Kilgore to reign at 2022 Round-Up
By Terry Murry on Saturday, November 27th, 2021 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
PENDLETON – The Pendleton Round-Up court for the 2022 rodeo is being introduced this morning (Saturday) at the annual breakfast. While each woman knows they are a part of the court, this is the first time they meet who will be joining them.
The breakfast is being held at the home of Doug Corey in Adams. Doug, Steven, and Susan Corey are the main hosts with the entire Corey/Curtis family on hand to feed and entertain the new guests and their parents. Round-Up Court Director Jason Hill is ready to greet his new court.
“The Round-Up is looking forward to the passing of the torch from the historic and very successful two-year run of the 2020/2021 court,” he said. “As always, their successors are energized and ready to Let ’er Buck!”
The queen is Addie Kilgore of Joseph. Princesses are Brooklynn Been of Pendleton, Cloe Davis of Adams, Madeline Hales of Pendleton, and Alexa Marandas of Sauvie Island. They will reign over the Pendleton Round-Up Sept. 14-17, 2022, and will also attend numerous other rodeos, parades, and events to promote the iconic rodeo.
Addie Kilgore is the 23-year-old daughter of Wes and Sherri Kilgore. She was a Round-Up princess in 2019. The valedictorian of her high school class at Joseph Charter School, she is a 2021 graduate of Oregon State University, where she majored in speech communication and business marketing. She plans on earning a master’s degree in elementary education.
She was the ninth member of her family to reign as queen of Chief Joseph Days in 2015. Three of her relatives have been inducted into the Pendleton Round-Up and Happy Canyon Hall of Fame. They are John Spain, Bonnie Tucker Blankenship, and Harley Tucker.
“Being able to honor my family’s background combined with the amazing heritage and traditions of the Pendleton Round-Up is one of the greatest honors that I have ever had,” she said.
Brooklynn Been, 19, of Pendleton is the daughter of Curtis and Jaime Been. She graduated from Pendleton High School in 2020 and is currently attending Washington State University where she is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in nursing.
Her riding experience began at an early age as she took part in Mustanger play days. She competed for the high school rodeo team in various events and qualified for pole bending at the state level multiple times. Her father has competed at the Round-Up as a steer wrestler and her mother is involved backstage in the Happy Canyon Night Show.
“I am so excited to have the opportunity to be a princess on this year’s Round-Up court and cannot wait to represent not only my hometown rodeo, but the best rodeo in the world.
Cloe Davis, 19, is the daughter of Berk and Cindy Davis. She graduated from Weston McEwen High School where she was vice president of the Associated Student Government and was acting president of her FFA president. Davis works at the Oregon State University Research Center, where she continues to pursue her passion for agriculture.
Her family has a history of involvement with the rodeo and Happy Canyon to include serving as royalty, directors, volunteers, and contestants. She participates in the Happy Canyon pageant, serves as a pennant bearer, and volunteers in the 1910 Room. She has been at home on horseback since she could walk and rode in her first Westward Ho! Parade at the age of 18 months. She also helped in the breeding and raising of the horses she will use for her many Round-Up appearances.
“I am honored to have the opportunity to represent an association that celebrates the Western way of life and the people that keep it alive every day,” she said.
Madeline Hales, 20, is the daughter of Mark and JoAnna Hales. She graduated from Pendleton High School in 2020 and is currently a sophomore at Oregon State University. She is on the OSU Honor Roll and is working to a bachelor’s degree in marketing.
The Pendleton Round-Up has always been a significant part of her life. She attended her first one at the age of 9 months and has volunteered at the rodeo for many years. She comes from a long line of past Round-Up royalty and directors that include her great-grandfather, grandfather, grandmother, father, mother, aunt, uncle, and cousins. She is looking forward to making a space for herself in that lineage in September 2022.
“This year will mark 30 years since my mom was a Round-Up princess and I am truly honored to be able to follow in her footsteps and represent the Round-Up, my hometown, and my family,” she said.
Alexa Marandas, 19, is the daughter of Steve Marandas and the late Johna Marandas. She grew up in a rural farm community and spent her summers in Long Creek. She graduated from Lincoln High School in 2020. Marandas is a sophomore at Oregon State University where she is pursuing an honors degree in biology with a focus on pre-veterinary medicine.
She is most at home on horseback, whether it’s ranching or competing in three-day eventing. Her family’s involvement with the Pendleton Round-Up began with her great-grandparents Bob and Betty Byer, who have 75 years combined in their volunteer work. The Byers were grand marshals of the 2013 Westward Ho! Parade. “Keeping the sport of rodeo and the Western way of life alive have always been very important to me,” she said. “I am so honored and excited to serve on this court and do my part in preserving what we do.”
