Five
young ladies will travel to Salinas in July with the hope of taking home the
title of Miss California Rodeo Salinas 2015. The competition will start on
Wednesday, July 15th and the winner will be named during the opening
performance of the 105th California Rodeo Salinas on Thursday, July
16th at 6pm. She will represent the California Rodeo Salinas for an
entire year, traveling to parades, rodeos and other events. The contestants are
Michelle Hewitt-Miss Reins in Motion, Katherine Hillen-Miss Springville Sierra
Rodeo, Taylor Howell-Miss Cuesta Rodeo, Danielle Ray-Miss Valley Volunteer
Firefighters and Annie Tobias-Miss San Benito Rodeo.
The
contest consists of horsemanship, personality, appearance and scholastic
categories. The winner of the contest will receive the title of Miss California
Rodeo Salinas 2015 along with a $2,500 cash scholarship, a gold and silver
trophy belt buckle, a gold and silver tiara, the use of a two-horse trailer for
one year and many other lovely gifts. The contest is sponsored by Laurel Inn
Motel & Conference Center.
On
Thursday, July 16th, Miss California Rodeo Salinas 2014, Jynel
Gularte, and current Rodeo President, Daryl Whitcher, will present the new Miss
California Rodeo Salinas 2015 with her title on the track after the Grand Entry
just before the Rodeo begins at 6pm.
2015
Contestant Biographies:
Michelle Hewitt – Miss Reins in Motion
Thankful for the love and support of her
family Michelle Hewitt views her education as a major priority. The
daughter of Darrel and Beth Hewitt of Tracy is currently a freshman at San
Joaquin Delta College while also completing high school as an honor
student. Michelle aspires to one day
become a large animal veterinarian in addition to being a therapeutic riding
instructor. For now she enjoys her time as a volunteer at Reins in Motion, a
therapeutic riding center for disabled children.
Actively involved in 4-H, Michelle is
raising both swine and beef projects for her county’s fair. She is also
dedicated to her church’s AWANA Club and this year will be awarded the Citation
Award. This highest honor from AWANA is in recognition for her completion of an
intense program course which spanned from first through twelfth grade.
Selected
to run sponsor flags multiple years at the Livermore Pro and Junior rodeos she
loves the focus and adrenaline of training and riding. Michelle’s devotion to rodeo as a way of life
and an American tradition has prompted her to enter the contest to become Miss
California Rodeo.
Katherine Hillen – Miss Springville Sierra
Rodeo
A recent graduate
of Summit Charter Collegiate Academy, Katherine Hillen currently resides
in California’s Central Valley town of Porterville. In the fall the daughter of Brent W. and
Jacquelyn Hillen will begin her college education at Point Loma Nazarene
University as a part of their Pre-Med program. Once completing her undergraduate
studies she plans to attend medical school with the ultimate goal of becoming a
cardiologist and returning home to open her own practice in the Central Valley.
As the President of
the Prairie Center 4-H Club and member of the Porterville Junior Fair Board,
Katherine enjoys traveling and meeting new people. She also finds time to
barrel race, golf and skeet shoot competitively. Once settled into her career
as a cardiologist she is also looking forward to raising her own beef cattle.
Katherine passionately
promotes her favorite sport, rodeo. She recognizes the need to secure the
future of rodeo by instilling the knowledge of rodeo to younger generations and
encouraging them to be involved. She enters the contest with the hopes of
becoming an ambassador for the sport of rodeo and the California Rodeo.
Taylor Howell – Miss Cuesta Rodeo
The historic mining
town of Sonora is home to Taylor Howell.
The daughter of Gary and Krista Howell has just completed her second
year at Cuesta Community College majoring in Agribusiness with a minor in
Accounting. She plans to transfer to Cal
Poly San Luis Obispo in the next year and continue her education towards
becoming a CPA. Taylor also hopes to make a career as a successful reined cow
horse trainer.
Her love of Quarter
Horses is due to their versatility as she has ridden in several disciplines
throughout her life. As the current President of the Cuesta Rodeo Team, she
most recently added breakaway roping to her list of events. Outside of the arena Taylor competed in
several varsity level teams in high school, as well as ski racing events in the
Far West Ski Racing Circuit.
Taylor treasures
the friends and memories she has made through years of competition in the NCHA
and barrel racing. With the possibility of representing 105 years of tradition
and the American Cowboy that the Salinas Rodeo embodies, Taylor is excited to
compete for the title of Miss California Rodeo.
Danielle Ray – Miss Valley Volunteer
Firefighters
From the Salinas
Valley town of Soledad, Danielle Ray is the daughter of Louie and
Jennifer Ray. A graduate of Lighthouse Christian Academy, Danielle found her
passion for flying at the age of 13. Since then she has logged many hours of
flight time to receive her private pilot certification. The sky is the limit
for Danielle’s flight career as she has plans to continue working towards
receiving additional ratings for flying and furthering her education in
aviation at Le Tourneau University or Embry Riddle.
With experience as
an explorer for the Monterey County Regional Fire program and additional fire
academy training Danielle has learned many aspects of firefighting and search
and rescue. Through these programs she has spent a large amount of time
volunteering within her community. Ultimately Danielle would like to combine
her passion for flying and experience with firefighting by flying for Cal Fire.
While growing up on
a ranch with her family Danielle has spent a considerable amount of time
training and working with horses. She is looking forward to another year of the
California Rodeo and would be honored to represent the Rodeo as Miss California
Rodeo.
Annie Tobias – Miss San Benito Rodeo
A native of rural
San Benito County Annie Tobias is the daughter of Charlie and Lisa Tobias.
Currently completing her second year at the University of California, San Diego
she is majoring in Management Science with a minor in Business. Upon the
completion of her college degree she will pursue a career in product marketing
or brand management.
Through nine years
of participation in 4-H Annie has shown numerous animals at the county fair and
was awarded the highest honor of the program by being named California State
Ambassador. She attributes 4-H for helping her to learn skills in public speaking
and leadership. Now in college she is a member of the Kappa Alpha Theta
Fraternity and has served as President of the Junior Pan-Hellenic council.
A part of the San
Benito Saddle Horse Show and Rodeo since she was a young girl Annie loves the
combination of traditional rodeo events with San Benito’s unique ranch style
competitions like Figure 8 Roping. She has been honored to be a part of the
history of the Saddle Horse Show Association and is proud to represent
tradition in the Miss California Rodeo contest.
About
the California Rodeo Salinas
The
California Rodeo Salinas will take place July 16-19, 2015. The California Rodeo
Association is a not-for-profit organization that strives to preserve and
promote the traditions of the California Rodeo Salinas and the West. We support
the community and other non-profit organizations through the staging of the
annual California Rodeo Salinas and other year round operations of the Salinas
Sports Complex. Through donation of our facility, vending and fundraising
opportunities during Rodeo and other events, the California Rodeo Association
returns between $200,000 and $300,000 annually to local non-profits. For more
information about the California Rodeo Salinas, log on to www.CARodeo.com or
call the California Rodeo -Office at 831-775.3100. 'Like' the
California Rodeo on Facebook at -www.facebook.com/CARodeoSalinas or
follow us on twitter @CaliforniaRodeo for updates, photos and more.