Meet The Finalists For the 2016 Clearwater Rodeo Queen Title

Three young women will competed for the 2016 Clearwater Rodeo Queen title on Friday - Bailey Lehr of Columbus, Sadie Smutny of Meadow Grove, and Cara Friedrich of Plainview.

The queen will be crowned Friday, June 24, at the rodeo arena on the west edge of Clearwater. 
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Bailey Lehr is the daughter of Lance and Joan Lehr of Columbus. 

She grew up helping on the family ranch, feedlot and farm while participated in various horse activities.

She is currently involved in Nebraska Foundation Quarter Horse Association, 4-H, Midwest Barrel Racing Association, Mid-States Rodeo and the Nebraska National Barrel Horse Association.

Lehr's accomplishments include winning various 4-H horse awards, the 2014 Nebraska NBHA Youth Barrel Racing Championship, and 2014 Nebraska State Foundation Quarter Horse Youth Champion in Reigning, Barrels, and Poles, 2014 Reserve Champion in the Midwest Barrel Racing Association and other 1D Barrel awards.

She placed sixth in the Nebraska Jr. High Rodeo Runs for the 2015 season, just missing out on Nationals.

Her future plans are to continue with rodeo, ride, and work with livestock.

"I hope to improve and grow with my horsemanship and handling skills and pick up a few loal Mid-States Rodeo barrel runs if possible," Lehr said. "My long term goal is to continue my studies and become a Veterinarian in the future."

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Sadie Smutny is the daughter of Rick and Sone't Smutny of Meadow Grove.

She has been riding horses for seven years and has owned her horse for four years. 

She received the Antelope County Junior High-point Buckle for her second year participating and the Harm and Tulley Series High-point in Bloomfield, NE.

This summer she competed in the County Liners’ horse show and was awarded the runner-up high-point earner.

She has done mostly showing, but has found that she loves to run barrels and poles.

She has recently started helping a nine-year-old with her riding skills.

"I enjoy passing on my knowledge to others and helping with horsemanship problems they are having that I have also come across in my journey," Smutny said.

Smutny has competed in two other Rodeo Queen contests. At age 11, she competed for the Southwest Rodeo Queen title.

"I then decided to wait a couple years before trying for another title," Smutny said.  "Last year I participated  in the Cedar County Rodeo Queen contest and finished 2nd runner-up." 

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Cara Friedrich is the daughter of Dave and Kelly Freidrich of Plainview.

She grew up living on a farm where she became familiar with livestock.

At age 10, she knew riding horses was going to be something she would cherish for rest of her life. 

Then at 13, she started competing in 4-H and later won the senior division at the county fair, and placed in the top 10 and top five several times at state 4-H Horse Exposition.

Over the past years, she has shown at the AQHA level, competing at circuit shows as well as the world show.

She is a member of the Nebraska Quarter Horse Association, has been a youth officer for two years, and a member of the Nebraska Youth Team for three years.

She is currently interning at KC Creations Photography in Burwell, Nebraska, and spends her freetime working at Carr Ranch Inc. sorting cattle at the feedlot and partaking in other related duties.  

This fall, she will be attending Northeast Community College for her third year to earn a second degree in Entrepreneurship Concentration.

For the future, she plans to continue riding and competing on horseback, as well as having a photography business. 

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