It’s a Saturday evening on the third weekend of May in Calaveras County. The squeals of children laughing fade into the background as voices from the arena announcer fill the east side of the Fair Grounds. The sun has disappeared behind the west hill, where the shadows of the carnival and the Ferris wheel fall onto the arena ground. The crowds have gathered on the grassy hillside to wait for the arena to start filling up with horses and cowboys and cowgirls. Most of those gathered on the grass were prepared enough to sit on blankets and towels, while others sit uncomfortably as grass scratches their legs or green stains soak into their jeans. There’s one little girl who is restless as she is anticipating to see a very specific cowgirl fly into the arena – crown on her hat, hair flying in the wind, and chaps flapping from the speed of the horse. A moment of horse and girl, smiling with bright red lips and waving to the crowd as she gallops around the arena as fast as her equine friend will take her. That little girl in awe was me.
My name is Rachelle Snitchler. I am a Calaveras High School Alumni of 2012. Throughout school, I was involved in various activities such as four years of Cheerleading, six years of 4-H, a year of FFA, and two years of being a member of the Interscholastic United States Polo Association. In all these activities, horses remained my passion.
You may remember me from 2012 when I competed with Miss Natalie Harp, Krista Maisch, and Cassidy Davis for the Calaveras Saddle Queen title. That was the year I placed first runner-up Princess. Through the opportunities of 4-H Wranglers Horse Club and Calaveras Saddle Queen, I grew a passion for Rodeo and Agricultural benefits to the community. I continued my pageantry as a rodeo queen contestant in Mother Lode Round-Up, Oakdale Rodeo twice, Folsom Pro Rodeo, and Oklahoma Rodeo Queen Jackpot competitions. Recently, I won the title of 2016 Miss Rodeo Oakdale, the Cowboy Capital of the World!
Being a Rodeo Queen is an extremely humbling and honorable position by being an Ambassador for the sport of Rodeo. Like Calaveras Saddle Queen, I have duties to the Saddle Club of traveling around the state of California to promote my favorite sport. So far, I have traveled to Red Bluff, Clovis, Auburn, and Sonora to represent Oakdale as their Rodeo Queen, been at the Oakdale Chocolate Festival and Calaveras CCPRA. Future events I will be attending are; Rowell Ranch Rodeo, Santa Barbara National Horse Show, Reno Rodeo, Livermore Rodeo, California Rodeo Salinas, Grand National, and many more!
What you may not know, is that this is an unpaid job position. With over 1,000 miles traveled in less than a month of being queen, I will need a lot more help getting down the road.
Sponsorships are tax-deductible and help me with numerous things such as; fuel for my truck, boarding for my horse at two-day rodeos, vehicle and trailer maintenance from long-distance hauling, vet bills to keep my horse sound while traveling, and equine tack maintenance.
Any amount of sponsorships would be greatly appreciated! I’d also like to give a quick thanks to those already sponsoring me on my journey as 2016 Miss Rodeo Oakdale; Oakdale Saddle Club, Cliff Edson of Country Cliff’s, Broken Arrow Ranch, W.H. Breshears, Tammy Middleton of Cherry Tree Photography, Catherine and Coltin Davenport, Valley Springs Poultry Auction, Jami Terra, and Miss Rowell Ranch Rodeo Julia Chamberlain. If you are interested in promoting your business by donating towards my reign as Miss Rodeo Oakdale, I will list your name/business on the back of my horse trailer as I travel around California. You may contact me via e-mail shelly9429@yahoo.com or telephone at 209-481-2844.
