2008 Ellensburg Rodeo Royal Court

(Left to Right)
Congratulations to: Princess Charli Bergevin, Queen Jade Sansaver, King County Princess Becky Kearney.

 ELLENSBURG – The Ellensburg Rodeo has its new queen.

    The Ellensburg Rodeo Board and its allied organizations selected “genuine cowgirl” Jade Sansaver as the 2008 Ellensburg Rodeo queen. Kittitas High School senior Charli Bergevin was named the 2008 Kittitas County princess.
     “I’ve live here since I was 2-years-old. When I was in the fifth grade I met (former Ellensburg Rodeo Queen) Jennifer O’Leary and I knew this was what I wanted to do.”
     Sansaver’s reign began Sunday when she and her court were measured for custom-made chaps. She said the Royal Court expects to begin making public appearances very soon.
     “It will be fun to get things going,” she said.
     Ellensburg Rodeo Board President Dave Standish said he was very pleased by this year’s selection, though he admitted it was a difficult decision.
     “I think they’ll be excellent representatives for the Ellensburg Rodeo,” he said.
 “They are beautiful gals, are well-spoken and will be a total asset to the rodeo. They’ll make excellent ambassadors.”
     Sansaver and Bergevin were chosen from a group of four that included Melissa Rogers and Josilyn Twardoski.   
      “I thought this was the strongest group we’ve ever had,” Standish said. “It was very hard to judge.”
     Sansaver and Bergevin are joined by King County Princess Becky Kearney to act as “ambassadors on horseback” whose tireless job it is to promote the Ellensburg Rodeo.
     “I know how lucky I am to have been given this opportunity,” Kearney said. “ …I bet this is going to be really exciting and I can’t wait to get going and promote the Ellensburg Rodeo.”
    Bergevin, too, expressed her enthusiasm to be one of the three chosen to represent the rodeo.
    “This has been a dream of mine since I was a little girl,” she said. “I can’t wait to hang out with the girls and begin promoting Ellensburg.”

 Sansaver, a 20-year-old sophomore at Eastern Washington University, is the daughter of Jack and Shelly Sansaver. She is a graduate of Kittitas High School where she was a member of the Kittitas County Barrel Racers, Kittitas County High School Rodeo Club, Washington State High School Rodeo and the National High School Rodeo Association. She is currently studying psychology with a minor in drug and alcohol studies.
    
Bergevin, 17, is her class president, is a member of the Honor Society and is the
Washington state vice president of Career and Community Leaders of America. She also is a member of the Kittitas County Barrel Racers, Kittitas County Roping Club, the National High School Rodeo Association and the Professional Western Rodeo Association.  Following graduation Bergevin plans to attend Central Washington University to pursue a degree in business. She is the daughter of Jim and Rita Bergevin.
    
Kearney, 17, is a senior at Monroe High School. She is a class representative and has played numerous sports. She is a member of the Snohomish County Western Games Association, 4-H and Future Farmers of America. After graduation Kearney plans to attend Cascadia Community College where she will begin her studies in communications and zoology before transferring to CWU or Washington State University. Her goal is to eventually work for Heifer International.
   
Jerry Jensen, director of the Royal Court, currently is working on the Court’s 2008 public appearance schedule.