Rodeo Queen has a mission and a message

Misty Carter, the 2007 Sisters Rodeo Queen, has a message. Every chance she gets she reminds women of the importance of having annual mammograms and is a tireless supporter of women's health issues.

Also serving as a role model to kids is an important priority for Carter. Whenever she visits their schools and sporting events, Carter challenges them to study hard and do their best in whatever they do. She brought that message to Sisters Elementary School last week.

At the beginning of all four rodeo performances last weekend, Carter, accompanied by other reigning area rodeo queens, followed rodeo tradition welcoming all in attendance during their grand entry ceremony.

After the welcoming ceremony, Carter helped push the calves out for the tie-down roping and the steers for the team roping and bull dogging competitions.

In her role as the 2007 Sisters Rodeo Queen, Carter will spend the year traveling to other rodeos promoting the Sisters Rodeo.

"I travel around and speak ... about when our rodeo is and encourage everyone to come out rodeo week," she said.

Carter, 21, is from Maupin, Oregon and graduated from South Wasco County High School in 2004. This fall she plans to enter Columbia Gorge Community College in The Dalles.

Since her graduation Carter has worked with her brother on their family's wheat and cattle ranch.

"My brother and I are the fourth generation on our ranch. We manage about 5,000 acres," she said. "Our plan is to eventually take it over and run it together."

Sisters fourth rodeo queen Georgia Edgington Gallagher, who reigned in 1944, also grew up on a ranch.

"I was working when I was riding. I didn't go out for a horseback ride. I went out to see where the cattle were," Gallagher said.

In the days that Gallagher reigned, Sisters queen was chosen quite differently than today.

"We sold tickets as part of the contest to be rodeo queen," Gallagher said. "And then we rode to show them whether we could ride or not."

Carter told The Nugget that she has wanted to be the Sisters Rodeo Queen for some time.

"This is actually my favorite rodeo. I called up John (Leavitt) at Leavitt's Western Wear and said, 'please can I try out ?' He said, 'OK.' ... I tried out, and I got it."

Carter vied with three other candidates for the crown. First, each candidate was interviewed by a panel of three judges. Next, the contenders spoke about themselves in front of rodeo association board members, their parents and other interested parties. Finally, each young woman guided her horse through a horsemanship pattern that included a loping figure eight and a flying lead change.

When Gallagher was queen, the rodeo grounds were located on Pine Street where Hoyt's Hardware is today. At that time a race track encircled the rodeo grounds, and Gallagher remembers competing as queen in the women's race.

"My horse kind of cut across the corner at the end, and so I didn't win," she said wryly.