ST. GEORGE — Chasing their dreams, five young women competed in the Dixie Roundup Queen and Princess contests to serve as ambassadors for the St. George Lions Dixie Roundup Rodeo.

Lindsey Ivie and Dalli Holyoak competed in the queen contest, and Traylyn Dannelly, Amaya Champneys and Halle Frey competed in the princess contest.

The contestants competed Thursday afternoon at the St. George Lions Club in multiple categories, including interview, modeling, speech, impromptu questions and photogenic ability. The horsemanship contest and coronation were held later that evening at the historic Sun Bowl.

Holyoak was crowned as the Dixie Roundup Queen, with Ivie named as the first runner-up. Dannelly was crowned princess, with Champneys named as first runner-up.

Eighteen-year-old Holyoak, of St. George, was also named Dixie Roundup’s princess in 2018. She said being crowned queen was a “dream come true.”

“This is everything,” she said. “I have been queening since I was 8 years old. So to get where I am today has been a huge accomplishment and I don’t plan on stopping after this.”

Holyoak said she looks forward to visiting local schools.

“It’s my favorite part to see the kids light up when you walk into a room,” she said.

She said that while she was once fooled by the magic of fairy tales, growing up in the rodeo world gave her a reality check. She said she had to show her horse that it was more fun to “go around the barrel rather than through it,” and until she did, her knees stayed black and blue.

“So I may not have a magic wand, a fairy godmother or a lamp with a genie inside, but rodeo has taught me that I don’t need to make a wish,” Holyoak said. “I just need to work hard and make it happen.”

Fourteen-year-old Dannelly, from Enterprise, said her win felt awesome and that she was looking forward to going to rodeos and visiting schools.

She said she competes in barrel racing and breakaway roping, and when she’s not at the rodeo, she can be found reading a book.

In her speech, she shared how she’s living her dream of “chasing cans” as a barrel racer and spoke on the importance of hard work.

“In the process of dream chasing, you will discover a lot about yourself that you don’t know right now,” Dannelly said. “You will realize the greatest thing, you are more powerful than you can ever begin to imagine. As we continue our chase for the championship, always remember: Hard work beats talent when talent quits working hard.”

As outgoing queen Madisen Wallace performed her final ride at the historic Sun Bowl, a prerecorded speech played over the speakers. She said the St. George community will always hold a special place in her heart.

“The traditions of rodeo and our western heritage run deep within the veins of its people and reside in the red rocks that surround this amazing community,” she said in the speech.

She said she was grateful for her experience, the hospitality she received in St. George and support from the Lions Club’s Jennifer Hall and the Dixie Roundup committee.  She also thanked outgoing princess Kodie Stowell for “being the best princess a queen could ask for.”

“Because of them, I never went without and I felt their love and support no matter where I was,” Wallace said. “Because of them, I had the best experience possible.”

During Stowell’s final speech, she thanked Wallace for being the best queen, Hall for always being a phone call away, her horses for delivering her safely around the arena and her family and friends for being the best cheerleaders.

She said if she had a choice she would never retire and hopes to compete for the title of queen one day.

“To the new queen and princess, have the best time,” she said. “It’s such an amazing experience.”

Hall said the winners have an exciting year ahead representing St. George and the Lions Club. Holyoak and Dannelly will go to six to 10 rodeos and visit local schools as ambassadors for the Dixie Roundup Rodeo.

The 88th annual St. George Lions Dixie Roundup rodeo will be held Sept. 15-17 at the historic Sun Bowl arena in St. George.

For more information, visit the St. George Lions Club’s website or the Dixie Roundup Queen and Princess Contest Facebook page.

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