Rodeo royalty

Connie Jo Discoe/McCook Daily Gazette

Kristin Kometscher, above, of Lawrence shares a laugh with judges of the 2009 Miss Southwest Nebraska Rodeo Queen horsemanship competition Saturday morning. Pageant coordinators announced Saturday evening that Kristin, the 17-year-old daughter of Duane and Laurie Kometscher, is the new rodeo queen, and that Morgan Yendra, right, the 14-year-old daughter of Terrell Simonson and Jeff Yendra of Kearney, is the new junior rodeo queen. First attendant to the queen is Katelyn Sughroue, the 15-year-old daughter of Will and Sheri Sughroue of rural Bartley; first attendant to the junior queen is Lindsey Hinricks, the 13-year-old daughter of Bryan and Teresa Hinricks of Glenville. Coronation for the new queen and junior queen is planned preceding the start of the Red Willow County Fair rodeo Friday, July 31, at 8 p.m., in front of the fairgrounds grandstand.

Connie Jo Discoe/McCook Daily Gazette [Click to enlarge]