* Deadline to enter to become Rodeo Queen is Friday, Feb. 8 *
Cave Creek Rodeo Days organizers are seeking contestants for its Feb. 16 Queen Contest, including Rodeo Queen and Teen Queen. Applications to participate in the Royalty contest must be submitted no later than Fri., Feb. 8. In addition, the royalty program is expanding to include young princesses who will be prepared to compete for Queen and Teen Queen titles.
“My favorite part of being Rodeo Queen is being in the arena and feeling the electricity of the crowd,” says 2018 Cave Creek Rodeo Days Queen Megan Alsever. “It’s a life-changing experience and an absolute blast.”
Contestants are judged on their horsemanship, personality and appearance. In addition,contestants must be able to communicate a strong understanding of the sport of rodeo.
Young women ages 18-23 are invited to compete for Rodeo Queen, with teens ages 13-17 competing for the Teen Queen title.
Cave Creek sisters Megan and Lilly Alsever won the titles of Rodeo Queen and Teen Queen at the 2018 Cave Creek Rodeo Days.
“It’s amazing to be queen with my sister,” says Megan. “Besides making it easier to plan traveling and events, we always have a support system with us.”
Megan, a Cactus Shadows High School senior, rides a 23-year-old AQHA gelding named Buckeye to compete in rodeo events. She works part time as a hostess at Harold’s Corral and plans to double major in business and environmental engineering in college.
Her younger sister Lilly is a Cactus Shadows High School freshman. Lilly enjoys competing in barrel racing, jumping and sorting events. She has won championships at the regional level on her Arabian Country horse. In addition to her passion for horses, Lilly enjoys working with special needs children both in and out of school. She aspires to one day become Miss Rodeo America.
The winner of the 2019 Rodeo Queen competition will receive an Educational Scholarship Award, Cave Creek Rodeo Days belt buckle and other prizes. The Teen Queen winner will receive a Cave Creek Rodeo Days belt buckle and other prizes.
Winners of both the Queen and the Teen Queen titles will travel the Turquoise Circuit representing Cave Creek Rodeo Days at events throughout the southwest in 2019.
Girls ages 6-12 are encouraged to participate in the Princess Program. Princesses learn how to be good role models, spokeswomen and friends while promoting the sport of rodeo and the western way of life. The next entry deadline to apply for the Princess Program is March 1, but princesses are accepted into the program year-round.
Applications for Rodeo Queen and Teen Queen can be found at CaveCreekRodeo.com/royalty-information and they must be submitted to queens@cavecreekrodeo.com no later than Fri., Feb. 8.
Cave Creek Rodeo Days is set for Friday, Saturday and Sunday, March 22, 23 & 24 in Cave Creek. Now in its 42nd year, with Sanderson Ford as the 2019 title sponsor, the event will take place at Cave Creek Memorial Arena with three thrilling PRCA rodeo performances featuring top-ranking Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association (PRCA) and Women’s Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA) contestants.
This year’s event kicks off on Saturday, March 16 starting at 9 a.m. with the festive Cave Creek Rodeo Days parade through town. On Monday, March 18, the Cave Creek Rodeo Days Golf Tournament will take place at Tatum Ranch in Cave Creek.
Rodeo tickets purchased in advance cost $22; tickets at the gate are $25; Premium seating is also available. To purchase tickets, go to Cavecreekrodeo.com and click the ticket button. For more details, call (480) 304-5634 or email info@cavecreekrodeo.com.
