Outgoing rodeo queens gained knowledge, friends

Yuma Jaycees 2007 Silver Spur Rodeo Queen Audrey Hall and Teen Queen Aerika Leeds may be passing along their crowns today (Saturday), but they will always have their memories of rodeo royalty.

Hall says her role as queen has enhanced her appreciation for the sport of rodeo and its horsemanship skills.

"It was a growing experience," said the 18-year-old daughter of John and Cindy Hall. "I learned so much (and) I gained friendships."

Her duties as queen included going to Jaycees functions in Yuma and throughout the state of Arizona. This allowed her "to support the other rodeos because they supported us," Hall said.

"She did an outstanding job this year. She works well with other people (and) she has an amazing personality and spirit," Jaycees royalty director Laurie Brown said of Hall.

For her part, being a teen queen allowed Leeds to "go around to different rodeos around Arizona and represent Jaycees and also (do) community service in Yuma."

Leeds, the 16-year-old daughter of Wayne and Beathney Leeds, said the four rodeos she has attended as teen queen have given her memories to look back on.

"I've got to meet a lot of wonderful people around the rodeos in Arizona. I know more about the sport of rodeo and what goes into it."

When asked what one of her biggest achievements was, Leeds said, "It was an honor to be a role model for girls that want to compete" in the pageant.

Brown said that rodeo queens are "the goodwill ambassadors for the rodeo. These are the girls that promote and get the word out there" about the event. They travel throughout Arizona promoting the sport of rodeo on television and in the newspapers, and visiting schools and nursing homes in the communities they visit.

Hall's and Leeds' reign will end tonight (Saturday) when the 2008 rodeo queen and teen queen are crowned during the rodeo performance at the Yuma County Fairgrounds.

Hall and Leeds both say their experiences as queen and teen queen have left them with a better knowledge of the rodeo and allowed them to develop new friendships.

Hall, a graduate of Kofa High School, is attending Arizona Western College and is working toward acquiring her real estate license.

She is looking forward to competing for the title of Turquoise Circuit Queen in Las Cruces, N.M., in October. If she wins, she will represent Arizona and New Mexico while promoting the sport of rodeo.

Leeds, a student at Gila Ridge High School, is planning to run for Silver Spur Rodeo queen next year and hopes to one day go to college and become a large-animal veterinarian.

"I've been so impressed with (Leeds) throughout the year, and I hope one day she becomes rodeo queen," said Brown.

If Leeds accomplishes her goal, she will be following in the footsteps of Hall, who was teen queen in 2005.