The Limestone Sheriff’s Rodeo Pageant is looking for women ages 18-26 to be the next Miss Limestone Rodeo.

The Sheriff’s Office is accepting applications through Friday for the 35th annual event. The pageant winner will represent and promote the Limestone Sheriff’s Rodeo for the next year and compete in the Miss Rodeo USA Pageant at the International Finals Rodeo in Oklahoma City in January 2018.

Pageant committee member Jennifer McBay said ladies are chosen based on their horsemanship and communication skills. Contestants must also take a written test and go through an interview session that includes impromptu questions and a modeling session.

“Horsemanship is required because you have to be able to ride anybody’s horse,” she said. “The speech and impromptu questions are because you have to be well-spoken. We want someone who can fit in any crowd and represent the Sheriff’s Rodeo.”

Once applications are turned in, prospects will be sent home with an information packet that gives them a speech topic and mandatory events to attend.

To qualify, contestants must not have ever married or have a child or minor dependents. They must have knowledge of rodeos, how to ride a horse well and western wear.

Younger girls can compete in other divisions, including Senior Miss, ages 16-18; Junior Miss, ages 13-15; Little Miss, ages 10-12; Petite Miss, ages 7-9; and Tiny Tot, ages 3-4.

The Limestone Sheriff’s Rodeo Queen Pageant has grown over the last 35 years, beginning with a small number of contestants to seven divisions of contestants.

With the growth in the number of contestants came bigger prizes, such as trophies and horsemanship awards and — for Miss Limestone Rodeo — scholarships, a custom-made saddle from Halsey FoodService and gifts from Preston’s Western Wear, according to a press release.

Applications for the Miss Limestone Rodeo pageant are available at the Limestone County Sheriff’s Office, Preston’s Western Wear or online at www.limestonesheriffrodeo.com.