Fair Royalty

A Royal Welcome

2008 Elbert County Fair Queen

Tori Slater

Hey everybody!

My name is Tori Slater, I am your 2007 – 2008 Elbert County Fair Queen. I am 15 years old and will be a freshman at Kiowa high school this fall. During the school year, I participate in volleyball, basketball, and track. In my spare time I also participate in Little Britches Youth Association and hit as many barrel races as I can, I am a very busy girl.

First, I would like to first thank all of my friends and family for their continued support through this hectic year. Thanks moms for hauling me to every royalty function and barrel race I could find. To my step-dad, thank you for putting up with my horse crazy self. I would also like to send a special thank you to my dad, step-mom, and grandparents for all the money and hours they have spent traveling to every event they could. To P.J. Trostel, I am so glad you took on the responsibility of royalty coordinator, without your commitment and dedication I couldn’t have had such a fun year.

One of the biggest thanks goes to Susan and Rebecca Sewald, Becky is the 2007 – 2008 Elbert County Princesses, and Susan is her mom. The four of us have spent many hours together, I couldn’t have asked for a better princess. Becky is the sweetest girl, and it’s obvious that she cares about each and everyone she meets. Susan, she has helped so much, I would like to tell her thanks for all her help, pictures, and encouragement. I think of her as a second mom, she never stops amazing me. The two of them are the best people anyone could have the privilege of knowing.

We have attended so many functions this year as well as adopting a therapeutic center called Boots and Saddles’, we felt that it was important to give back to the community that we love. Some of the events we attended this year are, the National Western Stock Show, the Children’s Hospital fun day, the Horse Expo, and the Wiz Kids event at the coliseum.

I have had so much fun being the Elbert County Queen; I have loved meeting so many people and really enjoyed talking to all of the little kids who seemed to be so fascinated when we are wearing our crowns and sashes.
Last but not least, I would like to thank all of our sponsors for their support this year; we couldn’t have done all of the things we did without each and every one of you.
I have had the most exciting year as the fair queen and enjoyed representing the best county in Colorado.

See you at the Fair!
Tori Slater
2008 Elbert County Fair Queen

2008 Elbert County Fair Princess

Rebecca Sewald

Howdy Ya’ll!

My name is Rebecca Sewald and I am the 2008 Elbert County Fair and Rodeo Princess. I am from Kiowa, Colorado and I live with my Mom and Dad - Susan and Bill, my 17 year old Brother, Dan and my twin Brother, Jacob - my dog Jess and Lola, Skeeter, and Puddles my kitties. I am 12 years old and this is my 5th year in 4-H. I am in the 6th grade, and an Honor Roll student at Kiowa Middle School. I love to play sports and will play basketball, volleyball, and run track at my school. This year in 4-H I will be participating in the horse project, beef project, Decorate Your Duds, and of course in my Princess duties. I also participate in the Little Britches Youth Association rodeos with my horse Minnie. A year ago last December, on my 11th birthday, I got my first horse named Parker. Four months later, in April of 2007, he had a tragic accident and ran into a fence and died. I was heartbroken and I thought I would have to give up on running for Princess. Then a good friend of ours, Kirby Carpenter stepped in and let me borrow her horse Minnie. It was love at first sight! I love Minnie so much and can do many things on that 16 year old energetic mare! She loves to Barrel Race, Pole Bend, and I can even participate in the Horse Shows with her.

Being the Elbert County Fair Princess is a very big responsibility and a whole lot of fun! You get to participate in so many things, from Stick Horse Rodeos to Parades and real Rodeos, and you get to meet so many great people. I have been proud to represent such a great county and hope that I have done a good job. I have enjoyed meeting Royalty from all over the country. We spent three days as Royalty volunteers at the National Western Stock Show and that was a lot of fun. Now I know what goes on behind the scenes at the Stock Show. Priscilla Schnell and Debbie Mills were great at letting us know about events we could attend, from Stock Show, the Girl Scout Day at Washington Park and the Whiz Kids Celebration at National Western, to the Elizabeth Stampede. At State Fair I got to meet Miss Rodeo Colorado and Miss Rodeo America. They were very nice. And at all of the rodeos and events we have traveled to we were always surrounded by friendly and helpful people.

Running for Princess wasn’t all just a thing I did by myself. I had so much help from my friends and family. First off my coordinator PJ Trostel, nothing was possible without PJ. She set up the Royalty Competition and she organized everything that my Queen, Tori Slater and I needed in order to become Royalty of our wonderful county. Next, my Mom, she is the one who brings me to all my events and helps me get ready in the morning, plus she is our wonderful photographer who takes our pictures like the ones in the fair book and on our fair website. My Queen’s Mom Joni Brandsted, who keeps me going throughout the day with her smile and laughs, she is great fun to be around. All of our sponsors who have been so generous to us, and I would like to thank our Fair Board members and Extension Office. They are always there to support us as we represent Elbert County throughout the State of Colorado. Of course I have to thank my Queen, Tori. She is so much fun to be around and we have become great friends. Thanks for all your help! I’m so glad we were in this together.

I hope to see you all at the Fair. I will miss doing all of the things we have been a part of this year, but I will remember it the rest of my life.

Your 2008 Elbert County Fair Princess,
Rebecca Sewald