Cassie Nielsen, a 20-year-old Emmett resident, became the Owyhee County Fair and Rodeo Queen with her coronation during the Friday night performance (Aug. 13) of the 2010 rodeo in Homedale.
  Her first official activity as the 2010-11 queen was riding in the Fair and Rodeo Parade through downtown Homedale on Saturday, Aug. 14.
  As Nielsen begins her yearlong reign as queen, her heart also will be on the ranch. She said she loves helping out on her mom and grandma’s ranches and also loves watching and competing in rodeo as well as “reading whatever books fall into my possession.”
  Nielsen was one of six young women looking to succeed Marsing’s Jessica Will as the Owyhee queen.
  Through her horsemanship aboard Sissys Apple Sassy, or Sassy for short, during the rodeo and her performance in the Aug. 9 style show and interviews, Nielsen came out on top in the voting to become the 66th woman to wear the Owyhee crown.
  Other 2010 contestants included fellow 20-year-old Ashley Thompson from Meridian; 19-year-old Callie Ann Lehto of Nampa; 17-year-olds Mollie Weitz of Caldwell and Bailey Fraker of Emmett; and 16-year-old Bailey Wolford of Homedale.
  Nielsen is a 2007 graduate of Emmett High School, where she was vice-president of the school’s rodeo club and a member of the National Honor Society.
  After graduation, she attended the College of Southern Idaho in Twin Falls and joined the equestrian team.
  The 20-year-old plans to attend Treasure Valley Community College in the fall of 2010.
  Nielsen competes as a non-member of the National Barrel Horse Racing Association. In 2005, she was part of an NBHSA team that took first in the country in halter judging.
  Her future plans include becoming a member of the Gem State Stock Horse Association or the Snake River Reining Alliance.
  The daughter of Dolores and Donald Nielsen also serves as a first-time 4-H leader in the Gem/Boise County 4-H after eight years as a 4-H member.

  From: The Owyhee Avalanche