![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/55129298805_45ff9d9596_o.jpg\")
Jessica McLennan, 2026 Benton County Fair & Rodeo Queen and her horse, Willow<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tJessica McLennan, 2026 Benton County Fair & Rodeo Queen and her horse, Willow<\/p>\n
Jessica McLennan has been crowned Benton County Fair & Rodeo Queen for 2026. That happened on Feb. 7, during a celebratory evening at the Fairgrounds Event Center, where community members gathered to honor royalty, volunteers and the tradition behind the fair and rodeo.<\/p>\n
Behind the scenes, Christy Schrock has spent two decades helping young women step into boots that carry more than sparkle and fringe.<\/p>\n
As chair of the Benton County Fair Board and longtime adviser to the Benton County Fair and Rodeo Queen program, Schrock serves as the primary organizer and contact for the pageant. Contestants and families reach out to her for applications, guidance and support. She also helps coordinate the annual coronation and oversees the program as part of the fair board\u2019s work.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis year is my 20th year of running the program,\u201d Schrock said. \u201cThese gals all become part of our family.\u201d<\/p>\n
The program, which began in 2001, is celebrating its Silver Jubilee in 2026, marking 25 years of royal tradition and youth leadership in Benton County.<\/p>\n
A full-circle moment<\/p>\n
For McLennan, stepping into the role of queen is a dream she has had since childhood.<\/p>\n
\u201cSince I was 6, I\u2019ve looked up to the rodeo queens,\u201d she said. \u201cStepping into this role as that person young girls are looking up to is incredibly full circle for me.\u201d<\/p>\n
McLennan has been involved in 4-H for a decade and said serving as queen gives her a new way to stay connected as she transitions out of the youth program.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s so rewarding to close out my years in 4-H with this new title and new responsibility,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
She is especially looking forward to the upcoming rodeo season, which will be the final chapter for her longtime horse, Willow.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is my last thing that I get to do with my horse that I grew up with,\u201d she said. \u201cI\u2019m excited to spend that time with her and do something cool as her last hurrah.\u201d<\/p>\n
McLennan plans to retire Willow from competition after this year.<\/p>\n
Building community connections
\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/55129298760_5540947486_w-164x300.jpg\")
Benton County Fair Board Chair Christy Schrock <\/p>\n
Both Schrock and McLennan said the program fosters strong relationships not just within Benton County but across the state.<\/p>\n
At coronation events and fairs, queens from other counties attend to support one another. Schrock said those connections reflect the broader collaboration seen throughout the agricultural and rodeo community.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe try really hard to connect with our counterparts in other counties to learn from each other and support each other,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s amazing the connections that can be made.\u201d<\/p>\n
McLennan said the fair and rodeo bring the community together in a unique way.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou get to have your whole community in one spot,\u201d she said. \u201cYou get to make those connections and friendships that last.\u201d<\/p>\n
As Benton County celebrates 25 years of its rodeo royalty program, organizers say the milestone is about more than crowns and sashes. It is about leadership, mentorship and honoring a tradition that continues to shape generations.<\/p>\n
A tradition rooted in Oregon history<\/p>\n
The Benton County Fair dates back to the early days of Oregon statehood, when the Benton Agricultural Society began hosting small fairs to showcase local agriculture. The first official county fair was held in 1913 on the grounds of Oregon Agricultural College, now Oregon State University.<\/p>\n
The modern fairgrounds were established in 1957 when the county purchased 20 acres of land. Over the years, the fair expanded to include 4-H, Future Farmers of America, carnival rides, live music and rodeo events celebrating agriculture and Western heritage.<\/p>\n
The rodeo queen tradition traces back to Oregon as well. The first official rodeo queen in the world was crowned at the 1910 Pendleton Round-Up. Today, rodeo queens serve as ambassadors for their communities across the state and country.<\/p>\n
In Benton County, the first court was selected in 2001. Since 2003, the program has featured a single ambassador: the Benton County Fair & Rodeo Queen.<\/p>\n
More than a crown<\/p>\n
Schrock said the program is about far more than appearances.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s the history of the Western culture out here,\u201d she said. \u201cBut really, to me, it\u2019s mostly about excellence in a lot of different areas.\u201d<\/p>\n
Contestants are judged on public speaking, horsemanship and knowledge. The role also demands travel, early mornings and long days.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou get up at 2:30 in the morning to watch the horse, get everything ready, get it loaded up and make your way across the mountain pass,\u201d Schrock said. \u201cIt\u2019s remarkable to see young people be able to live up to it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jesse Ott, Benton County\u2019s natural areas, parks and events director, said the queens are a symbol of the fair.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re our symbol of the fair,\u201d Ott said. \u201cThey inspire young people. They put themselves out there in front of everybody and do it with poise and professionalism.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ott said the rodeo is a major part of the fair, and the queen plays an important role in promoting the event and connecting with the 4-H and agricultural communities.<\/p>\n
An ambassador for the county<\/p>\n
Schrock said the queen often serves as the first impression of Benton County when she travels to events across Oregon.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey actually become an ambassador for not only our fair, but our county,\u201d she said. \u201cOftentimes your queen is somebody\u2019s first impression of your county.\u201d<\/p>\n
She said the growth over the yearlong reign is one of the most rewarding parts of the program.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou see them when they come in and you\u2019re super impressed with them just to try out,\u201d she said. \u201cBut the growth they have over the year is incredible.\u201d<\/p>\n
The program is tailored to each young woman\u2019s goals. Two co-advisers, both former Benton County queens, help mentor the current titleholder and provide continuity.<\/p>\n
A sisterhood of former queens<\/p>\n
Jesse Crampton, the 2019 Benton County Rodeo Queen, returned in 2021 to help Schrock run the program. She now assists with pageants and coronations and helps guide new contestants through the process.<\/p>\n
Crampton described her own year as queen as a \u201cwhirlwind\u201d and one she will never forget.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a really memorable year,\u201d she said. \u201cYou get to see all these different communities and even see what happens behind the scenes at rodeos.\u201d<\/p>\n
Growing up attending rodeos as a spectator, she said holding the title gave her a completely new perspective.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou get to see how much work goes into it,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Crampton said part of what inspired her to stay involved was the mentorship she received during her time in the program.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wanted to be able to work with younger people and kind of step into a teacher role,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
During a recent coronation, she found herself unexpectedly emotional watching the new queen step into the spotlight.<\/p>\n
\u201cI got really tearful during my speech,\u201d she said. \u201cIt feels like watching your kid flourish and do amazing work.\u201d<\/p>\n
Helping young women grow in confidence and leadership is what keeps her coming back year after year.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s really fulfilling to watch them grow into these wonderful individuals,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Behind-the-scenes support<\/p>\n
Another former queen helping carry the program forward is Adrienne Montgomery, who served as Benton County Rodeo Queen in 2015.<\/p>\n
Montgomery now works behind the scenes supporting the contestants and helping ensure everything runs smoothly.<\/p>\n
\u201cI help make sure the girls get to rodeos and parades, help with horses and tack, and make sure they have what they need,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
While social media and public appearances are visible parts of the program, Montgomery focuses on the logistical side \u2014 from preparing horses to making sure contestants have snacks and supplies during long rodeo days.<\/p>\n
She attends many of the events with the court, including local favorites such as the Philomath Frolic and the Sisters Rodeo, as well as the busy Fourth of July rodeo circuit.<\/p>\n
For Montgomery, the highlight of her own reign was riding her horse in the arena.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat was the best part,\u201d she said. \u201cBut I also loved talking to kids and people who had never been to a rodeo before and explaining what everything was.\u201d<\/p>\n
After marrying and moving to San Diego, Montgomery eventually returned to the area and reconnected with the rodeo community she grew up in.<\/p>\n
Now with young children of her own, she prefers helping behind the scenes rather than competing in the arena.<\/p>\n
\u201cI love helping the younger girls build confidence and grow through the title,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
She said her own experience as rodeo queen helped shape her in lasting ways.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt really boosted my self-esteem and social skills,\u201d Montgomery said. \u201cBefore that I was pretty shy, and now I can talk to anyone about anything.\u201d<\/p>\n
She said the program builds lasting bonds between current and former queens.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s very much like a sisterhood,\u201d she said. \u201cThe former queens come back and help the new ones.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/55129298795_63a258f779_o.jpg\")
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Jessica McLennan, 2026 Benton County Fair & Rodeo Queen and her horse, Willow Jessica McLennan has been crowned…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":155762,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[37],"tags":[9,24,63,122,124,123],"class_list":{"0":"post-155761","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-queens","8":"tag-new-york","9":"tag-new-york-city","10":"tag-nyc","11":"tag-queens","12":"tag-queens-headlines","13":"tag-queens-news"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/155761","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=155761"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/155761\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/155762"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=155761"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=155761"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=155761"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}