HURON — Eight young women will be competing in the 4-H Ambassador Contest  Friday and Saturday during the Heartland 4-H Rodeo in Huron.
The contest begins at 6 p.m. with speeches and interviews at Ryan’s Hangar, followed by the horsemanship portion of the contest at the Heartland 4-H Arena. The new Ambassador will be crowned during the rodeo performance on Saturday. The rodeo on both Saturday and Sunday is free and everyone is welcome to attend.
Contestants in the Senior Ambassador Contest are Ellie Pieper and Mickeala Boyd, and Junior Ambassador contestants are Rachel Boyd, Cami Wolles, Candice Aamot, Brooklyn Coughlin, Victorian Buffington and Hudson Fouberg.

Senior contestants
• Elle Mae Pieper, 16, a home-schooled junior from Gary, has participated in 4-H rodeo the past four years, and was crowned 2016 Sioux Empire Junior Ambassador.
At the Heartland 4-H Rodeo this weekend, she will compete in barrel racing, goat tying, breakaway roping and pole bending. Other hobbies include gymnastics, knitting, showing cattle and sheep.
• Mickeala Boyd, 18, of Hayti, will be attending South Dakota State University as a freshman this fall. She has participated in 4-H rodeo for six years. She has crowned the 2014 Glacial Lakes 4-H Ambassador, 2015 Burke 4-H Ambassador, and 2016 Heartland 4-H Ambassador.
She will compete in barrels, poles, goat tying and the Ambassador contest. Other hobbies include 4-H horse and dog projects, oral interpretation, one act play, girls’ basketball student manager, Special Olympics basketball coach, cheerleading and volleyball.

Junior contestants
• Victoriah Buffington, 13, of Huron, will be an eighth-grader at Huron Middle School this fall. She has taken part in rodeos held in Fort Pierre, and Hyde, Hand and Clark counties. She will compete in barrels and poles.
She is also active in marching band, band, orchestra, cross country, track and swim team.
• Brooklyn Coughlin, 10, is a fifth-grader at Laura Ingalls Wilder Elementary in De Smet. This is her third year in 4-H, competing in rodeos in Huron, Clark and Sisseton.
She will compete in barrels, poles, goat tying and Ambassador contest.
She is also interested in swimming, riding bike, crafts, and hanging out with her horse and friends.
• Rachel Boyd, 14, of Hayti, will be an eighth-grader at Castlewood Junior High. This is her fifth year in 4-H rodeo. She will compete in barrels, poles, goat tying and the Ambassador contest. She is also involved in volleyball, basketball, oral interp, choir, band, NBHA, 4-H dog project, and is a member of Jr. Auxiliary Post No. 250.
• Hudson Fouberg, 9, of Madison, will be in fourth grade at Rutland Area School. This is her first year in 4-H rodeo. She will compete in barrels, poles and goat tying. Her hobbies include basketball, reading, going to the pool and playing with friends.
• Candice Aamot, 10, of De Smet, will be a fourth-grader at Laura Ingalls Wilder Elementary.
She will compete in barrels, poles and goat tying. She is a member of South Dakota NBHA, Blazin’ Barrels, Little Britches Rodeo and 4-H rodeo.
Other hobbies include trick riding at local events, reading books and showing her dog at 4-H events.
• Cami Wolles, 10, of Dell Rapids, will be a fifth-grader at St Mary Catholic School in Dell Rapids. She plans to compete in barrels, poles, goat tying and the Ambassador contest.
This is her third year in 4-H order. Last year she was crowned the 2017 Estelline Rodeo Princess. Other hobbies include riding horse, gardening, playing piano and showing her cats at the fair.

PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED

Senior Ambassador contestants, from left, Ellie Mae Pieper and Mickeala Boyd.

Next, Junior Ambassador contestants, from left, Victorian Buffington, Brooklyn Coughlin and Rachel Boyd.

Next, Junior Ambassador contestants, from left, Hudson Fouberg, Candice Aamot and Cami Wolles.