Bonner County Rodeo queens crowned

Rodeo queens leave a contrail of sparkles and a brilliant smile in their wake as they fly around the arena at breakneck speed, waving at every person in the stands like there is no chance their horse will slide sideways or spook at the roaring crowd.

The recently crowned 2017 Bonner County Rodeo Royalty are no different except for one thing: Miss Bonner County Rodeo, Sarrah Eberley, and Miss Teen, Sage M. Saccomanno, are both allergic to horses.

Sarrah and Sage were recently crowned as the 2017 ambassadors for the Bonner County Rodeo. During their reign, they will represent Bonner County at selected PRCA-sanctioned rodeos, parades, community and school events, fundraisers, and rodeo public relation projects.

Being allergic to horses makes this already arduous ambassador commitment more difficult, but that hasn’t stopped them. Just to be around horses, Sage takes two types of allergy medicines daily plus more if needed. Sarrah’s routine is similar. Both go through boxes and boxes of tissues during riding season.

“I’ve had to go to the emergency room before because I couldn’t breath. That was scary,” Sage explains.

A life-long Bonner County resident, Sarrah is a senior at Sandpoint High School with dedicated aspirations of becoming a dentist. This fall, she will attend University of Montana Western in Dillon, Montana, majoring in biology, then plans to attend dental school.

Sarrah and her horse, Nugget, have participated in 4-H, horse shows, and gaming together. When she is not at school or promoting rodeo, Sarah works as a dental assistant at Mt. Baldy Dental Center. Her other interests include dance, cheerleading, quilting, and hunting.

She couldn’t be prouder of the Bonner County Rodeo, which just earned the Columbia River Circuit’s 2016 “Best Small Rodeo Award of the Year” award. “I want to show my hometown how exceptional our rodeo is and hopefully gain a greater amount of involvement from the community.”

Even though her family has always had horses, Sage started riding barely four years ago due to her allergies and only after proving to her parents she was serious. It took two months to prove herself and four more months to find the right horse, including looking at hypoallergenic horses. In the end, she found her faithful appaloosa Rocky.

This past year Sage and Rocky earned Bonner County 4-H’s overall Western Equitation, English Equitation and Trail Riding honors. The two take part in horse shows, gaming, trail riding and Cowboy Dressage also.

Sage, born in Sandpoint, is an honors student at Sandpoint High School, freshman class president, and a member of the yearbook staff. She earned the junior varsity volleyball captain title this fall until she got sidelined for the season with a knee injury. When she’s not promoting the rodeo or going to school, Sage enjoys kayaking, camping, skiing, basketball and snowmobiles.

Sage believes she has a unique chance to be a role model to young people. “I am excited at this opportunity to help inspire girls to be true to themselves, confident, hardworking and, of course, to love the sport of rodeo.”

Earning a rodeo royalty title is not easy. Contestants are judged on horsemanship skills, knowledge of professional rodeo, media and current events, western fashion and appearance, personality, and speaking ability. There are two rounds of horsemanship skills, including one on a horse the contestant has never ridden before.

Both Sarrah and Sage started preparing months before the application was even due, including making their own flashcards and practicing patterns with not only their own horses, but also on horses they had never ridden before.

“For me, this title means more than crowns and rhinestones. It means discipline, determination, courage, hard work, and demonstrating the ways of the West. It’s hard and takes a lot of time, but so worth it!” Sage says.

The objective of the Bonner County Rodeo Royalty Program is to provide opportunities for young women to develop leadership skills, to support the heritage of their community, to celebrate the western way of life and its values, and to promote the sport of rodeo.

Rodeo Royalty coordinator, LeAnne Catala says, “These girls work hard and are dedicated to not only winning a title but representing what it stands for and the people who made it possible. They promote not only the rodeo, but our community as well.”

The award-winning Bonner County PRCA Rodeo will take place on August 4 and 5. In the meantime, these two ambassadors will spend time educating the public about the sport of rodeo and promoting the Bonner County community. In March, there will be a Coronation Celebration to help these girls with their travel expenses.

For royalty visitations, donation and sponsorship opportunities or tickets for the coronation celebration, contact the royalty coordinator, LeAnne Catala, at BCR.Royalty@gmail.com.