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By Dena Wood
The Times 

Emily Adams is Celebration Days Queen

Adams will represent Waitsburg in parades and speaking engagements

 

Dena Wood

Waitsburg High School junior Emily Adams will represent Waitsburg as the 2016 Waitsburg Celebration Days royalty queen.

WAITSBURG – Waitsburg cowgirl Emily Adams doesn't know how to be anything but busy. Even though a state qualifying track meet will make it impossible for her to be present at the actual Waitsburg Celebration Days event, Adams has agreed to serve as Celebration Days Queen, and is eager to promote Waitsburg at upcoming parades, speaking engagements, and luncheons.

In Adams' absence, past Days of Real Sport and Celebration Days royalty will hold a "court reunion" and make a show during the Celebration Days Parade and at the Queen's Luncheon, which will be hosted by the Waitsburg Lions Club. Adams plans to record a video welcoming the visiting courts to the luncheon.

This won't be Adams' first time to serve as Celebration Days Queen, however. Her older sister Beka was the last Days of Real Sport Queen in 2010 and Emily became the first Waitsburg Celebration Days Queen in 2013.

"That would have been the 100th year of the Days of Real Sport. One of my goals was always to be queen for the 100th year of DRS, so when Celebration Days came up I was excited for the opportunity," she said.

Adams said she was pleased to be invited to return as Celebration Days Queen. "I liked going out and representing Waitsburg and showing everyone what a great little community we have and how all the community members are proud of it. I like bringing guests into Waitsburg to experience our small, little town," she said.

Adams was born and raised here and said she was riding before she could walk. She loved riding at her uncle's big cattle ranch in Hooper, Wash., and began competing in rodeo events – goat-tail untying, lead line barrels, and mutton bustin' – at the age of three.

Adams learned her never-give-up attitude at an early age. Mom and court advisor, Ann Adams, said Emily was knocked out at a Pomeroy rodeo when she was three, but got right back on the horse . . . or sheep.

"It was my first time ever riding a sheep. The sheep was bigger than I was and it went one way and I went another. I landed on my head and did a 180," Adams said, laughing. But the hard landing didn't faze her a bit. Ten minutes later she was back up, winning the goat tail untying event.

In third grade, Adams began competing in pole bending, goat tying, barrel racing, and steer riding. She still enjoys competing in a couple of rodeos each year and says barrel racing is her favorite event.

Adams joined the Walla Walla Junior Wagonettes at age three and began riding in parades and shows. She joined the Wagonettes Drill Team at age 11 and is currently the team president. Her riding and show experience includes western, bareback, English, and hunter hack.

In addition to the Days of Real Sport, Adams' older sister, Beka, served as royalty on the Dayton Days and Walla Walla Fair & Frontier Days courts.

"I've been around courts for a long time. I was always the test dummy for hair curling and hat pinning," Adams said.

In addition to being an accomplished cowgirl, Adams is a strong leader and impressive athlete. She is the Waitsburg FFA Chapter Vice President and the District 6 Sentinel. She competes in veterinary science, horse showing, livestock evaluation, job interview, and extemporaneous speaking.

"In extemporaneous speaking, you have 30 minutes to write a five minute speech on a subject you draw from a hat," Adams said, noting the skill that has come in handy at court speaking engagements.

Adams has belonged to Saddles & Spurs 4-H since third grade, is a National Honor Society Member, Junior Class President, and an Evergreen Girls State delegate.

But Adams' true passion is running. Several colleges already have her in their sights and she is focused on increasing her scholarship opportunities.

Adams runs cross country and is the current Waitsburg girls' track team captain. She competes in the 3200, 1600, 800, and the triple jump. Last year, Adams broke the WHS girls 800 record, formerly held by Mya Garcia at 2:31, with a 2:27. She's broken her own record twice more this year, completing the race in 2:24 and 2:23.

Adams said her goal is to study exercise science at Central Washington University.

For now, Adams is happy to have the opportunity to fit her royalty duties around her races. She says she will soon be speaking with the American Legion, Commercial Club, and the Lions Club, which also sponsored this years' outfits.

"I really enjoy going to the different parades and luncheons and giving a plug for Celebration Days. Later on in the season the courts will share favorite memories or funny stories from the year, and that's always fun.

"I grew up with the girls on the Walla Walla court, rodeoing from a young age, and we have good connections. And Kaleigh White, from Dayton, got on the Junior Miss Washington Court. It's neat when local girls get on the big courts like that and you've been friends with them from a young age. It's really cool seeing them up there representing the sport that they love," Adams added.

Adams will be representing both the town and the sport she loves on her 12 year-old Quarter horse, Tucker, and her 13 year-old appendix horse, Moose. "I'm really looking forward to it," she said.

 

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