REGINA – For a 16-year-old girl, there are lot of fringe benefits in being Simmental royalty.
There’s a $500 scholarship, a chance to promote the breed they love, some travel and then there’s the social aspect. Like maybe meeting some cute guys at Canadian Western Agribition.
Best buddies Jennalee Ecklund and Lori-Lynn Mebbs are Saskatchewan’s Simmental queen and princess respectively.
Exposed to the breed since they were babies, the atmosphere of the cattle world has been a lifelong love affair for them.
Regina’s Agribition is a major event for the two young women from Whitewood, Sask.
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“People are friendly and nice,” said Ecklund, who owns and shows her own cattle.
As royalty they get respect and meet many people.
But even though they carry titles this year, there is no room for pretense. Both are willing to do the dirty work and muck in just like the other exhibitors.
“We’re working as hard as everybody else,” said Mebbs.
Friends since they were five days old, the two carry the banner for the Simmental breed in Saskatchewan until next year. Mebbs takes over as queen and Ecklund retires. Together or apart, they attend shows, sales and dispense hospitality at cattle events.
To become queen and princess there were no evening gown or bathing suit competitions.
Instead, candidates must express intelligence, congeniality, a sound knowledge of the breed and an ability to project a winning attitude.
They volunteered to be queen and princess and are surprised more girls are not coming forward.
“There are not a lot of girls our age who have done it and who are totally into it,” said Ecklund.
Both have strong Simmental backgrounds.
Ecklund comes from a purebred operation and owns six cows. She has been in 4-H since she was six. Mebbs comes from a commercial background and has started Frontier Cattle Company.
There is also a touch of ambition in these two. They are interested in animal science; and veterinary medicine is a real possibility. But they also said they intend to continue ranching.
