Four contestants on quest for Miss Clearwater Rodeo crown

Four contestants will compete for the Miss Clearwater Rodeo title, this Friday, at the 54th annual Clearwater Rodeo.

Queen contest chairman Devon Baum said contestants will be judged in multiple events, including horsemanship, congeniality and appearance categories.

Josey Booth, Neligh, Morgan Erhardt, Clearwater, Amanda Sellin, Norfolk and Jordyn Stempek, Duncan, will begin competition Friday afternoon.

The 2021 Miss Clearwater Rodeo will be announced that evening, at 7:30 p.m., in Gene Snodgrass Arena, located along U.S. Highway 275.

JOSEY BOOTH

Booth, 17, is the daughter of Matt and Tracy Booth. She said she has participated in horse events "my entire life," including poles and barrels for 4-H, Mid-States Rodeo events and jackpots.

"A few years ago I also started a colt of my own and did all the beginning steps, including the first rides." Booth plans to compete in the Nebraska High School Rodeo Association in the fall.

Heading into her final year at Neligh-Oakdale Public School, Booth plays volleyball and is an active member of Future Farmers of America, National Honor Society and choir.

She has served as her FFA chapter's secretary and will be president this fall. This past year, Booth placed third in an FFA state event.

Outside of school, Booth works on the family feedlot and likes to spend time with friends.

She said her dad inspires her.

"Every morning, he wakes up at 5 to go out and feed cows and run a feedlot. Some nights he is out until early in the morning the next day. He inspires me to always do my best and work hard," she said.

Following graduation, Booth plans to attend Northeast Community College to work toward a degree in animal science.

"After a few years, I want to begin to start building a feedlot of my own, either in Neligh or close by," she said.

Booth would like to be named Miss Clearwater Rodeo for several reasons, including traveling and representing "the communities that have supported me my entire life but also the sport of rodeo."

"I want to be a part of reminding people what it feels like to laugh at the clown's terrible joke or cheer for the contestants as they give it their all or even what it feels like to stand proud and tall as the stars and stripes make their way around the arena." Booth said.

MORGAN ERHARDT

Erhardt is a 2021 graduate of Summerland Public School - Clearwater. The 18 year old participated in multiple school activities, including FFA, Skills- USA, quiz bowl, student council and National Honor Society.

Erhardt's enthusiasm for rodeo and horses developed from one of her strongest supporters, her father, Lyle, who had a rodeo career as a saddle bronc rider and team roper.

An active 4-H member, Erhardt has earned multiple awards for showing horses and has competed in nearly every horsemanship event. In addition

to proficiency in pole bending, barrel racing and working stock, Erhardt has been on the champion team penning youth team at the Antelope County Fair the past two years.

She is competitive in the National Barrel Horse Association and, last year, qualified for the state finals and the world championship in Perry, Georgia.

For four years, Erhardt has been a member of the Mid-States Rodeo Association.

Erhardt, is a member of the National Guard and plans to continue her education at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln where she will major in veterinary science. Future plans involve becoming a veterinarian specializing in equine.

Erhardt said she knew at a young age she wanted to be Miss Clearwater Rodeo.

"I was instantly drawn to every aspect of rodeo, including the sense of camaraderie. It would be more than an honor to represent my hometown and promote the amazing sport of rodeo," she said.

Erhardt is the daughter of Lyle and Twyla Erhardt.

AMANDA SELLIN

Seventeen-year-old Amanda Sellin grew up on an acreage, near Norfolk, with her parents, Todd and Rhonda Sellin. She will be a senior at Norfolk Public School and is involved in varsity basketball and track.

Sellin serves as vice president of the Norfolk FFA chapter and was elected president of the Spring Branch 4-H Club, out of Hoskins.

Sellin has several years of arena experience, having competed at the county, district and state level, showing horses.

She competes in high school rodeo for Iowa in breakaway roping, team roping, goat tying, barrel racing and pole bending.

Selling intends to pursue a degree in law, with an emphasis on agricultural law.

"I hope to continue my rodeo career throughout my college years," she said.

Sellin said her parents "hauled me to many rodeos" when she was younger. "At that age, those women were my idols and I aspired to become them one day," she said.

"Attending those many rodeos and watching my friends compete in rodeo queen contests and absolutely love them made me want to try for a title. I would like to become Miss Clearwater Rodeo because I, too, want to inspire young girls across Nebraska and be that influential person for them to look up to and follow."

JORDYN STEMPEK

Jordyn Stempek, of Duncan, is the 14-year-old daughter of Travis and Staci Stempek of Duncan. This fall, she will be a freshman at Columbus High School. She has received several academic awards, including a Parent Advisory Council scholarship to be used for college credit classes during her junior and senior years.

She enjoys pole vaulting, running, horseback riding, dirt biking, four wheeling, swimming and traveling.

According to Stempek, her love for horses was obvious at a young age.

"Nearly every clothing piece I owned had horses," she said. Stempek confessed to setting up stables for her toy horses, throughout her room when she was younger.

She and her horse, Smartie, spend a lot of time together, exploring the outdoors.

Stempek credits several people for inspiring her , including her grandpa, Ron Stempek, for encouraging her involvement with riding horses; her parents for their support and Bailey and Brooke Lehr, friends who have earned multiple accomplishments in the arena.

Stempek said she would be "more than happy" to be crowned Miss Clearwater Rodeo.

"It would help me understand that I am capable of something this big and carry my dreams further and further," she said.