Josilyn Fullerton will reign as 2020 Pendleton Round-Up Queen

PENDLETON–Dayton will be well-represented on the royal court of the Pendleton Round-Up with 2017 Dayton High School graduate Josilyn Fullerton being named the 2020 Round-Up Queen, and 2019 D.H.S. grad Kaleigh White selected as one of four members of the Round-Up court.

In fact, Fullerton and White, when traveling in 2013 as Junior Miss Rodeo Washington and Little Miss Rodeo Washington, respectively, used to “kind of joke about one day being on the Pendleton Round-Up court together,” Fullerton said. “It is special when it worked out that way,” White added.

Fullerton, 20, the daughter of Greg and Nikki Fullerton of Dayton, will reign over the 110th Pendleton Round-Up September 16-19, 2020. White, 18, is the daughter of Fred and Kelly White of Dayton.

“Rodeo and the ag industry has played such a huge part in my life,” Fullerton said. “I am excited to give back to the community by representing the Pendleton Round-Up.”

Fullerton, a Pendleton Round-Up Princess in 2018 and the Queen of the Walla Walla Frontier Days during its 150th Sesquicentennial Anniversary in 2016, pointed to her upbringing in Dayton and the Columbia County community as having a profound role in leading to this honor.

“It couldn’t have happened without everybody’s support throughout the years,” Fullerton said, giving a nod to family and friends who gave their time to youth activities over the years. “From AAU basketball, all through high school, all the people who have supported me and shaped me through my upbringing, I really couldn’t have done it without them. Their constant love and support, it means so much.”

White expressed similar feelings. “We have such a supportive community,” she said. “I don’t think I could’ve achieved this without the support of the community. I’m really thankful and I proud that I can represent Dayton while I’m representing the Pendleton Round-Up.”

While serving as Round-Up Queen, Fullerton, White and the princesses will pay it forward by supporting Farmers Ending Hunger, an Oregon nonprofit that rallies agricultural producers—farmers and ranchers—to donate a portion of their harvest to fight hunger in Oregon.

Fullerton’s grandparents are Barbara Fullerton of Dayton and the late Dwight Fullerton, and Joe and Jane (Lembke) Kassuba of Kennewick.

She graduated from Dayton High School where she earned multiple honors while participating on the varsity volleyball and basketball teams. She was a 2016 All-State Selection and she earned the Most-Inspirational honor for her efforts on the volleyball court. In addition to the volleyball and basketball honors, she was the FFA Chapter President from 2015-2017.

She now attends Walla Walla Community College where she is a President’s List National Finalist in Person Interview and Equine Science for NPSASO (National Post-Secondary Agricultural Science Student Organization) and a contestant on the Walla Walla Community College Rodeo Team competing in barrel racing and goat tying. Fullerton is majoring in Agriculture Business and Animal Science. She will graduate from WWCC in 2021 with a Bachelor’s of Science in Agriculture Systems, with a focus in Ag Business.

Queen Josilyn will share her reign with White and three other well-qualified Princesses selected from a wide field of applicants.

Princess Kaleigh graduated from Dayton High School in 2019, earning numerous awards and recognition for her academic and athletic efforts including: High Honors (4.0 GPA for two-semesters), Principal’s List (four semesters), Honor Roll (two semesters), four-year varsity letter in volleyball, three-year varsity letter in softball, Washington Junior Rodeo Queen, FBLA Regional Champion – Public Speaking, and numerous FFA awards. In addition to her various accolades, she was the recipient of the Dayton Chamber of Commerce Youth of the Year in 2018.

“I have been dreaming of this moment since I was four years old,” White said. “I am proud and honored to continue our family involvement with the Pendleton Round-Up for the 110 years.”

Through her efforts in high school, she received numerous scholarships in order to pursue a Political Science degree from Gonzaga University. She has been recognized for the Dean’s Scholarship at Gonzaga University.

White has a rich family history rooted in the Pendleton Round-Up. Her family has served in many roles including: Pendleton Round-Up Directors (Great-Great-Great Uncles: Roy Bishop and Chauncey Bishop); Pendleton Round-Up Court members (Great Aunt: Melinda Bishop MacColl – Princess 1970; Grandmother: Becky Bishop Martin – Princess 1974; Aunt: Whitney White Hunt – Princess 2005 and Queen 2007), many Native American Beauty Pageant Judges and providing Championship Awards (Pendleton Blankets).

White’s grandparents are Ruth Shearer of Starbuck and Tim Snyder of Dayton, and Rebecca Martin of Walla Walla and Pepper White of Lewistown, Mont.

Princess Makayla “Kayla” Jean Ann Fossek, of Pendleton, Ore., is the 19-year-old daughter of Robert and Jennifer Fossek of Pendleton. Kayla graduated from Pendleton High School and is currently attending Blue Mountain Community College. She was involved in FFA all of her four years of high school, including serving as Vice-President and Sentinel. She was an honor roll student, played volleyball and was active in various ag programs.

Kayla has participated in the American Indian Pageant and has many family members who have won the pageant. She is a recent Happy Canyon Princess, serving in this role last year. She is extremely excited to be one of the select few ladies that have had the opportunity to serve on both the Happy Canyon and Pendleton Round-Up Courts. Kayla said “I have never missed a Pendleton Round-Up in my 18 years and I want to be added to the list of ladies that have served on both sides of the fence (Happy Canyon and Round-Up).”

Princess Lyla Lindquist, of Pendleton is the 21-year-old daughter of Jennifer Keeton. Lyla graduated from Pendleton High School and is currently attending Blue Mountain Community College pursuing her Ag Business degree. Once she completes her degree at BMCC, she will be beginning career as a florist.

Growing up in a small town in central California then moving to Pendleton, she attended her first Round-Up when she was 10. The experience was life changing. “I was blown away by the power and grace of the ladies on the Pendleton Round-Up Court,” said Lyla. This experience, along with her mother’s support and involvement with the Pendleton Round-Up, has strengthened her passion and commitment to achieving the goal of becoming a member of the 2020 Round-Up Court.

She has been involved with several other aspects of the Round-Up including being a pennant bearer, working in the Dance Team Nacho Booth and pushing cattle.

“I am not only excited about being a Pendleton Round-Up Princess, but also having the honor to serve and represent our community this year,” said Layla.

Princess Lauren Makin, of Wallowa, Ore., is the 20-year-old daughter of Bryan and Kit Makin of Wallowa. Lauren graduated from Joseph Charter School and attended Eastern Oregon University, where she was recognized for her academic performance on the 2017-18 Dean’s List. Lauren has two sisters: Courtnie and Taylor.\

“I am excited to connect with the community and be a part of the Round-Up tradition,” Makin said. “I want to join prior Round-Up Court members to be part of a special experience representing the community and the Pendleton Round-Up.”

In addition to being the 2015 Eastern Oregon Livestock Show Princess, she was the 2016 Chief Joseph Days Rodeo Queen.

She was very active in high school, participating in sports with her favorites being volleyball and basketball. She also enjoyed riding and showing her horse, and raising and showing cattle for 4-H and FFA.

Lauren’s accomplishments consist of being a member of the 2015 Eastern Oregon Livestock Show Princess, FFA Greenhand Treasurer/Star Greenhand/Historian/Reporter, member of the National Honor Society, Sophomore Class Vice-President and the A.S.B. treasurer, Junior Class President, 4-H club President for three years, received 4-H County medals in both horse and livestock, 2015 Offensive player in basketball and the 2017 Varsity Basketball Team Captain.

Lauren currently resides in Pendleton and works as an Expanded Functions Dental Assistant at Dr. Robert Alan Pratt Dental in Pendleton.

The 2020 Court was announced at the Pendleton Round-Up Court Introduction Breakfast, Saturday, November 30.

The Pendleton Round-Up began in 1910 as an exhibition of frontier lifestyle and will celebrate its 110th year September 16-19, 2020. The event attracts well over 50,000 attendees from all over the country and internationally. It raises money for local charities and a growing scholarship program. Each Round-Up Court member will be awarded a $5,000 scholarship. The Pendleton Round-Up is a six-time recipient of the Large Outdoor Rodeo of the Year from the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association (PRCA), including four consecutive years of2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018.

Pendleton Round-Up is a volunteer-run organization with around 1,000 volunteers annually required to produce the week-long event including the rodeo, Happy Canyon Night Pageant, Professional Bull Riding performances, outdoor concert, Westward Ho! Parade, Children’s Rodeo and the largest Native American tipi village in North America; along with lots of shopping, food, music and dancing. It is renowned for being the best place on the planet to see REAL cowboys and Indians!