Rodeo queens are known for their sparkle. From glittery crowns to beaming smiles to bedazzled Western shirts.
But for Zoe Montgomery, 2026 Miss Spokane Interstate Rodeo Queen, there’s a deeper meaning behind the dazzling patriotic Western shirt she designed.
“I saw a lot of queens had military appreciation shirts,” she said. “I wanted to honor my parents. They both served in the Air Force.”
For the first 14 years of her life, she was a military kid, which involved moving to new cities almost every summer. It also meant owning a horse was out of the question.
However, when her dad retired after 23 years of service and the family settled in Spokane, she got a horse for her 14th birthday.
That was six years ago, and her love of all things equestrian hasn’t abated.
“I was homeschooled through the Riverside School District and joined the Riverside Equestrian Team,” Montgomery said. “I saw rodeo queens, and I knew that’s what I wanted to be.”
In November 2025, Montgomery was crowned, and her reign as Miss Spokane Interstate Rodeo started Jan. 20 and runs through Dec. 31.
“I’m the face of the Spokane Interstate Rodeo,” she said. “I ride out with the flag during the Grand Entry, and I advocate for the sport of rodeo and for the Western way of life.”
Montgomery recently returned from the Omak Stampede where 40 rodeo queens participated.
“I love riding my horse and waving at the crowd and putting smiles on people’s faces,” she said. “After every rodeo I sign autographs, and the kids gather ‘round. I really enjoy that.”
Her ride is Gambler, an American Quarter Horse.
“Five years ago, he came to me as a 20-year-old – I think he taught me more than I taught him.”
The shirt she designed honors every branch of the U.S. military. One sleeve carries patches representing the Marine Corps, Army, Navy, Space Force and Coast Guard.
The opposite sleeve honors the Air Force, including her father’s military patches from his days as a recruiter and his time in the 649th Munitions Squadron in Utah – where he met her mother.
A beaded rhinestone dandelion adorns the front of her red shirt.
“I learned from my mom that dandelions are a symbol for military children because they are able to move and put down roots anywhere,” Montgomery said.
Above the dandelion, a black patch reads, “22 too many.”
It refers to the statistic that an estimated 22 U.S. military veterans die by suicide every single day.
“Too many veterans fight unseen battles and don’t receive the support they need,” she said.
In January, Montgomery will trade her crown for a diploma when she graduates from Whitworth University with a degree in elementary education.
She’s thankful she’s been able to honor military service members and veterans during her tenure as rodeo queen and feels her experience as a military kid has prepared her well for her future.
“Military life taught me to be adaptable and embrace a sense of adventure,” said Montgomery. “To focus on the positive instead of the negative and find the joy in it.”
Contact Cindy Hval at cindyhval@gmail.com.