Current print subscribers can create a free account by clicking here
Otherwise, follow the link below to join.
To Our Valued Readers –
Visitors to our website will be limited to five stories per month unless they opt to subscribe. The five stories do not include our exclusive content written by our journalists.
For $6.99, less than 20 cents a day, digital subscribers will receive unlimited access to YourValley.net, including exclusive content from our newsroom and access to our Daily Independent e-edition.
Our commitment to balanced, fair reporting and local coverage provides insight and perspective not found anywhere else.
Your financial commitment will help to preserve the kind of honest journalism produced by our reporters and editors. We trust you agree that independent journalism is an essential component of our democracy. Please click here to subscribe.
Marissa Mansingh, 17, a student at Casteel High School and resident of Queen Creek, was recently selected the 2020 Lost Dutchman Days queen.
Ashley George, 16, a student at Benjamin Franklin High School in Queen Creek, is 2020 senior teen queen; and Jaelee Mernaugh, 13, a student at Cooley Middle School in Gilbert, is the 2020 junior teen queen. They were selected during a day-long pageant competition Jan. 4 that included horsemanship events at the Apache Junction Rodeo Grounds, 1590 E. Lost Dutchman Blvd.
Contestants for queen, senior teen queen and junior teen queen also were judged on public speaking and interviews at Elks Lodge No. 2349, 2455 N. Apache Trail in Apache Junction.
2020 LDD queen
The winner of the queen title receives a $1,000 scholarship that is renewable annually up to four years for a total of $4,000 to the accredited college, university or trade school of her choice. The award will be made available for tuition or books associated with the enrollment, according to the Lost Dutchman Days Rodeo Royalty pageant application packet.
Ms. Mansingh, who was selected 2020 Lost Dutchman Days queen, was also on the 2019 rodeo royalty court.
“I was the senior teen queen this past year and I just loved it so much, so I wanted to be queen,” she said.
She most enjoyed “interacting with the crowd, going to all of the rodeos that I went to,” Ms. Mansingh said.
She plans to major in marketing, first going to Chandler-Gilbert Community College and then to a university, she said.
Each titleholder is required to attend meetings, fundraisers and other rodeo events that are mandatory as Lost Dutchman Days rodeo royalty, according to the packet. It is the duty of each queen to promote Lost Dutchman Days throughout Arizona by attending Lost Dutchman Days-sanctioned events as well as visiting rodeos and pageants in other cities. She is responsible for carrying the title proudly and fulfilling duties assigned by the Lost Dutchman Days Rodeo Royalty Committee to the best of her ability, according to the packet.
2020 teen queens
Ms. George, 2020 senior teen queen, said she has competed for Navajo County teen queen, which she won for 2019; and Miss Teen Rodeo Arizona. She is on the Southwest Arizona Sisters Inc. drill team.
“I decided to run to represent an amazing committee and rodeo,” she said of Lost Dutchman Days.
She plans to attend school to become a veterinarian.
“I really want to become a large-animal veterinarian. I want to do my undergrad at CAC down in Casa Grande and then I want to go to UofA and do my doctorate degree,” she said.
Ms. Mernaugh, 2020 junior teen queen, was also the 2019 junior teen queen.
“Because I love the people here who support me and what all they do for us,” Ms. Mernaugh said when asked why she ran again.
“Getting to be a role model for the younger kids and show them if they have a dream they can set their mind to it and achieve it,” she said.
Competing unsuccessfully for junior teen queen was Brynn Reidhead, 13, of Val Vista Lakes in Gilbert, a student at Highland Junior High School; and for senior teen queen, Tru Hall, 14, of San Tan Valley, a student at Casteel High School in Queen Creek.
The Grand Canyon Pro Rodeo Association-sanctioned Lost Dutchman Days Rodeo is Feb. 28-March 1. In addition, all team roping will be run starting at 9 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 27, at the rodeo grounds. Additional Lost Dutchman Days events include a charity golf tournament Saturday, Feb. 1; the Lost Dutchman Days Annual Bratwurst and Budweiser Party Thursday, Feb. 27; and a rodeo dance Friday. Feb. 28.
For a schedule of events and ticket information, go to lostdutchmandays.org.
Richard Dyer Managing Editor | East Valley @RHDyer
Richard Dyer has worked at Independent Newsmedia, Inc.. USA, since 1987.
Since 2009, he has worked as a volunteer to design The Blue Guitar Magazine, Blue Guitar Jr. magazine and Unstrung magazine, which are projects of The Arizona Consortium for the Arts; and since 2014, has been overseeing the art submissions.
He also is an artist of welded-steel sculptures, selling his artwork at juried and non-juried art shows
By 
