Rodeo queen learned horse skills at early age

By LORI COPE | East Texas Edition

Jessica Halsell is serving as Clay County's Pioneer Reunion Rodeo Queen. She will represent the county at the Feb. 7 rodeo in Fort Worth. Courtessy photo

January 29, 2004 -- When Jessica Halsell was crowned Pioneer Reunion Rodeo Queen last fall, it was actually two achievements - because she was the 2000 junior rodeo queen, she is the first to wear both crowns; and for the first time since 1997, the queen's crown stayed in Clay County, home to the Pioneer Reunion event. During the third week of September, the county celebrates its pioneer heritage with a three-day celebration.

Jessica, 16, represented her namesake community near Henrietta in the queen competition, and is a sixth generation member of the pioneer ranching Halsell family.

Jessica said she wasn't expecting to win the queen title; after all, she was competing against her best friend. Several years ago, when the friends competed in the junior rodeo queen contest, it was the best friend who won the title first; so Jessica said she felt the queen competition would go the same way.

"I didn't think it was me at all," she said about the moment just before the winner's name was called.

The rodeo queen competition is divided into three categories, with point systems: horsemanship, up to 50 points; interview, 30 points; and appearance, 20. And, the contestants must appear in a couple of parades and rodeos during the Pioneer Reunion activities.

Jessica wasn't sure of her total score, but it was enough to win.

With the queen title, Jessica earned several prizes, including a horse trailer, a Gist belt buckle, western jewelry and hat tiara, portrait sitting, saddle blanket, and more, all courtesy of area businesses.

As queen, Jessica said her main duties are to represent Clay County at area rodeos. "Also, I'm like an ambassador, or a PR (public relations) person" when rodeo-related events take place in the county.

On Feb. 7, Jesica will represent the county at the Southwestern Livestock Show and Rodeo in Fort Worth.

Although Jessica doesn't compete in the rodeo circuit, she is active in the 4-H competitive events of working cow horse and reining. She relies on her mare Rocket for these competitions, and uses her gelding Big Mo for the queen's events.

"I started riding a horse when I was 2, but I've been around horses even before that," she shared. "I started working cattle when I was 4."

Horses and cattle have been a big part of Jessica's, and her family's, life. Her dad, Luke Halsell, is a full-time rancher who raises Angus cattle. The family, including 13-year-old Zeb, also raise horses.

"The horses Jessica rides were born and raised on the ranch and she and her dad trained them," added mom Sherri Halsell, who serves Clay County as an Extension agent for family and consumer sciences.

"My dad is great, he's one-of-a-kind," Jessica said with a laugh. "He's always got a smile on his face."

When she's not aboard a horse, Jessica can be found competing on the track and softball fields, or basketball and volleyball courts, or even on the sidelines cheering. Then there's the involvement with 4-H, and school clubs, including serving as president of her class. And to top it all off, Jessica is a straight-A student.

So where does she get the motivation, desire, and ability to succeed? "I owe a lot to my mom (Sherri Halsell). She is always there for me. If I ever get down, she,s always there to pick me up."

Although it is many months before Jessica will pass the crown on to another queen, she offered some advice to the competitors. The key tip, she said, is to be prepared. "I had so many questions that I studied," she said. "I had index cards made up with information that I studied ... because they (interview judges) might ask you to name the parts of the saddle, or the bridle, and I even learned some rodeo statistics in case they asked me something about that.

"And it's important to practice a lot with your horse," Jessica continued. "It's important to practice the individual things, like stops and roll-backs, because if you just do the pattern over and over, your horse will start to anticipate (the next moves)."

Since appearance is also a part of the competition, Jessica said it's important to plan your Western attire. "I even put the jewelry that goes with a certain outfit in a baggie and put it on the hanger."

When Jessica was the junior queen (at age 13), she worked a clinic that helped young girls, ages 9 through 11, prepare for the rodeo queen competitions. "I taught them tricks they could do, such as what to do with their hair" since keeping everything in place, including the hat, can be tricky.

It seems keeping such a busy schedule would be tricky, but Jessica laughs when asked how she does it all, and does it well. "I do stay busy," she admitted.