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Corinne Grant photo |
Tyrell Wiltbank (left), was named 2006
Fiesta Days Rodeo Queen March 25 when the 2005 Queen
Liz Sparrow (right), passed on the crown. The young
women pose with Linda Reese (center), president of the
Desert Foothills Community Association which coordinates
the Fiesta Days festivities.
(Click Photo for Larger Image) |
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Fiesta
Days Rodeo Queen dons her crown
by
Ambria Hammel
CAVE CREEK - Tyrell Wiltbank was crowned Fiesta Days Rodeo
Queen during a special ceremony and dinner March 25 at the
Long Branch Saloon. She will represent the towns of Cave Creek
and Carefree at all 2006 Fiesta Days festivities April 8 9
and at rodeo events throughout the state during the coming
year.
Her acceptance speech addressed the rodeo's theme, "My
Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys," and included a tribute
to her dad who taught her to ride. She added that her grandfather
and brother have been large influences in her life. Wiltbank
also mentioned one of local rodeo's biggest supporters, deceased
New River resident Wayne Wilson, along with actor John Wayne
and other silver screen heroes. And she thanked her mom, Mina
Hening. "She's my biggest supporter," Wiltbank said.
Wiltbank
was born and raised on a cattle ranch along the Arizona New
Mexico border, and she has been rodeoing since age five because
she loves the thrill of it. "You're on a wild animal
and you're just running," she explained. Wiltbank, a
team roper and barrel racer, now owns ten horses. |
