Bits ‘n’ Pieces: Vancouver Rodeo queen works hard to pursue her passion

It’s hard work being queen. As the 2015 Vancouver Rodeo queen, an ambassador of the 45th annual event, Felicia Harrison has already appeared at nine parades and six rodeos. That includes her appearance at the Portland Rose Festival’s Grand Floral Parade on June 6, where she won the individual award for best rodeo queen, a first for the Vancouver Rodeo.

“I had a mini village” helping me prepare for the parade, said Harrison. You’re judged from the minute you arrive at the Grand Floral Parade, she said, from how clean you are to how well your flowers look. “It’s very hard and strenuous. If something breaks, you have to have a spare to fix it,” she said.

Main Street Floral Co. in Battle Ground provided Harrison’s flowers; her theme was “Blooming Independence.” She wore a custom red, white and blue cowgirl costume, a nod to the rodeo’s occurrence around the Fourth of July, complete with 18-inch fringe.

“There were 10 of us, rodeo royalty” at the floral parade, she said. “None of us looked alike; all our own personalities shown through the (costume) designs we picked.”

As rodeo queen, Harrison is the Vancouver Rodeo’s ambassador. She encourages both visitors and competitors to attend the show. It’s also about promoting the “Western way of life,” said Harrison. “I mean it’s just an everyday lifestyle for me. Waking up to work on the ranch and taking care of animals and horses.”

In each rodeo and parade, Harrison, 19, rides Bingo, her constant companion. The 20-year-old mare has always been a part of Harrison’s life. “My mom had gotten her at the same time, so she was raising a little infant and raising a little filly as well. As an only child, (Bingo’s) pretty much my sister,” said Harrison.

Harrison lives on her family’s ranch in Washougal. She was the president and captain of the Washougal High School Equestrian Team, earning top spots in many state competitions, rodeos and 4-H events. One of her favorite competitions is pole-bending, a timed event in which a horse and rider weave among six poles arranged in a line.

“It requires a lot of skill and hand-eye coordination,” said Harrison, but pole-bending isn’t part of most rodeos. Harrison also excels at barrel-racing. A horse and rider must complete a clover leaf pattern around a set of barrels in the fastest time. “I’ve gotten so low my foot was 5 inches off the ground, my horse was driving so hard into the turn,” she said. “It takes a lot of focus, time and practicing, to keep you in shape and your horse, as well. They’re an athlete just like you.”

‘Very exhausting’

The Vancouver Rodeo is part of the Northwest Professional Rodeo Association. During the height of the rodeo season, cowboys and cowgirls will often compete in multiple rodeos in one weekend, in hopes of winning the prize purse while earning points in the rodeo standings. “It’s very exhausting as a contender,” said Harrison. “If you have the love and drive to do it, you’ll go where you need to go. If you don’t have your head and heart in it, you can’t fully compete to the best of your ability.”

It will be a weekend of bull-riding, bronco-busting and barrel-racing. “For the 45th anniversary, we’re certainly trying to go all out this year,” she said. Tonight’s rodeo show has the theme “Tough Enough to Wear Pink.” Staff, competitors and visitors are encouraged to wear pink and collect donations for breast cancer awareness.

And then its back on the rodeo circuit for Harrison and Bingo, with appearances scheduled every weekend until the Northwest Professional Rodeo Association finals September 25-26. That includes local appearances at Amboy Territorial Days, Battle Ground Harvest Days, Camas Days and the Clark County Fair.

See Felicia Harrison in tonight’s Grand Entry at 7 p.m. to start the rodeo. The 45th annual Vancouver Rodeo continues at 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the Clark County Saddle Club, 10505 N.E. 117th Ave., Vancouver. Tickets are $10 to $25, $8 to $23 for seniors, military members and ages 7 to 12, and free for ages 6 and younger. $5 for parking. 360-896-6654 or www.vancouverodeo.com

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