Rodeo Queens

They're tough and beautiful - meet this year's SandHills Miss Rodeo Queen, Teen Queen and Rodeo Princess.

Miss Rodeo SandHills is a 20-year-old Odessa College student Kira Knaupp from Fredericksburg.  Queen Rodeo SandHills Teen is 18-year-old Rachel Odem from Victoria attending Hill College in Hillsboro.

Last but not least is SandHills Rodeo Princess Kelsey Hickok, 13, of Crawford.

It's a beauty pageant with a horsemanship twist - this year's SandHills Rodeo Queens were judged on personality, current events, appearance and speech.

"No bathing suits for us," Odem said.

Instead, contestants showed off their skills on horseback.

The girls came from all over Texas to compete.

Cruising down Interstate 10 toward Odessa with horse and trailer, Odem had a blow out. The blue-eyed, blond beauty queen changed the tire by herself without a problem, but she didn't come out completely clean - she broke a nail, she said.

All three girls said they entered the pageant to make an impression on the little ones and keep the western heritage alive.

And the queen doesn't just sit on a horse and look pretty - she serves as a spokesperson for the rodeo and stock show by learning every detail.

For Kelsey, it's also a family tradition. Her mother, Lana Grubb Hickok, was the SandHills rodeo queen 19 years ago. And Kelsey's great-grandfather won the first SandHills Lamb Show, Lana Hickok said.

"It's cool to have the whole family into one thing," Kelsey said. She said she was proud to have four generations involved.

Knaupp said the rodeo is family-oriented. It's passed down through the family, and she said it requires families spending time together to sharpen skills and travel.

"We haul together," Odem said, which means the whole family loads up the trailer and heads to the next rodeo.

Knaupp said she will walk away with experience, hard work and new memories.

"It's been hard work to make it here," she said. "It was a new experience."

SOME SANDHILLS RODEO QUEEN STIPULATIONS

>> Must be a resident of Texas for at least six months.

>> The contestant will be judged for one run on her own horse and one on a drawn horse. Horsemanship also includes an interview on the subject.

>> The queens were judged on knowledge of current events, Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) Rodeo, rodeo standings and questions about personal goals.

What are qualities you think should be emphasized most in pageant winners?

>> Good looks.

>> Personality.

>> Intelligence.

>> Athletic abilities.

>> Current Events.

>> Hobbies.

>> Bathing suit contest.