Boots, buckles, bidding
COEUR d’ALENE — More than 170 people gathered in Building 1 at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds on Saturday night to support the 2016 Miss North Idaho Fair and Rodeo Queen.
Dressed in cowboy hats, boots and buckles, guests bid in the silent auction, enjoying dinner and a dessert dash at the coronation and fundraiser for 18-year-old Cassy Ripatti, of Hayden.
In a black and silver gown, with a silver crown over her black cowboy hat, Ripatti stood out among the crowd as this year's rodeo queen.
Ripatti said she grew up going to the North Idaho Fair and Rodeo each year and it has been one of her fondest memories.
"I am beyond excited to represent such an amazing fairground and rodeo," she said.
All of the funds raised at the event will aid Ripatti in her travels across the Northwest during the 2016 rodeo season as she represents North Idaho at events in Idaho and Washington. Hayle Carver, director of Miss North Idaho, said just the event brought in about $4,800, not including money from Ripatti's sponsors.
Ripatti is a senior in high school at Christian Center School in Hayden. After she graduates she plans to become a dental hygienist while continuing to work with horses, showing, training and giving lessons. Her mother, Colleen, is a horse trainer and leader of her 4-H group. Ripatti has been in 4-H for 10 years and plans to take over as leader when her mother resigns.
"I have always competed in multiple disciplines of riding and I thought this would be a great opportunity to broaden my horizon in the horse world," Ripatti said. "I heard about the chance to try out for the rodeo queen and I thought, either way, if I lose this would be a great opportunity and a great experience, and if I win that it would be life-changing."
Ripatti won the Miss North Idaho pageant held in September after competing against three other contestants. This is the third year of the Miss North Idaho program and the former queen from 2014-15, Haley Jackson, was at the fundraiser as well in support of Ripatti. Jackson attended the event as the master of ceremonies.
As a "big rodeo fan" and someone who goes to a lot of different rodeos, Carver said North Idaho has "the best rodeo."
"We have the best announcer," Carver said. "He just keeps the fans engaged — he keeps everybody engaged to the action. He knows the contestants, the ins and outs of their traveling and just the personal things about them. So that really brings the fans in and makes them feel like a part of it."
She said the rodeo committee works very hard to put everything together and keep the show running, and the specialty acts are "great."
"I really think it's the whole package of entertainment," Carver said. "You go to some other rodeos and get to watch the calf ropers and the bronc riders, but it just seems like it's missing the closeness and the interaction that you get to feel with the contestants and knowing a little bit about their background."
Along with traveling to rodeos around the Northwest, Ripatti will appear at local events such as the North Idaho Fair and Rodeo and parades. Ripatti said her "partner in crime" this year is her 12-year-old palomino named Sonny.
"Sonny and I look forward to meeting all the new faces, traveling, representing and promoting our fair and rodeo to the best of our ability," she said.