top of page
Image-empty-state.png
Sue Ellen Smith

Class of 2017

​According to her mother Sue Ellen was sitting on a horse before she could sit up. Needless to say horses have been a significant part of her life. At the age of six she received an Annie Oakley outfit. When Cisco the Kid was at the Snake River Stampede, he picked her up (in her Annie Oakley outfit) and rode around the arena with her. This was the determining factor that would make her the Snake River Stampede Queen one day.

Her father was a horse trainer, farrier, and roper. During junior high and high school she trained horses and gave riding lessons. She also barrel raced at rodeos. In 1968, she started competing in queen contests, winning the Boise Valley Roping Club, Riggins Rodeo, Magic Valley Horseshow, Snake River Stampede, and Buhl Sagebrush Days. Sue Ellen was voted Miss Congeniality for the Caldwell Night Rodeo, and second runner-up to Miss Rodeo Idaho.

In 1969 she was the mascot for Boise State College. She would run Old Pat down the track every time they made a touchdown for the Bronco’s. She has been a counselor and/or helper at Rodeo Bible Camps since 1986 and she was the Riggins Rodeo Queen coordinator.

She and her husband Larry have been judging/timing rodeos since 2004. They do ICA, Prowest open and High School rodeos. They have had the privilege of timing the ICA finals. They became Gold card holders in the ICA in 2011.

The Blue Mountain Community College practices at their place for the timed events during the fall and spring terms. This past year they have been starting a horse for their granddaughter (and maybe grandma) to run barrels on.

bottom of page