Queen Page stays on the move
Chronicle photo by Alex Paul
Page Davisson will reign over the 75th Omak Stampede.

Submitted photo
Omak Stampede Queen Page Davisson at age 5, riding Black Beauty, a Christmas Eve present 13 years ago.
 
By Alex Paul
Chronicle staff

     Miss Omak Stampede Page Davisson is a young woman on the move.
     The recent Tonasket High School graduate is busy this summer representing the 75th Omak Stampede throughout the Northwest and Canada and also works at The Corner Bistro, Omak, earning money for her freshman year at Eastern Washington University.
     She said she set her sights on being the Stampede queen after enjoying her time as the Tonasket Founders’ Day queen last summer.
     The rodeo is a natural fit for Davisson, who said she has been “riding a horse since I could walk. Riding a horse is a partnership. If you don’t click with your horse, your horse won’t do well. You have to work as a team.”
     Davisson’s horse, Buddy, is a palomino quarter-pony quarter horse. He’s 8 1/2 years old.
     She also has competed in barrel racing and junior rodeos.
     During high school, Davisson was active in softball, tennis and basketball. She also has been involved with FFA and showed pigs and sheep at the county fair.
     She graduated with a 3.4 grade point average.
     Davisson earned the national scholar-athlete award and eight scholarships to Eastern, where she plans to study physical therapy, she said.
     She said she would like to move back to the Tonasket area after college and to “give back to the community that has been so good to me.”
     Davisson is the daughter of Deanna and Eric Strandberg, Tonasket, and Jeff and Lauri Davisson, Riverside. Her father was involved with the World-Famous Suicide Race for many years.
     “I’m looking forward to working with the little kids on kids’ night,” Davisson said of the upcoming Stampede. “I love kids and I like the family oriented activities that night.”
     Davisson has three siblings, Raylene, 24; Brook, 16, and Samuel, 9.
     In what little free time she has, Davisson said she enjoys swimming at Palmer Lake near Loomis.
     “Page is one of the better queens we have ever had, in my opinion,” said Ed Thiele, a member of the Stampede board of directors.
     “We took her to the state Capitol in Olympia and she was wonderful,” he said. “She is intelligent and she impressed the legislators. We were even invited to the office of the speaker of the House. She has a wonderful personality that attracts people and she’s smart. She’s really a standout queen.”
     Royalty sponsors include A Cut Above, Alpine Veterinary Clinic, Anchor Printing, Anne Schneider, Concrete Creations, Dairy Queen, Damskov Auto Sales, David and Sarah Grooms, Deb Ritch, DeTro’s Western Store, Fiddler Fencing, Harrison Jewelers, Havillah Road Printing, Ivadell Sullivan, Jack and Karmen Beeman, Janet Dengel, Jennifer Tollefson Photography, Lola Powers, Lori Cook, Lorna’s Fancy Stitches, Mary Kay Cosmetics, Melissa Sexton and Jan Ames, Pepsi/ Weinstein Beverage, Sunrise Chevrolet, Pro Stitch Embroidery, Puttin’ on the Ritz, Rawson’s, Rodstol’s, Sandi Buzzard Accounting, Sexton Equine Center, Shell/Taco Time Express, Studio Off Main, Unicel and Wells Fargo.
Schedule of events
Wednesday, Aug. 6
5-11 p.m.Davis Shows carnival opensEast Side Park
6-9 p.m.Omak Western and Native Art Show kickoffCourtyard Downtown
Thursday, Aug. 7
All dayStampede outreachTriangle Park area
8 a.m.Kick-off ride-in*Fairgrounds to Stampede grounds
9 a.m.-8 p.m.Omak Western and Native Art ShowCourtyard Downtown
4 p.m.Wrangler Kids’ NightStampede arena
5-11 p.m.Davis Shows carnivalEast Side Park
6 p.m.Indian Encampment opening ceremoniesEncampment area
7 p.m.Omak Stampede PRCA RodeoStampede arena
After rodeoWorld-Famous Suicide RaceSuicide Hill
*-Sponsored by the Okanogan Team Penners Association
Friday, Aug. 8
All dayOmak Stampede Indian EncampmentEncampment area
All dayChristians-in-Action Stampede outreachTriangle Park
7 a.m.Slack - timed eventsStampede arena
9 a.m.-8 p.m.Omak Western and Native Art ShowCourtyard Downtown
4 p.m.-midnightDavis Shows carnivalEast Side Park
7 p.m.Omak Stampede PRCA RodeoStampede arena
After rodeoWorld-Famous Suicide RaceSuicide Hill
After rodeoDance featuring Scott Smith and SROArena dance area
Saturday, Aug. 9
All dayOmak Stampede Indian EncampmentEncampment area
All dayChristians-in-Action Stampede OutreachTriangle Park
9 a.m.-8 p.m.Omak Western and Native Art ShowCourtyard Downtown
10 a.m.Omak Stampede Kids’ ParadeStaging at Civic League Park
Parade on Main and Ash
11 a.m.-midnightDavis Shows carnivalEast Side Park
11:30 a.m.Omak Stampede Board vs. Indian
Encampment stick game
Encampment area
1-3 p.m.EquiFaithStampede arena
7 p.m.Omak Stampede PRCA RodeoStampede arena
After rodeoWorld-Famous Suicide RaceSuicide Hill
After rodeoDance featuring Scott Smith and SROArena dance area
Sunday, Aug. 10
All dayOmak Stampede Indian EncampmentEncampment area
8:30 a.m.Western church serviceTriangle Park
10 a.m.Stampede grand paradeDowntown Omak
10 a.m.-3p.m.Omak Western and Native Art ShowCourtyard Downtown
11 a.m.Davis Shows carnivalEast Side Park
2 p.m.Omak Stampede PRCA RodeoStampede arena
After rodeoWorld-Famous Suicide RaceSuicide Hill