Welcome to the 80th annual Chief Joseph Days Rodeo! My name is Ella Hillock and I am honored to serve as this year’s Rodeo Queen. I was born and raised in beautiful Wallowa County and attend Enterprise High School. Throughout my whole life, my biggest supporters have always been my family. I am the daughter of Hannah Hillock and Jared Hillock and the stepdaughter of Hailie Hillock. I am the proud older sister to my four siblings: John, Cash, Jett, and Remi and the granddaughter of John and Gail Hillock. One thing about me is that I love expanding my horizons and trying new things! Over the years, I’ve become involved in several activities that have shaped me into the person I am today. I am active in 4-H and FFA, where I currently serve as the Enterprise FFA Chapter Reporter. I also play varsity volleyball for Enterprise High School and compete on a travel volleyball team through Eastern Oregon University. Through 4-H and FFA, I’ve taken a market hog to Wallowa County Fair for the past five years and have shown a horse on and off at Wallowa County Fair and Eastern Oregon Livestock Show for the past six years. In 2025, I qualified and competed at the Oregon State Fair with my gelding, Pepsi, which is one of my proudest accomplishments. Another opportunity I’ve enjoyed was serving on the Oregon State Horse Classics Team for two years, where I competed in Horse Judging, Hippology, and Horse Bowl. Through those experiences, I’ve gained so much knowledge about horses and the agriculture industry. After high school, I plan to attend college and get a degree in Agricultural Business with the goal of having a career in agricultural marketing or sales. Serving as Chief Joseph Days Royalty has been a dream of mine for as long as I can remember, and I am so proud to represent this rodeo as Queen. My inspiration for rodeo first came from my aunt, Celeste, who served as a princess of Chief Joseph Days, Lewiston Round-Up, and Pendleton Round-Up. A moment I will never forget was when I first saw a photo of Celeste jumping the white rail during the Pendleton Round-Up grand entry. I knew right then that I wanted to follow in her footsteps. Celeste has supported me so much throughout my experience and I am so grateful for her influence and guidance. I wouldn’t be where I am today without her. My love for Chief Joseph Days has grown with every year. From watching the rodeo as a young girl in the stands to now representing it, I’ve had such an amazing experience. Throughout my journey so far, I’ve learned what being a Rodeo Queen truly means to me. I feel so blessed to represent my community and the sport I love. Above all, I hope to inspire all the little cowgirls, just as past royalty once inspired me. The girl who once sat in those same stands, dreaming of the crown, is now wearing it. Never be afraid to dream big and chase the things that make your heart come alive. I would like to give a special thank you to my family, friends, directors, chaperones, volunteers, sponsors, and everyone who has supported me throughout this experience. Their countless hours, encouragement, and dedication have made this journey possible. Chief Joseph Days is a tradition built by hardworking people who care deeply about our community, and I am so grateful to be part of it. Thank you for being part of the 80th Annual Chief Joseph Days Rodeo. I hope you enjoy every minute of this celebration. Now it’s time to FEEL THE THUNDER!

Howdy, rodeo fans! My name is Aspen Cameron, and I will be a junior at Enterprise High School this fall. I am excited to welcome you to the 80th Annual Chief Joseph Days Rodeo and share a little about myself. I live on a farm just outside of Joseph with my parents, Nick and Jen Cameron, and my siblings, Nate and Morgan. What most people call our "funny farm" is home to a wide variety of animals, including horses, mini horses, mini and standard donkeys, pigs, chickens, dogs, cats, Scottish Highland cattle that we raise and breed, and even our family milk cow, Agatha. We are also home to the famous mini donkey Jeff, who has quite a story of his own and has become a favorite around our community and on social media. There is never a dull moment, and growing up around so many animals has taught me responsibility, patience, and a strong work ethic. From helping with newborn calves during calving season to doctoring sick animals and caring for those that need a little extra attention, I have always wanted to be involved in every aspect of animal care. I love being hands-on and learning as much as I can. Those experiences are a big reason why I want to become a veterinarian. I have been riding horses for as long as I can remember, and they have always been my favorite animals. I currently have four horses—Rita, Sweets, Cash, and Jewel. Three of them are young horses, so I spend a lot of time doing groundwork and helping them build confidence. During the summer, you can usually find me riding up the moraine right outside my back door several times a week. Some of my favorite memories have been made horseback, and I am grateful for the many mentors who have helped me grow as a rider and horsewoman over the years. One of my next goals is to learn breakaway roping. Then there is my trusty mare, Sweet Rita. Rita and I have really grown together, and she has been by my side through so many adventures over the years. Whether we're carrying flags, hitting the trails, or representing rodeo court, she is always willing to give her best. This year, she will be sharing court duties with Popsicle, another mare I have the opportunity to ride. I am excited to spend time riding and making memories with both of them. I am grateful to the Miller family for trusting me with Popsicle and for their support throughout this experience. Over the past several years, I have participated in junior rodeos, been a member of the Mountain High Broncs and Bulls Drill Team, and had the opportunity to run flags at the Elgin Stampede. These experiences have helped grow my love for rodeo and introduced me to an incredible community where contestants help one another, volunteers work behind the scenes, and families spend time together at the rodeo grounds. Rodeo celebrates hard work, determination, and our Western heritage, and I am proud to be a part of it. My parents own Wallowa County Ace Hardware, so my siblings and I have been surrounded by hard work and entrepreneurship from a young age. Those lessons inspired my brother, Nate, and me to purchase our first business, Wallowa Lake Paddle LLC, in 2024. Owning a business has given me experiences that most people my age do not get to have. Summer is one of my busiest times of year. Between helping operate Wallowa Lake Paddle, changing irrigation pipe twice a day on our farm, and running our hot dog cart, the Wienie Wagon, my days stay pretty full. No matter how busy things get, I always make time to ride and work with my horses every day. Growing up on a farm has taught me that hard work isn't something you do once in a while—it's a way of life. In addition to my involvement in agriculture and rodeo, I stay active at Enterprise High School through varsity volleyball and basketball and FFA. Whether I'm on the court, competing in FFA, or spending time with my teammates and friends, I enjoy being involved and challenging myself to learn and grow. Through FFA, I have had the opportunity to learn, compete at the chapter, district,and state levels, develop leadership skills, and meet many amazing people who share my interest in agriculture. I am grateful for the support of my family, friends, mentors, chaperones, and community, who have helped me become the person I am today. Being involved in rodeo court gives me the opportunity to share my love for horses, agriculture, and the Western way of life. I look forward to representing Chief Joseph Days, meeting new people, making memories throughout the year, and sharing this experience with my fellow court member and my best friend, Ella.