- Sections :
- More
Phillipsburg Rodeo releases the three queen candidates for the 2025 competition.
The first candidate Sydney Wapp, 19, of Frankfort, Ks., has been riding horses since she could sit up on her own. Along with her parents Joe and Jodie Wapp and her sisters Tiffany and Macey, Sydney has been around horses her entire life. Her horse is Ginger, a 20-year-old Quarter horse.
Sydney graduated from Frankfort High School in 2024 and is currently attending Kansas Wesleyan University to pursue a degree in elementary education and special education. Sydney played volleyball, basketball and participated in track during high school, winning a state title in basketball and earning individual Sports In Kansas awards. At Kansas Wesleyan, Sydney is a member of the KAPPA DELTA PI sorority.
Sydney expressed her desire to be the Phillipsburg Rodeo Queen because: “Now that I’m older, I feel like I can advocate more clearly about the sport of rodeo and the impact it has on those that appreciate our way of life. Being a rodeo queen gives you an opportunity to promote the eight events that we celebrate throughout the rodeo as well as interact with the crowd and committee.”
The second candidate Ruth Jordan, 16, from Beloit, Ks., is the daughter of Brian and Andrea Jordan and has five siblings: Isaak, Bethany, Climena, Samuel and Nathan. Ruth has been riding horses for five years and currently rides Gigi, a 14-year-old Paint.
Ruth belongs to the Mitchell County Riders club and attends the High School Kansas Connections Academy. Ruth is also a member of the Hunter Huntsman 4-H Club and enjoys assisting with her church youth program, historical dress making, cooking, painting and writing.
Ruth expressed her desire to be the Phillipsburg Rodeo Queen because: “Being the Phillipsburg Rodeo Queen would challenge me to develop my confidence, communication skills and [improve] my sense of responsibility. I see it as an opportunity to grow not only as a horsewoman but also as a representative of something greater than myself, assuming a role where I can inspire others, especially young girls who aspire to be out there one day.”
The finall candidate Amber Gonzales, 20, of Hays, Ks., has been riding horses for 18 years with her current horse being Ruben, an eight-year-old Quarter horse. Amber is the daughter of Courtney Barger.
Amber graduated from McCook High School and is currently attending West Texas A&M University where she is a member of the Residents Hall Association. Amber enjoys going on runs with her Border Collie Rooster and working with horses.
Amber expressed her desire to be the Phillipsburg Rodeo Queen because: “I have had the honor of growing up with the western way of life. This has taught me to appreciate what I have and what others strive to achieve. Because of the blessings this lifestyle has taught me, I feel it is only right that I try to share my passion and knowledge with a wider variety of people [and] hopefully along the way, inspire the next generation of young cowboys and cowgirls to branch out to this beautiful way of life and continue on the proud legacy of the cowboy way of life.”
