The queen and her court …

Published 5:00 pm Sunday, April 20, 2008

Paige Bailey, Chief Joseph Days’ new queen, represents the third generation in her family to wear the queen’s tiara.

The announcement that Bailey earned the title came at the traditional Coronation Dinner and Dance hosted by the Joseph Chamber of Commerce Saturday night, April 19.

“There are no losers here,” said rodeo co-chairman Terry Jones, just before he named the new queen before an expectant full-house crowd at the Joseph Community Center. Princesses Shelby Lynn Harshman and Shelby Tienhaara were generous with smiles and hugs for Queen Paige following the announcement. All three court members are juniors at Joseph High School.

Bailey is the great-granddaughter of Harley Tucker, the famous stock contractor who helped start the CJD rodeo in 1946. Bailey’s mother, Cindy, reigned as CJD queen in 1980, and her grandmother, Darlene Tucker Turner, was queen in 1959.

Bailey placed first in the queen’s riding tryouts in muddy Harley Tucker Memorial Arena in between snowflakes on an unseasonably cold day on the morning of the coronation dinner. She also sold the most rodeo tickets in the annual court competition, setting a new record with over $31,847 worth of tickets to her credit.

Tienhaara, the daughter of Dick and Kerri Tienhaara, won the speaking portion of the three-part competition. Harshman is the daughter of John and Carol Harshman. All three girls have gone to school together and been friends most of their lives.

The 2008 Chief Joseph Days Court will make its first official appearance of the rodeo season at the Asotin County Fair parade at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 26.

During the coronation program, longtime Chief Joseph Days volunteers Terry and Judi Holbrook of Enterprise were named 2008 grand marshals.

“It’s a wonderful honor,” said Terry Holbrook. “We’ve had so much fun with this group of people through the years, this will just be another chance to make memories,” added Judi Holbrook.

Both Holbrooks are retired now, but Terry worked for the county road department for 43 years, retiring as roadmaster, while Judi worked for 37 years in banking, the last four years as the branch manager of Klamath Bank (now part of Sterlings).

Terry Holbrook said he attended the first Chief Joseph Days as a young child, and remembers starting to work at Chief Joseph Days at age 10, when he helped clean up trash after the celebration. Through the years he helped in many capacities, including keeping the rodeo arena in shape. Judi Holbrook chaperoned the CJD court for several years and also volunteered in many ways behind the scenes.

John Growney of Red Bluff, Calif., Chief Joseph Days’ stock contractor since 1992, served as master of ceremonies for the coronation event.

A highlight of the dinner was the reminiscing by 1958 CJD Queen Janice Daugherty Burns of Wallowa about her experiences 50 years ago, as one of her princesses, Judy Stockdale Bothum of Joseph, offered moral support from the head table.

Bothum, who since 1990 has coordinated the CJD outfits – many of them custom-made by Enterprise seamstress Carlene Gomes – emceed a fashion show of 2008’s official garb, modeled by the court.

“I feel good. I love our clothes. I’m looking forward to the summer with Paige and Shelby, and am most looking forward to Chief Joseph Days, of course,” Tienhaara said after the coronation.

“I’m not at all disappointed. I liked to see Paige win,” Harshman said. “I’m glad the competition is over, and I’m excited to go on with our summer.”

“I’m very happy,” Queen Paige said after the excitement had calmed down a little. “I’m looking forward to this summer.”