Brooke Russell represents the best sport

This year Brooke Russell, 17, from Hayden Idaho, is spearheading the rodeo as the Palouse Empire Fair’s rodeo queen.

For Russell representing the Palouse and being the face of the Palouse Rodeo Association is an honor. “I have definitely loved it, it has opened up a lot of opportunities for me and I could not be happier representing a community such as the palouse,” Russell said.

Russell explained that being the rodeo queen entails bringing everyone together and showing them how great the rodeo is. “Best sport on dirt,” she said, noting that it has also given her other great opportunities. “It has given me the opportunity to become a better public speaker. Educate people on the sport of rodeo. It teaches you how to be well spoken and sociable.”

Russell’s favorite part of being the Palouse rodeo queen is how much she’s grown and learned as well as spending time with people from the area.

“What I like most is rodeo isn’t just like any other sport,” she said, “it’s the whole family aspect everyone is there to support everyone. Not everyone against each other, but everyone for eachother.”