Hayven Chase named 2020 queen, Cherra Dewey named princess

Bonner County Rodeo has a new queen and princess. Hayven Chase was crowned Bonner County Rodeo Queen 2020 and Cherra Dewey was crowned Bonner County Rodeo Princess 2020. Bidding farewell to the title is 2019 Bonner County Rodeo Queen Shellbie Montgomery.

There will be a Rhinestones and Royalty Coronation fundraiser will be held March 21 at the Bonner County Fairgrounds for the newly crowned royalty with live and silent auctions. The event begins at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are available for $15 each, or two for $25. Kids aged 5 years and under are free.

Hayven Chase, 15, said that for as long as she can remember, she’s been “the horse crazy girl.” A sophomore in high school, she is an active member of the school’s Future Farmers of America chapter. When she’s not busy at school, she enjoys barrel racing, learning to rope, O-mok-see racing, running flags, learning to leathercraft, and basically anything she can do with her horses.

“I’ve been a member of Mica Creek Horse Club for eight years, where I received a great foundation in horsemanship and am now passing my knowledge on as an instructor,” she added. “I have won several championships in O-mok-see racing and have enjoyed representing the sport with four consecutive royalty titles.”

As a military brat, with both my parents having served, Chase said she has “deep respect for the service and sacrifice of all who have served our great nation.”

She said she is passionate about agriculture, the western way of life, the sport of rodeo, and advocating for people, like herself, with hidden disabilities.

“Having been diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at 8 years old, I’ve never let it stop me from attaining my goals,” she said. “Instead I have turned it into motivation to help and hopefully inspire others.”

She said she is looking forward to a fun, exciting, and awesome year representing Bonner County Rodeo as the 2020 queen.

Born and raised in Bonner County, Cherra Dewey has grown up competing in sports, taking part in 4-H projects, and being a close part of the Sandpoint community.

Holding her first title as the 2020 Miss Bonner County Rodeo Princess, Dewey said she is excited to discover what the year will hold. She has participated in rodeo for six years carrying sponsorship flags and 4-H for nine years, competing at both the district and state levels, as well as qualified for national competitions.

This year she hopes to establish solid and positive relationships between the rodeo and public communities to bring closer into our rodeo family, she said.

Cherra’s secondary plans include attending college in search of obtaining her master’s degree in equine science, nutrition, and rehabilitation. She currently competes at three-day eventing in Ponderay at Shingle-Mill Barn where she is learning to teach the equestrian sport to others as well as further her equitation skills and veterinary knowledge.