29, at the Stancil Exposition Center. The daughter of Francisco Vazquez and Cassandra Ruiz, April has been riding horses since she was just 2 years old.
Vazquez-Ruiz also was recognized for her strong showing in several key categories, earning top honors in Photogenic, Horsemanship, Interview, and the People’s Choice Award.
The Rodeo Queen contest featured four contestants.
Kaylee Goolsby, a 15-year-old student at Christian Life Center Academy in Kingwood, was named First Runner-Up. Kaylee, the daughter of Larry Goolsby and Candy McMasters, was also awarded the top scores in the Written Test and Top Sales categories. A young entrepreneur, Kaylee owns and operates her own business, “Kaylee’s Snack Shack.”
Kadie Pounders, 18, attends Coldspring-Oakhurst High School and is the daughter of Daniel and Willa Pounders. She was voted Miss Congeniality by her fellow contestants and received the “Tough Enough to Wear Pink.”
Lily Bly, 17, is the daughter of Kyle and Kelly Botruff and a student at Frederick Douglass Learning Academy. She impressed judges and audience members alike with her speech, taking home the top award in that category. A fun fact about Lily—she can ride a horse while standing up.
Sarah Bush, the outgoing Miss Cleveland Livestock Show and Rodeo, passed along the title and helped crown her successor during Saturday’s event. The Rodeo Queen contest is chaired by Chelene Barrett.
