Wilkie reigns over 2022 Cheney Rodeo

CHENEY – Coming from a wheat ranch and cattle farm in Lamont, Miss Cheney Rodeo Janaye Wilkie is ready to kick some dust up on rodeo weekend.

Wilkie, 19, attributes her passion and interest in horses to her grandpa, who was heavily into the rodeo culture and lifestyle.

Her grandfather, Jim Hoffman, ran the Seven Springs Dairy Ranch, just west of Davenport.

"I grew up on a horse ranch and my grandpa raised bucking horses," Wilkie said. "Since then, I've just always been around it attending rodeos since before I could walk."

During rodeo events, Wilkie's horse "SheRa" is with her every step of the way.

"She'll be the horse I ride for the whole reign. I've had the same horse my whole life," Wilkie said. "She was a gift. I started riding her when I was 7 or 8 years old -she was 3 when I got her.

"My boss at Basin Feed and Supply picked her name. She and my grandpa picked out the horse together at an auction or something like that."

Wilkie has had plenty to do before rodeo weekend, including attending the Lilac Parade, tabling at Cheney Mayfest and participating in the Coulee City Rodeo and Parade.

She's also charged with organizing the Queen's Luncheon.

"All of the rodeo queens gather and do lunch to get to know each other," Wilkie said. "I've gotten to know local queens a lot better which is cool."

Miss Rodeo Washington will be at the Cheney Rodeo, something Wilkie said is new this year.

Wilkie said rodeo queens typically travel to attend each other's rodeos for support. Her mother has been her go-to travel buddy.

"This has been a good bonding experience with my mom," she said. "I've been on the road with her every weekend and it has been fun for the two of us I think."

Wilkie said she'll continue to spend weekends traveling the rest of the summer with her mother Denise Wilkie, attending other events as Miss Cheney Rodeo.

Her mother and father, Greg Wilkie, and her step-parents have been significant proponents of Janaye Wilkie's presence in the community during her Miss Cheney Rodeo reign.

"None of this would've been possible without their help with transportation, putting together flowers for parades and setting up booths," she said. "They've all experienced a lot of late nights helping me out and that's something I'm really grateful for."

Her time leading up to rodeo weekend has been full of valuable experiences for Wilkie, who embraced the unexpected opportunity and ran with it.

"This has been a good growing experience," Wilkie said. "A lot of the friends that I've made doing this are probably going to be friends that I'll have for my whole life."

Outside of rodeo, Janaye Wilkie was a stand-up athlete at Lind-Ritzville High School, earning all-league honors in basketball and volleyball.

The Broncos athlete graduated in 2021.