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By Mark Humphrey ENTERPRISE-LEADER L I N C O L N — Ju dy G a i l McNeely believes all dreams and inspirations are attain- able and that propels her. The Westville, Okla., cowgirl in pursuit of the 2018 Lincoln Riding Club junior queen crown thinks winning the pageant will demonstrate one of her core values, and as a bonus she'll get to promote the sport she loves called rodeo. Judy Gail, as she is known, is the 14-year-old daugh- ter of Roy and Stacy John- son and Rob McNeely, of Westville, Okla. Judy Gail just completed the eighth grade at Westville Junior High School. Judy Gail loves animals and hopes to one day become a veterinary physi- cian. She fell in love with horses after her first ride at the age of four. Horses are a big part of Judy Gail's life and the love of the arena led her to purchase her horse Dixie, which she describes as "a southern beauty from the great state of Texas." Whether from the stands or the arena, Judy Gail truly loves the atmosphere of the rodeo. She thinks winning the Lincoln Riding Club junior queen will show that a cowgirl's ambitions can be achieved. She feels those involved in rodeo benefit from the exchange of expe- rience when putting forth the effort to be a part of the sport. "Serving as the LRC junior queen would be an honor and a dream come true," Judy Gail said. "It would enable me to do something that truly matters and keep the western heritage alive and allow me to give back what rodeo has so generously given me." Judy Gail eagerly looks forward to the pageant c o m p e t i t i o n , s a y i n g , "Through this experience I hope to receive knowledge, growth, and lasting relation- ships that will benefit me a lifetime." By Mark Humphrey ENTERPRISE-LEADER LINCOLN — Kylee Bobach- er's motto is "Be true, be you," something the 2018 Miss Lincoln Riding Club contestant seeks to utilize to transform herself into royalty. Similar phrases are heard ofte n i n ro d e o c i rc l e s , yet Kylee knows living it out goes far beyond what happens in the spotlight of the rodeo arena or pageant threshold. Sixteen-year-old Kylee, daughter of Sauncie Turn and Mark Bobacher, of West- ville, Okla., has a soft spot for rescuing strays, even though she is not supposed to bring them home. Kylee will be a junior at Westville High School this fall, and hopes to one day become a veterinarian. Kylee has always had a passion for horses and has been riding since she was big enough to climb the fence to get on her first horse, King. This year's pageant marks Kylee's first opportunity to participate in a rodeo queen contest and she feels privileged to get to do that at Lincoln. She wants to be Miss Lincoln Rodeo so that she can be a positive role model and inspire people to be the best version of them- selves and to be confident in who God blessed them to be. For Kylee, being a rodeo queen is far more than smil- ing for cameras and waving in parades. She says the buckles will tarnish, and the sashes will fade, but the impact a queen makes can last forever. Kylee's hope is that shar- ing her experiences and living her life as an example to others will leave a lasting impact on those who cross her path. By Mark Humphrey ENTERPRISE-LEADER LINCOLN — Rodeo could provide the perfect cover for Hannah Taylor, a 2018 Farm- ington graduate with plans to major in Criminal Justice and one day become a crime scene investigator. Actress Sandra Bullock portrayed such a role as an uncover FBI agent posing as a beauty pageant contes- tant in the 2000 movie Miss Congeniality and its sequel Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous released in 2005. The main starring role Taylor wishes to fulfill in her immediate future is a little closer to home, yet every bit as dramatic as Taylor competes for the title of Miss Lincoln Riding Club 2018 also referred to as queen of the 65th annual Lincoln Rodeo. Taylor, 18, daughter of Tim and Amy Taylor, of Fayette- ville, is aware winning a rodeo pageant provides a platform even as she prepares to compete for the title of 2018 Lincoln Riding Club Rodeo queen. "If I am crowned Miss Lincoln Rodeo I will be their ambassador," Taylor said. "It will be my goal to help support and promote the rodeo by meeting and speak- ing with new people." This is Taylor's second year of competing for the LRC crown. She is familiar with various aspects of the pageant, having sold raffle tickets for Siloam Springs Rodeo queen contest last year and doing the same as a royalty candidate at Lincoln. Taylor, a Lincoln Riding Club member, finished as 2017 LRC Rodeo Queen First Runner-Up. Taylor loves her horse Geronimo. He is her best friend and a huge part of her life. In past years Taylor has performed with a mounted drill team in front of crowds at rodeos and other eques- trian events. Rodeo has played a big part in Taylor's life, as a whole. Being on a drill team has taken her to local rodeos to perform amidst what she describes as a great support group made of family and friends, whom she appreciates seeing in the crowd. Taylor brings quite a resume to the pageant. There is diversity in her personal portfolio. In addition to horses, Taylor enjoys being outdoors. She loves swim- ming, hunting, fishing, and camping. She enjoys working with animals. She also loves to sing and play the guitar. "I am excited to promote the new things that the Lincoln Riding Club has planned for this year," Taylor said. "I hope this experience challenges me to always strive for success." Wednesday, August 8, 2018 Enterprise-Leader 3B L i n c o L n R o d e o 65 th Annual Lincoln Rodeo May 17 th , 18 th & 19 th 2018 Queen Contest begins Thursday Grand Entry begins at 8:00 pm Muttin' Bustin' begins at 7:30 pm Presents: THANK YOU to PGTelco for being the Exclusive Sponsor of the 65th Annual Lincoln Rodeo | Hosted By: Lincoln Riding Club Farmer's Coop 113 E. Pridemore • Lincoln, AR 479-824-3288 We are proud to donate this saddle to the Rodeo Queen Contest Undercover Rodeo Gal QUEEN CONTESTANT DIVERSIFIES PORTFOLIO SUBMITTED PHOTO Hannah Taylor, 18, daughter of Tim and Amy Taylor of Fayetteville, is a contestant for 2018 Lincoln Riding Club queen. True To Herself BOBACHER PURSUES MISS LRC CROWN SUBMITTED PHOTO Kylee Bobacher, 16, daughter of Sauncie Turn and Mark Bobacher of Westville, Okla., is a contestant for 2018 Lincoln Riding Club queen. Attainable Dreams MCNEELY CONTENDS FOR JUNIOR QUEEN SUBMITTED PHOTO Judy Gail McNeely, 14, daughter of Roy and Stacy Johnson and Rob McNeely of Westville, Okla., is a contestant for 2018 Lincoln Riding Club junior queen. Arnold Seeks Junior Queen Sash By Mark Humphrey ENTERPRISE-LEADER LINCOLN — Mika Arnold is a candidate to succeed her older sister, Alexis Arnold, as Lincoln Riding Club junior queen. The 11-year-old daughter of Mike and Amanda Arnold, of Lincoln, Mika will enter seventh grade at Lincoln Middle School in August. Mika loves all animals and hopes to one day become a veterinarian. She enjoys riding horses and has been doing so since she was 3-years-old. S p e n d i n g t i m e w i t h animals is her passion. Her best friend is Cochese, her 11-year-old red-roan geld- ing. Together they are like two peas in a pod. She says everything about a good ol' fashion rodeo is enjoyable and good family fun. Mika is no stranger to representing LRC or compet- ing in rodeo pageants. Mika won the 2015 LRC princess crown and had so much fun representing the Lincoln Riding Club as LRC Prin- cess. She went to many new places, and met a lot of new people. One of the most exciting aspects of that adventure was getting to talk to a lot of girls about rodeo and what it meant to her being a prin- cess. Mika rode in several rodeos representing Lincoln Riding Club, and enjoyed seeing so many new people and different arenas. Mika was thrilled when during the Washington County Horse Show she was asked to carry the American Flag in honor of the memory of those lost in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorists attacks. That was awesome," she said. She was invited by 2016 Miss Rodeo Arkansas Tori Miller to walk in her fashion show with her for her send- off to the Miss Rodeo Amer- ica competition. Mika described that expe- rience as a "once in a lifetime thing." She enjoys represent- ing the riding club, whether going to a rodeo, walking stages, carrying flags, getting sponsors, or talking to new people. If selected as 2018 Lincoln Riding Club junior queen, Mika plans to contribute to the riding club by support- ing all things rodeo and attending as many rodeos and events as possible. Mika feels there is no better feel- ing than representing a title while getting to talk to kids and adults about the sport of rodeo. She says that becom- ing the Lincoln Riding Club junior queen would not only be an honor but would also be a sentimental moment for her. She would have the privilege to be crowned by her mentor, trainer, and best friend Alexis, whom she also has the pleasure of calling her sister. SUBMITTED PHOTO Mika Arnold, 11, daughter of Mike and Amanda Arnold of Lincoln, is a contestant for 2018 Lincoln Riding Club junior queen. Her older sister, Alexis, won the LRC junior queen crown in 2017.