Reigning Cover Girl, Asley Wilburn, demonstrates to this year's contestants how to drive
a tractor through an obstacle course, as one of the events, they competed in Tuesday night,
in the Hopkins County Civic Center Arena.

 

Cover Girls Rope Steers, Goat Tie,
Calf Scramble and Drive Tractor, Tuesday Night

 

by: Bobby McDonald

 

Competition got "down and dirty" in the Cover Girl Competition, on Tuesday night, as contestants competed in four events, in the Hopkins County Regional Civic Center, beginning at 6:00 p.m. "Some of this is harder than it looks like!" exclaimed one of the contestants as she "huffed and puffed" following the calf scramble. "It's all a 'luck of the draw,' I'm beginning to realize!"

 

Cover Girl Contestant Alexis Darden works on tying her goat, Tuesday night.

 

Contestant Kelley Rumsley makes certain that her goat stays tied, in the goat tying competition.

 

 

And, Contestant Katie Stewart lays the loop around the steer's head.

 

 

 

The night began with each of the eight contestants running the width of the arena to tie a goat, that always seemed to have "moving feet!" Some, mastered the skill rather quickly, while others had some difficulty in getting their ties made!

Then, it was on to the steer roping, where contestants took a lariat rope and attempted to toss it over the head of a "dummy" steer. "You've got to get you loop really big and swing it with all of your might!" advised one of the contestants, as she managed to make her mark. "It's all in making big loops and swinging really fast!"

 

Contestant Erica Iannone spreads her loop out to rope the steer in Tuesday night competition.

Cover Girl Contestant Micah Stalcup swings her rope to begin roping the steer.

 

Cover Girl contestants had the opportunity to watch the "little kids" calf scramble, before it was their turn to try to get the ribbon off the tail of some fast moving bovines. "At least the calves look smaller and a little more docile than the ones last year!" exclaimed one of the contestants.

Contestants ran the length of the Civic Center several times before catching the ribbons and realized quickly what a large place the arena is. Then, it was when the last girl was attempting to get her ribbon that the calves found an open gate and managed to run up under the bleachers on the south side of the Civic Center. "I got him corralled in a corner and got my ribbon!" exclaimed the contestant. "You see some things happen for a purpose!"

 

 

 

 

And the contestants were "off" in the calf scramble.....

 

And, things were a "little wild" in catching a calf!

 

"I'm going to be 'frank' with you girls!" exclaimed Cover Girl, Ashley Wilburn. "I haven't driven a tractor since last year, so 'watch out' when I get behind the wheel!"

However, Wilburn navigated the course and had all of the contestants following in her "tractor tracks" as the contest ensued. With only one pole "knocked down" during the entire Cover Girl Competition, organizers felt we had some pretty good tractor drivers, this year!

 

Cover Girl Contestant Tori Cotton looks relieved after completing her tractor drive, in
Tuesday night competition.

 

"Concentration and dead serious"....as contestant Arianna Leigh-Manuell focuses on
completing her tractor drive.

 

And, Cover Girl Contestant, Raven Potts, has her "eye" on the poles, when she backs through the obstacle
in Tuesday night's competition.

 

 

 

 

Judges for each event tabulated scores and accumulated points for each of the contestants, and will keep the results a secret until all event are finished and results are announced on Saturday night at the Catfish and Country Concert, when the new Cover Girl will be announced.

 

Cover Girl judges "confer" on the tractor driving points, in Tuesday night's competition.

 

 

Contestants will  meet in the Civic Center Arena again on Thursday night, when they will compete in four more events: Saddling a Horse, Cow Milking, Bottle Feeding a Calf, and Cutting-Up a Chicken, and then they will be attending a number of functions on Friday and Saturday, gathering signatures and various other competitions throughout the week.

 

 

And, Cover Girl Contestants were "all smiles" following Tuesday nights competition!

 

Congratulations Cover Girls
on a Great Night of Competition!!!

____