The room is filled with people in cowboy hats and giant belt buckles. They mill around, chatting with each other, eating appetizers, and looking over the assortment of birdhouses and wine-bottle-cork wreaths in the silent auction. Alyssa Chart stands at the front of the room in a sage green leather gown, greeting them all with a smile, a handshake, sometimes a hug. She is the 2013 Benton County Fair and Rodeo Queen, and this is her coronation.
Chart grew up in Benton County, and graduated from high school in 2011. Eager to stay in the area to finish her education, she is currently dual-enrolled at Linn Benton Community College and Oregon State University. The same love of her home area drove her to try out for the position of Benton County Fair and Rodeo Queen.
In order to become queen, Chart had to fill out an application, and then go up against two other contestants in a tryout process. The tryouts included a rehearsed speech, an impromptu speech, a personal interview, and a horsemanship display. In the end, Judges were impressed by Chart's horsemanship skills and friendly personality, and she was chosen as the next rodeo queen.
“I’m eager to represent and promote this county,” she says.
Chart’s official coronation is part ceremony, and part fundraiser to pay for her expenses as she travels around promoting the rodeo. Many of Chart’s friends, members of her church, and other rodeo queens from around Oregon have come to support her both emotionally and financially. And they’re all eager to talk about how wonderful they think she is.
Christy Schrock, one of the queen coordinators and Chart’s former 4H club leader, is convinced that Chart will make a great queen because of her warm and inviting personality. “You can teach them to ride better, you can teach them to be better speakers, but you can’t teach them to have a great personality,” she says.
Several people from Chart’s church, including her pastor and her godmother, congregate at one of the tables scattered throughout the room. It’s easy to see that they think the world of Chart.
“There’s nothing derogatory about her at all,” says Dana Wells, Chart’s godmother. “She’s the sweetest, and she loves animals."
Chart, who describes herself as a “total animal person,” has been working with and training horses and dogs her whole life. According to her grandfather, before Chart was even old enough to enter junior dog shows, she trained a Portuguese Water Dog and showed it at dog shows all over the state, competing against adults and doing an outstanding job.
Even though she loves dogs, Chart’s passion is horses. Unsurprisingly, most of the classes she’s taken at LBCC have been animal science courses. Her ultimate career goal is to own a boarding stable for horses, and to that end, she is still undecided about whether she wants to get an animal science degree or a business degree.
Still, in the year ahead Chart’s main focus will be on her rodeo queen duties. She is excited, looking forward to getting to be with her horse and no longer having to ask for money. As rodeo queen, her job is to attend community events, mingle with people and get them interested in coming to fair and rodeo events. Chart, with her passion for animals and her love of her home area, is tailor made for this position.
Alyssa Chart:
Age: 19
High School: West Albany High School
College: Dual enrolled at OSU and LBCC
Interests: Training horses and dogs
Hobby: Riding in a professional drill team
Career goal: Owning a boarding stable for horses
Mentor: Nichole Schrock, Miss Rodeo Oregon
Favorite Things: Her pets and her awesome truck
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