Kilgore named Pendleton Round-Up Princess
Published 5:26 am Wednesday, November 28, 2018
- Kilgore named Pendleton Round-Up Princess
Former 2016 Chief Joseph Days Queen Addie Kilgore has been selected to be 2019 Pendleton Round-Up Royalty.
Kilgore, 19, will be one of four Roundup princesses, serving alongside Raelin and Robie Davis of La Grande and Mallory Waters of Pendleton. The queen of the rodeo for 2019 is 2017 Roundup princess Sydney Jones of Pendleton.
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Kilgore comes from a long line of rodeo royalty; she is the ninth member of her family to serve as CJD Queen. Three of her relatives have also been inducted into the Pendleton Round-Up and Happy Canyon Hall of Fame: John Spain, Bonnie Tucker-Blankenship and Harley Tucker.
Her own Round-Up volunteerism includes serving in the 1910 Room last year.
“Being on the Round-Up court would be extremely beneficial to my academic journey,” Kilgore said. “Well, let’s just say there is not a class you can take like this in college.”
Kilgore is the daughter of Wes and Sherri Kilgore of Joseph. She has been riding horses since she was five and showed in English, Western, Bareback, Gaming and Trail in 4-H and was a member of the Tuckerettes precision riding drill team in addition to Chief Joseph Days Rodeo Queen.
Her work, art and academic performance were also recognized throughout her youth, and her English teacher, Megan Smith, testified to a shared belief that Kilgore would do well in any area.
“Addie will not only be successful educationally; she will be successful as a leader and community participant,” Smith said.
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Kilgore was the Valedictorian of her class at Joseph Charter School, where she earned numerous scholarships and awards while participating in National Honor Society, FFA, three sports, drama and visual arts.
Kilgore is currently a sophomore at Oregon State University pursuing her bachelor’s degree in communications with an art minor.
She also spent two summers fighting wildland fires. Her supervisor on the fire team, Joseph Goebel, was impressed as well.
“Addie is one of the team members who holds things together during stressful times,” Goebel said. “Her upbeat nature helps keep crew morale strong.”
Pendleton Round-Up is a five-time recipient of the Large Outdoor Rodeo of the Year award presented by the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association, including the last three years consecutively. Next year will be the 109th year of operation for the rodeo. The Round-Up attracts more than 50,000 visitors and is run by a organization with around 1,000 volunteers.
The seven days of Round-Up events raises money for local charities and a growing scholarship program.
Each Round-Up Court member is awarded a $5,000 scholarship.