By Chris Thew
Chronicle staff

     Hannah McDaniel's first memory of the Omak Stampede is sitting on her father's shoulders so she could see the World-Famous Suicide Race.
     McDaniel, 18, Tonasket, now will be at center stage as she oversees the rodeo as the 2007 Omak Stampede queen.
     "I have a lot of royalty in my family," said McDaniel, who said her mother, Vanessa (Caton) McDaniel, and two of her aunts were Tonasket Rodeo queens.
     "I always thought the Stampede was just an awesome rodeo," said McDaniel. "I really liked it and thought it would be great to be a part of it."
     McDaniel said she goes to nearly every performance of the Omak Stampede.
     "We all come down and try to get chute seats," said McDaniel. "We try to come down and watch it as a family."
     Though McDaniel enjoys the rodeo, she said many of her favorite childhood memories involve watching the World-Famous Suicide Race.
     "I love the Suicide Race. It's probably my favorite thing," said McDaniel. "Ever since my brother and I were little we used to run over to the dike when it got to be time for the Suicide Race, so we could try and see the whole thing. I think that's the best part about Stampede."
     Growing up on a farm in Tonasket, McDaniel quickly took to horses and began competing in rodeos.
     "I did a few junior rodeos," said McDaniel. "I never was probably real good at them, but I enjoyed them and I've always loved rodeo."
     In junior rodeo, McDaniel competed in barrels, poles and goat tying. Though barrels were her favorite event, she admits she probably was better at poles.
     McDaniel owns two horses: Tommy, an 8-year-old Appaloosa, and Cody, a 16-year-old quarterhorse.
     During her year as queen, she's also ridden her mother's horse, Decker, a 16-year-old quarterhorse, to give Cody a break. Tommy has some back problems and is on the mend.
     McDaniel said she likely will ride Cody for the Omak Stampede and that Miss Rodeo Washington Josie Dumas, Colville, will be riding her back-up, Decker.
     "I like Cody the best. He's my favorite," said McDaniel. "He just does his job and doesn't want you to mess with him. He doesn't like to play much."
     McDaniel, who recently graduated from Tonasket High School, plans to attend Spokane Community College for two years and then transfer to a four-year college.
     "I just plan on doing my basics for the first two years and transferring to a four-year once I know what I want to do," said McDaniel.
     As for the future, McDaniel said she would like to own her own business some day, but doesn't know what she wants to do for her major.
     McDaniel said she believes that the experience of being Omak Stampede queen has been a good one and she will continue to support the Omak Stampede for giving her the opportunity.
     "I've gotten to meet a lot of people. I've made a lot of new friends," said McDaniel. "I think it makes you branch out and you come out of your shell. You learn who you are, because you're put in situations you normally aren't put in."
     McDaniel's schedule has her hitting two or three events each week to publicize the Omak Stampede, including stops in Penticton and Keremeos, B.C.; Pendleton, Ore.; Colville and Ellensburg, and the Calgary Stampede in Alberta.
     "I have something pretty much every weekend. They keep me pretty busy, but I enjoy every minute of it," said McDaniel. "Overall, it's a wonderful experience and a once-in-a-lifetime experience that I'll always cherish."