Dean dazzles judges

TIOGA -- Chelsy Dean of rural Tioga recently won a third title after competing in 12 pageants throughout her life.

Dean, 17, is the North Dakota High School Rodeo Association Queen, a title she won on June 21 in Bowman. The soft-spoken but confident teen with long blonde hair participated in the pageant because of her love of the rodeo and affection for her home state.

"It (the pageant) gave me a chance to represent rodeo, North Dakota on the state level," she said Friday.

Dean also earned the horsemanship and appearance awards at the state pageant. Morgan Hauge of New Town was first runner-up, tied for congeniality and won the speech award, states the North Dakota High School Rodeo Association Web site.

Dean is on her way to the National High School Rodeo Association queen contest July 17-25 in Farmington, N.M. Contestants are judged on modeling, personality, appearance, a two-minute speech, impromptu speech, horsemanship and personal interview, states National High School Rodeo Association Web site.

"I get to carry the North Dakota flag in the grand entries," she said with a grin while holding her tiny chihuahua-toy terrier mix, Zoey.

The future Tioga High School senior was born in Dickinson. She and her family moved to Colorado, and while she was in kindergarten, Dean began taking riding lessons. She got her first horse when she was 12 years old -- a 13-year-old quarter horse named Bandit.

She later joined the National Barrel Horse Association because she enjoyed barrel racing. When she moved to Kansas she got into the rodeo circuit. She also was involved in 4-H, and through the program she showed horses and learned to give speeches.

"4-H was a jump start for getting me ready (for pageants)," she said.

Two years ago, her family moved back to North Dakota to their current home in rural Tioga. In 2007, Dean earned the Central Plains Rodeo Association princess title that covered Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri and Nebraska. Last year, she earned the Miss White Earth Valley Saddle Club queen title.

Aside from pageants and rodeo events, Dean keeps busy with school and work. She's involved in FFA as its president, Student Council, plays clarinet in the high school band, is a varsity cheerleader for basketball and is in the choir. She also works at the Sportman's Cafe in Tioga and trains horses each summer.

Once she graduates, Dean wants to first go to college somewhere in the state, perhaps in Dickinson or Bismarck. She then wants to transfer to North Dakota State University or Oklahoma State University and earn a degree in agriculture education.

She wants to teach agriculture on the high school level and believes the field is important, especially in places like her home state. Dean also likes the hands-on aspects of ag.

"You learn a little bit about a lot of different things, which is important," Dean said about agriculture education.

Her parents are Jody and Dave Dean, and her grandparents are Vera and Clinton Bergstrom of Tioga. She has four sisters, Shelby, Haley, Tayla and Mckenzie.