Pictured: Kortney Backus poses after she is crowned the 2016 Silver State International Rodeo Queen.
By Julie Johansen
Contestants came from as far away as Pennsylvania and Alberta, Canada to participate in the Silver State International Rodeo in Winnemucca, Nev. last week, June 27-July 2.
The Utah High School Rodeo Team captured first place. Six Emery and one Carbon rodeo team members helped Utah bring home the title. Kortney Backus, daughter of Kelsie and Brian Backus, lives in Moab but is a member of the Carbon team and was crowned the 2016 SSIR Queen.
Emery members included Will and Wyatt Magnuson, McKoy and Riata Christiansen, Tyler Olsen as well as Nathan Urie. In order to qualify for Silver State, the contestants must have won fifth through 15th at the UHSRA State Finals held the first week of June in Heber City, Utah.
The Magnuson twins competed in team and tie down roping. The Christiansens were competitors in reining cow horse with Urie and McKoy Christiansen as well as Riata Christiansen and Olsen forming teams to compete in team roping. Olsen also tie down roped and Urie rode saddle broncs.
Urie was second in saddle broncs and Olsen took 16th in tie down roping. In reining cow horse, Riata Christiansen placed second and McKoy Christiansen was fourth in the short go.
