By KARI BLURTON
Hays Post

The Ellis County Fair’s Kansas Professional Rodeo Association event kicked  off with the coronation of the Ellis County rodeo queen and princess Tuesday night.

Logan Snyder, 17, Smith Center, was named Ellis County queen and Jaylinn Pfeifer, 14, Ellis, was named princess

“I am really excited to get this year started and help promote the rodeo,” Snyder said.

Pfeifer said she is proud to be named princess.

“I worked really hard for it, and I am really excited to support our community,” she said.

There were 13 contestants in this year’s pageant and eight Little Miss participants.

The contestants were judged last week on horsemanship, rodeo knowledge, a speech and an interview session with judges.

Snyder said she and Pfeifer will both travel to area rodeos, help out with community events and help with next year’s rodeo production in Ellis County.

The coronation ceremony was followed by steer roping, steer wrestling and saddle bronc riding events in which participants from across the country competed — many wearing pink to match the night’s theme “Tough Enough to Wear Pink Night” to raise awareness for breast cancer.

The KPRA rodeo continues at 7 p.m . Thursday with “Patriotic Night.”  Spectators and competitors are encouraged to wear red, white and blue.