The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

WAITSBURG-Hannah Peralez, an eighth grader in Waitsburg, is the 2023 Queen of Waitsburg Celebration Days. Peralez will ride Stubs, her 15-year-old chestnut quarter horse, to parades and fairs this year.

Working with Paralez, Cheyenne (Shoun) Reed is in her first year as a fair court advisor. Reed grew up in Dayton and competed in barrels and roping competitions from 2013 through 2019. Her first horse was a small wild Mustang named Penny. At age 13, she had a great horse, a paint named Forrest Gump. Reed was on the 2015 royalty court for Pioneer Posse in Milton-Freewater and was Waitsburg Celebration Days Queen in 2017.

Peralez will travel to events with parents Maisee and Anthony Peralez, her grandfather Dan Jorgensen or court advisor Reed. She looks forward to enjoying the experience with her two sisters and brothers.

On March 25, Peralez competed in a three-part tryout at the Dayton Fairgrounds. First, she presented her speech on the subject "What does Waitsburg mean to you?"

An excerpt from the speech, "Although many people have never heard of it, my hometown is truly one-of-a-kind. It is nestled in the foothills of the Blue Mountains, surrounded by rolling hills of wheat. Waitsburg is a hidden gem."

In the speech, Peralez spoke of her desire for people to discover Waitsburg. She described loving the Weller Public Library and the ability to learn to fish in the river running through town. She was with her grandpa when she caught her first fish in the Touchet River with a Barbie fishing pole.

Peralez ended the speech with, "I would be overjoyed to be given the opportunity to represent our little one-of-a-kind town and carry on an old tradition as Waitsburg Celebration Days Queen. I want to be a mentor for the younger upcoming royalty, to be someone they can look up to and count on. That is why I should carry on the title."

Next, Peralez introduced herself and answered questions from the judges.

Performing figure eights on her horse, riding in circles while waving, performing a run-in while waving, and the ability to carry the flag finished the day of tryouts. 

Peralez first appeared as Celebration Days' Queen at the Waitsburg Easter Egg hunt in Preston Park on April 8. 

She invited everyone to attend the Spaghetti Feed fundraiser on April 15 at the Town Hall. Doors will open at 5:00 p.m. with a silent auction. Dinner will be served at 6:00 p.m., followed by a dessert auction. Live music will be provided by Mark Holt, a musician who has played at American 35 and recently at Bluewood Ski Resort. The new queen will preside over Waitsburg Celebration Days on May 19, 20, and 21. Peralez will also represent Waitsburg at Dayton Days, Walla Walla Fair and Frontier Days, and county fairs in Pomeroy and Coulee City this summer. Later, she will participate in various lighted Christmas and holiday parades.

Mark your calendar to attend the Spaghetti Dinner at Town Hall to support Peralez as the 2023 Queen of Waitsburg Celebration Days.