POISE & PERSONALITY
HORSEMANSHIP
TICKET SALES
AMBASSADOR
SPARKLES & SMILES
Run for Sweetheart
Full list of Willits Frontier Days Sweethearts
over the years:
1926 None
1927 Marie Schloegel Novaglie
1928 Martha Warner Kelton
1929 Lola Butts
1930 None
1931 None
1932 Enola McKenzie Reed
1933 Betty Akins
1934 Amy Gardner
1935 Jemma Pedroncelli Serventi
1936 Elizabeth Wendt Ferguson
1937 Alice Gibellini Wade
1938 Dorce Brown
1939 Ernistime Casteel DeBoer
1940 Evelyn Robley Bergson
1941 Pauline Standley Perez
1942 Melba Dempsey Lewis
1943 Ann Cox McGinnis
1944 Anna Ford Hardwick
1945 Lillian Kroh Nolan
1946 Georgia Stovall Welch
1947 Anne Crabtree Henderson
1948 Lillian Kroh Nolan
1949 Betty Mast Campbell
1950 Wanda Lane Johnston
1951 Gretchen Mullen Weber
1952 Yvonne Dusseau Leever
1953 Claire Shawnago Huffman
1954 Joan Neary Von Weien
1955 Shirley Merritt Nikolashin
1956 Betty Ann Stansberry Erbes
1957 Patricia Moreno Door
1958 Letha Schumaker Wiley
1959 Marian Whitely Ross
1960 Carol Collier McClendon
1961 Mardi Wilson Hinton
1962 Linda Allen Banks
1963 Susan Fonsen Neilson
1964 Sue Hardaway
1965 Sharon Baker Arno
1966 Leslie Cogburn Scaglione
1967 Joan Schloegel
1968 Clydeen Smith Dick
1969 Mousey Clatty
1970 Kam Maize LaLaguna
1971 Margaret Smith
1972 Paulette Wilcott Somdahl
1973 Jann Clatty Rickey
1974 Kathy Persico Graves
1975 Lorraine Soulliere Crabtree
1976 Tami Tharp Romberg Mayfield
1977 Kelly Bielenberg Eoff
1978 Julie Canepa Belvin
1979 Liz Persico Day
1980 Cindy Kostanecki Kelly
1981 Stacey Blalack McKinley
1982 Caroline Kostanecki Durupt
1983 Saundra DuCross
1984 Chrissy Kostanecki
1985 Tracey Ford Moody
1986 Kristine McBride Tyrrell
1987 Kim Colwell Lebo
1988 Nicol Persico Kunka
1989 Dina Pinon Parker
1990 Melanie Ulvila
1991 Lanae Shuster Lamkin
1992 Amanda Hiatt Hower
1993 Amy Ford
1994 Marta Trevey
1995 Tori Nunnemaker Minton
1996 Georgeanne Dawson Crosky
1997 Patricia Garrity Murray
1998 Ileah Leone
1999 Mary Garrity Fonsen
2000 Olivia Grupp
2001 Katherine Whitby
2002 Sandi Short Sandroni
2003 Mattie Pinon Owen
2004 Tina Holguin Shull
2005 Ashtan Bloomquist
2006 Darcy Ford
2007 Courtney Figg-Hoblyn
2008 Kinzie Barlow
2009 Lindsey Bowlds
2010 Stephanie Standley Hightower
2011 Riata King
2012 Rachel Belvin Ramirez
2013 Lilja Lamkin
2014 Haley Schuck
2015 Caitlyn Forrester
2016 Halee Reed
2017 Hailey Riley
2018 Lilah Garman
2019 Jaden Doak
2020 Jaden Doak - No contest held
2021 Claire Case Brackett
2022 Danielle Barry
2023 Hazel Cooke
2024 Elena Arkelian
WILLITS FRONTIER DAYS SWEETHEART CONTEST
Every year, Willits Frontier Days holds a contest to find the perfect representative for the upcoming Fourth of July celebration; someone who will be an ambassador for the organization, demonstrate poise and personality, be an accomplished equestrian, and exemplify the ideals of western life.
Since 1927, contestants aged 16 to 20 sell tickets to the annual events and compete in riding and poise competitions to decide the year’s winner. The contest starts May 1 with the girls out, dressed in their western finest, selling tickets to the barbecue, rodeos and more. Closer to the end of the competition, the girls prepare a speech based on the year’s theme that they recite in front of family, friends and a panel of judges. They also model western wear and answer questions from the panel. The riding portion of the judging takes place during the annual Horse Show event and includes the girls riding a predetermined pattern on horseback, as well as answering questions from the show judge focusing on equestrian and rodeo knowledge.
The contest runs until the evening before the Sweetheart Dinner, usually held the last Saturday in June. Ticket sales are tallied by a CPA and added to the scores from the poise and riding competitions, and a winner is chosen.
The winner is then crowned at the invite-only dinner in front of family, friends and supporters. It is there that she receives a silver belt buckle, silver spurs, silver tiara, engraved saddle, American flag chaps, flowers, and congratulations galore. Girls also earn 15 percent of their ticket sales, which makes competing for the title a great summer job, too.
The winner then gets to enjoy participating in the year’s following events including riding in the Grand Entry for the California Cowboys Professional Rodeo Association and Junior Rodeos, riding in the parade, helping move cattle in the arena, and posing with winners of other contests, as well as making many other appearances during the festivities. The winner is also encouraged to attend other state and local events to represent Willits Frontier Days, including high school rodeos, CCPRA and other circuit rodeos, local fairs, school functions and more.
The winner also joins the roster of past Sweethearts, at right, and is invited to all future dinners where the past Sweethearts are honored with roses and a group photo.
Run for Sweetheart
Congratulations to 2024 winner
Elena Arkelian
2023 winner Hazel Cooke, center, poses with 2024 winner Elena Arkelian, left, and 2024 runner-up Catie Spackman, right.
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2024 Willits Frontier Days Sweetheart winner smiles alongside Willits Frontier Days' Bruce Cartwright.
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Past Sweethearts pose together including, from back row, left: The past Sweethearts in attendance at Sunday’s dinner gather together for a group photo, including, from left: 2023 winner Hazel Cooke; 1993 winner Amy Ford, holding daughter Hannah Fuller; 2000 winner Olivia Grupp; 2022 winner Danielle Barry; 2007 winner Courtney FiggHoblyn, holding daughter Lilly Duncan; 2004 winner Tina Holguin; 2005 winner Ashtan Bloomquist; 2009 winner Lindsey Bowlds; 2008 winner Kinzie Barlow; 2017 winner Hailey Riley; 2021 winner Claire Case Brackett; and 1974 winner Kathy Persico Graves. In front, from left: 1992 winner Amanda Hiatt Hower; 1988 winner Nicol Persico Kunka; 1985 winner Tracey Ford Moody holding Hadley Vogel; 1979 winner Liz Persico Day; and 2019 and 2020 winner Jaden Doak.
Congratulations to 2023 winner
Hazel Cooke
2022 winner Danielle Barry, left, poses with 2023 winner Hazel Cooke.
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Hazel Cooke was the only contant for 2023. She is pictured here with Willits Frontier Days vice president Marcy Barry.
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Past Sweethearts pose together
Congratulations to 2022 winner
Danielle Barry
2022 winner Danielle Barry, left, poses with 2021 winner Claire Case Brackett.
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Danielle Barry was the only contant for 2022. She is pictured here with Willits Frontier Days president, and her proud father, Fred Barry.
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Past Sweethearts pose together
Congratulations to 2021 winner
Claire Case Brackett
2019/2020 winner Jaden Doak, left, poses with 2021 winner Claire Case Brackett.
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Claire Case Brackett was the only contant for 2021. She is pictured here with Willits Frontier Days president Fred Barry.
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Past Sweethearts pose together including, from back row, left: Jaden Doak, Hailey Riley, Caitlyn Forrester, Riata King, Ashtan Bloomquist and Tina Shull. Front row, from left: Olivia Grupp, Nicol Perisco Kunka, Tracey Ford Moody, and Liz Persico Day with granddaughter Kaydance Lopez, 10.
Congratulations to two-term sweetheart,
Jaden Doak
Since no events were held in 2020, the 2019 winner, Jaden Doak stayed on as our 2020 representative again.
2020 contestant Samantha Arms.
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2020 contestant Madison Forrester.
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Congratulations to 2019 winner
Jaden Doak
2018 winner Lilah Garman, left, poses with 2019 winner Jaden Doak.
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Jaden Doak was the only contant for 2019. She is pictured here with Willits Frontier Days president Fred Barry.
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Willits Frontier Days past Sweethearts pose together, including from back row, left: Lindsey Bowlds, Nicol Persico, Kenzie Barlow, Lilah Garman, Ashtan Bloomquist, and Rachel Belvin. Front row: Hailey Riley, Carol Collier McClendon, Kathy Graves, Liz Day, and Olivia Grupp.
Congratulations to 2018 winner
Lilah Garman
2018 winner Lilah Garman, left, poses with 2017 winner Hailey Riley.
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Lilah Garman was the only contant for 2018. She is pictured here with Willits Frontier Days president Fred Barry.
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Willits Frontier Days past Sweethearts pose together, including from left: Rachel Belvin, Ashtan Bloomquist, Tina Shull, Olivia Grupp, Mary Fonsen, Nicol Persico, Hailey Riley, Liz Day and Kathy Graves.
Congratulations to 2017 winner
Hailey Riley
The freshly crowned 2107 Willits Frontier Days Sweetheart, Hailey Riley, left, stands with 2016 Sweetheart Halee Reed, Frontier Days President Fred Barry, and 2017 Sweetheart runner-up Keely Ahders.
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2017 winner Hailey Riley, left, poses with 2017 Willits Frontier Days President, Fred Barry, and 2017 runner-up Keely Ahders, right.
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Willits Frontier Days past Sweethearts pose together, including from back row, left: Halee Reed, Courtney Figg-Hoblyn, Riata King, Sandi Short Sandroni, Tina Holguin Shull, Ashtan Bloomquist, Mary Garrity Fonsen, Olivia Grupp, Rachel Belvin Ramirez, and Caitlyn Forrester. Front row: Melanie Ulvila, Nicol Persico Kunka, Liz Persico Day, Kathy Persico Graves and Georgeanne Dawson Croskey.
Congratulations to 2016 winner
Halee Reed
2016 winner Halee Reed stands with 2015 winner Caitlyn Forrester, right.
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Runners-up Cheyenne Walters, left, Sierra Skinner and Calayan Knight pose with 2016 Sweetheart winner Halee Reed, right.
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Willits Frontier Days past Sweethearts pose together, including from back row, left: Leslie Cogburn Scaglione, Riata King, Tori Nunnemaker Minton, Ashtan Bloomquist with daughter Aybrie peeking, Mary Garrity Fonsen with son Grady, Mattie Pinon Owen, Olivia Grupp, Rachel Belvin Ramirez, Lilja Lamkin, and Caitlyn Forrester. Front row, from left: Liz Persico Day, Kathy Persico Graves, Elizabeth Wendt Ferguson, Haley Shuck, Courtney Figg-Hoblyn, kneeling, Georgeanne Dawson Croskey and Patricia Garrity Murray.
Congratulations to 2015 winner
Caitlyn Forrester
2015 winner, Caitlyn Forrester, left, smiles with 2014 winner Haley Schuck.
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2015 runners-up Thais Reed and Dalli Fonsen smile with 2015 winner, Caitlyn Forrester, right.
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Willits Frontier Days past Sweethearts pose together, including, back row from left: Tina Holguin Shull, Ashtan Bloomquist and Lilja Lamkin. Middle row: Rachel Belvin Ramirez, Olivia Grupp, Kinzie Barlow, Tracey Ford Moody, Mattie Pinon Owen, Sandi Short Sandroni, Amy Ford, Tori Nunnemaker Minton, and Riata King. Front row: Mary Garrity Fonsen, Georgeanne Dawson Crosky, Kathy Persico Graves, Elizabeth Wendt Ferguson, Leslie Cogburn Scaglione, Courtney Figg-Hoblyn and Haley Schuck.
Congratulations to 2014 winner
Haley Schuck
2014 winner Haley Schuck, left, smiles with 2013 winner Lilja Lamkin.
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2014 winner Haley Schuck, left, with runners-up Emily Leishman and Calayan Knight, right.
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Willits Frontier Days past Sweethearts pose together, including, back row from left: Sandi Short Sandroni, Mattie Pinon Owem, Ashtan Bloomquist holding Aybrie, Tina Holguin Shull, and Olivia Grupp. Middle row, from left: Riata King, Tracey Ford Moody, Lilja Lamkin, Lanae Shuster Lamkin holding ______, Melanie Ulvila, Mary Garrity Fonsen, Tami Tharpe Romberg Mayfield, Kathy Persico Graves and Leslie Cogburn Scaglione. Front row, from left: Claire Shawnago Huffman, Rachel Belvin Ramirez, Courtney Figg-Hoblyn holding Chase, Georgeanne Dawson Croskey holding Grace, and Lindsay Bowlds holding Archer.
Congratulations to 2013 winner
Lilja Lamkin
2012 winner Rachel Belvin, left, smiles with 2013 winner Lilja Lamkin.
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Runner-up Casey Persico and 2013 winner Lilja Lamkin, right.
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Willits Frontier Days past Sweethearts pose together, including, back row from left: Riata King, __________, Kathy Persico Graves, Leslie Cogburn Scaglione, Liz Persico Day, Rachel Belvin Ramirez, Tracey Ford Moody, Melanie Ulvila, Lanae Shuster Lamkin, Olivia Grupp, Tins Holguin Shull holding Payton and Lindsay Bowlds. Kneeling in front: Nicol Persico Kunka, Courtney Figg-Hoblyn and Mattie Pinon Owen.
Congratulations to 2012 winner
Rachel Belvin
2012 winner Rachel Belvin, left, smiles with 2011 winner Riata King.
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2012 runner-up Ashley Persico, left, smiles with 2012 winner Rachel Belvin.
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Willits Frontier Days past Sweethearts pose together, including, back row from left: Riata King, Stephanie Standley Hightower, Darcy Ford, Olivia Grupp, Kathy Persico Graves, ________, Leslie Cogburn Scaglione, ________, Tracey Ford Moody, Saundra DuCross Norman, Kristine McBride Tyrrell, Nicol Persico Kunka, and Liz Persico Day. Front row, from left: Lindsay Bowlds, Courtney Figg-Hoblyn, Ashtan Bloomquist, Tina Holguin Shull, Mattie Pinon Owen, Sandi Short Sandroni, Mary Garrity Fonsen and Georgeanne Dawson Croskey.