Rodeo queen Bass keeps busy

Cheney Pee Wee Rodeo Queen Chloe Bass always wanted to be a rodeo queen, but was hesitant to give it a try. That’s when a friend of hers – Eastern Washington Junior Rodeo Association 2013 Queen Mollee Gray – stepped in.

Bass said they talked about how much fun it would be if they could both be rodeo queens together, talk that helped inspire the incoming Central Valley High School freshman to pursue a dream with something close to her heart.

“I’ve always loved rodeo and I thought what’s a better way to be in the rodeo but than to also help spread the word (about rodeo),” Bass said in an interview last Thursday.

So Bass tried out and was crowned Cheney’s junior rodeo queen last September. Since then she’s been busy promoting Cheney rodeo, taking place Sept. 14-15, sometimes at 2-3 rodeos a weekend. That involves taking part in each rodeo’s Grand Entry as well as helping out where needed, setting poles, leading kids through lead-line, patterned events, etc.

“But I also compete,” Bass, whose family lives in Liberty Lake, said.

Bass competes in goat tying, cow riding, pole bending – weaving a timed pattern between six linear poles – and barrel racing. The latter is her favorite, something she has competed in the past four years with her quarter horse, Bee.

It was cow riding that presented a challenge to her ability to be a rodeo queen. During the first night of competition at the Othello Junior Rodeo in June, Bass dismounted and got her head stuck between two fences, sustaining a concussion.

The next day during the same event, she hit her head on a fence and sustained another concussion. She missed several rodeos due to the injuries, but was eventually cleared to take part in the Cheney Rodeo in July.

“It definitely sidelined my horse,” Bass said. “She got away with a lot of things for awhile.”

When not involved with rodeo, Bass said she likes to play volleyball – is a setter – and basketball, where’s she a wing player. She’s looking forward to trying out for both CV teams this year. She also likes to snowboard in the winter, and hopes to get into photography when she’s older.

“But I don’t have a lot of time outside of rodeo,” she added.

Bass said she hopes to become a veterinarian someday, looking at schools like Texas A&M and Washington State University. She also wants to continue competing in rodeo and possibly try out for other rodeo queen positions.

Right now she said she’s having fun representing the Cheney Pee Wee Rodeo. The rodeo is free, beginning at 10 a.m. both Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 14-15, and is open to kids age 18 and under who wish to compete. Bass said there would be lots of activities taking place besides the rodeo.

“It’s just a fun place to hang out and meet people,” she added.

John McCallum can be reached at [email protected].