Howdy
fellow rodeo lovers! My name is Kailee Morton, and it is such an honor
to be named Miss Evergreen Rodeo for the year 2011! I am currently a
senior at Pomona High School in Arvada, CO, and looking forward to attending
Regis University on a signed volleyball/academic scholarship to study
pharmacy.
I
have grown up riding horses since I was a little girl. What sparked
my passion for horses was my grandfather. He has always owned horses
in Michigan and some of the earliest memories I have are of riding his
horses around the pond on his property and so, I fell in love. Over
the years I have found many ways to be involved with horses from horseback
trips in Wyoming to vacation dude ranches with my grandfather. I worked
at a local boarding facility caring for horses and I was a member of
Westernaires. Aside from love for horses, my other passion is volleyball.
I play competitively for a club in Denver, and am proud to say that
I will be playing on the collegiate level. My true, ultimate goal is
to own a ranch someday. Some of my other hobbies include: dirt biking
in the mountains, water skiing, tubing, wake boarding, fishing and hanging
out on the water.
I
am proud and blessed to be able to represent rodeo. Rodeo is a sport
with so much history and roots, a place where respect is gained and
given. As a girl who is thankful for her roots, I love the rodeo atmosphere
-- it is a place where communities come together to enjoy and support
something that started out so small as simple ranching tasks. The excitement
and action of rodeos emanate and preserve our western way of life. There
is something to be said about knowing your roots, and the Evergreen
Rodeo sure knows. With its first professional debut in 1947, it continues
as a stop on the PRCA circuit today. So we invite you to make the Evergreen
Rodeo a stop this summer on Father's Day Weekend, June 17-19. Come join
us for an action packed weekend full of ropin', wrestlin', buckin' broncs,
buckin' bulls, called a good old fashioned rodeo!
Kailee Morton
PRCA
Rodeo Queen
My
name is Crysten Ackley and I am honored to represent the Evergreen Rodeo
as your 2011 Rodeo Princess. I am 16 years old and proud to call myself
a Colorado Native. I moved to Evergreen when I was 2 years old. When
my grandparents bought the BobKat ranch, Julie Phillips became my horse
trainer and I began riding lessons on my first horse. I moved to Golden
in 2000 and currently attend Golden High School. During the summer months
I spend my time helping Julie train horses and teach kids at a summer
camp. I have been involved in the local 4-H club Horse Feathers for
the past six years and was recently the club president.
Aside from my involvement in 4-H, you can find me working cattle with
the Evergreen Ranch Sorters Association as well as competing in various
equine sports such as ranch versatility to horse shows. In 2009 I competed
at the National Western Stock Show to become national and state champion
in Team Sorting and Penning. In addition to my interest in horses and
rodeo, I am also an accomplished violinist. I began lessons and joined
the school orchestra when I was nine.
After I graduate I will attend North Eastern Junior College to begin
my profession in Equine Science and Management. Then finish with a Bachelor's
degree from Colorado State University. As the Evergreen Rodeo Princess
I am blessed with the opportunity to promote a positive way of life
to young cowgirls and cowboys. When I was a little girl I fell head
over heels for the sport of rodeo when I participated in Mutton Busting.
I am excited to share the toughest sport on dirt with others. So come
out to the Evergreen Rodeo and be a part of this amazing tradition!
Crysten Ackley
PRCA
Rodeo Princess
