UMATILLA – Queen Kristin Hoeft and princesses Becca Rathburn and Kimber Sharkey will reign over the Umatilla Sage Riders rodeo in July.

The girls, selected in January, kicked off their busy season with the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Heppner. They plan to ride in many more Northwest parades throughout the year, said Linda Rathburn, mother of Princess Becca.

Hoeft, 17, is the daughter of Quincy and Penny Hoeft of Pendleton. She is a senior at Pendleton High School, where she plays basketball, tennis and participates in rodeo.

Rathburn, 17, is the daughter of Tad and Linda Rathburn of Hermiston. She is a junior at Hermiston High School, where she shows sheep in FFA and plays softball. Becca also enjoys barrel racing.

Sharkey, 14, is the daughter of Phil and Lora Sharkey of Hermiston. She is an eighth-grader at Sandstone Middle School, where she plays soccer and runs cross country and track. Kimber also shows pigs and enjoys riding her horse.

On July 20-21, the Umatilla Sage Riders has scheduled a National Professional Rodeo Association event at the arena near Umatilla. Linda Rathburn said the rodeo is expected to draw contestants from throughout the Northwest. It will include the usual rodeo events, plus mutton busting for the kids.

Morning slack is scheduled Friday, plus night performances Friday and Saturday.