Sonn crowned 2026 Black Hills Roundup Queen; Brownell and Dell earn royalty titles
BELLE FOURCHE—A day before kickoff festivities began for the Fourth of July celebration, some of the hardest working gals gathered to compete for the chance to represent the 7-time PRCA Medium Rodeo of the Year, the Black Hills Roundup. The 9th Annual Miss Black Hills Roundup Queen Contest was held June 29.
Beginning at 8 a.m., six contestants, three current royalty and eleven visiting queens, along with three judges, the queen coordinator, and many parents and volunteers, arrived a day before everyone else to participate in the day-long competition.
Judges for the competition were Brianne Bonnett, Larry Larson and Brittany Lambert.
The six contestants—Sadie Sonn, running for 2026 Black Hills Roundup Queen; Addison Brownell, Keaton Keil and Remi Crago, running for 2026 Black Hills Roundup Jr. Miss; and Quinn Gillen and Mesa Dell, running for 2026 Black Hills Roundup Princess—began the marathon of events hoping to win a title.
The morning started with a photogenic shoot, breakfast, welcome, orientation, introductions, Fashion Forward Style Show, modeling, impromptu speaking, speeches and media interviews, followed by lunch with the judges and finishing with personal interviews.
The next stop for the royals was changing into horse riding outfits and preparing horses for horsemanship competition at the Roundup Arena, leaving just enough time to clean up and get ready for the Black Hills Roundup sponsor kick-off party beginning at 6 p.m.
The next morning, the queen, Jr. Miss and princess contestants went to the library to read to kids, sign autographs and meet the public while promoting the Roundup Rodeo.
At the end of the competition, winners were announced just prior to the start of the Ranch Rodeo on June 30. Representing the Black Hills Roundup for the next year are 2026 Black Hills Roundup Queen Sadie Sonn, 2026 Black Hills Roundup Jr. Miss Addison Brownell, first runner-up Remi Crago, 2026 Black Hills Roundup Princess Mesa Dell and first runner-up Quinn Gillen.
Look for the royalty out and about at various events throughout the Fourth of July celebration. They will be all around the area answering questions and meeting the public. They will also be carrying flags in the grand entry and are often the first to arrive and the last to leave a rodeo, making sure everything is ready and also that everything is put away.
“Look for the queens around town. We’re having a rodeo queen scavenger hunt, and the public can get involved if they take a picture with the Rodeo Queen and post it on their Facebook page, tag Black Hills Roundup and Miss Black Hills Roundup, and you’ll be eligible to win a prize,” explained Raye Brown, queen coordinator. “They’ll be doing sponsor visits in the mornings and some in the afternoons, but they’re going to be all around town!”
It is a lot of work to be the face of the Black Hills Roundup Rodeo, but the amazing prize package helps. Each winner receives a saddle, buckle, traveling chaps, traveling vests, traveling chap bags, flag boots, contestant mugs, gift certificates, Montana Silver necklace sets, autograph sheets, photo frames and much more.
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