Rodeo of the Mid-South Royalty Crowned October 3 University of Tennessee Martin freshman Allie Folks, 18, of Hurricane Mills, TN, was crowned Rodeo of the Mid-South Queen at a coronation ceremony October 3 during the third annual Rodeo of the Mid-South. Rodeo of the Mid-South was a three-day professional rodeo sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, starring four-time clown of the year and PRCA Hall of Famer Lecile Harris of Collierville, TN. The rodeo and pageant were held concurrently October 1-3, 2009 at the DeSoto Civic Center in Southaven, MS, in conjunction with the 153rd Mid-South Fair. When she’s not at a rodeo, Folks studies agriculture and animal science at UT Martin. She plans a career in the livestock industry. Folks was also Tennessee High School Rodeo Queen, and she represented the state at the National High School Rodeo Finals in Farmington, NM. Her parents are Cindi and Randy McMurtry of Hurricane Mills, TN and John Folks of Burns, TN. As Rodeo of the Mid-South Queen, Folks will make appearances throughout the year at rodeos and related events promoting Rodeo of the Mid-South. She will reign over the 2010 Rodeo of the Mid-South. First alternate in the Miss division is Lucy Posner of Collierville, TN. Miss division Horsemanship winner was Amanda Harcourt of Springdale, AR. New this year to the Rodeo of the Mid-South Queen Pageant were three additional age divisions. The Miss division is for ages 18-25; the Teen division, ages 14-17; the Junior division, ages 10-13; and the Princess division, ages 6-9. To be eligibile, the contestant must reside within 300 miles of Memphis, be unmarried and never had a pregnancy. The contestants competed horsemanship, personality and appearance categories. Each contestant underwent personal interviews, and answered impromptu questions on a public stage. Prizes included an engraved trophy saddle, hand-tooled saddle blanket, hand-tooled bronc halter, a gift certificate to Cowboy Corner in Southaven, jewelry, banner and flowers. The first Miss Teen Rodeo of the Mid-South is Alina Bonaquista, 17, of Henderson, TN. She is a home-schooled senior. Her parents are Mark and Ginny Bonacquista. Alina has also been Miss Teen Rodeo Tennessee and Jr. Miss Limestone Rodeo. First alternate in the Teen division is Amber Schafer of Lonoke, AR. Alina Bonacquista was also the Teen division Horsemanship winner. The first Junior Miss Rodeo of the Mid-South is Morgan Harrington, 10, of Casa, AR. She is a fifth-grader at Ola Elementary in Ola, AR. Her parents are Steve and Florah Harrington. First alternate in the Junior division is Summer Weldon of Martin, TN. Junior division Horsemanship winner was Summer Weldon of Martin, TN. The first Rodeo of the Mid-South Princess is Jaci Rene Baker, 6, of Dickson, TN. She is a first-grader at Discovery School in Dickson, TN. Her parents are Ron and Rene Baker. First alternate in the Princess division is Mae of Rouse of Collierville, TN. Jaci was also the Princess division Horsemanship winner. For more information, visit rodeoofthemidsouth.com or contact Sue Lynn Perry at rodeotenn@aol.com or 901-230-4000.