The 2012 San Juan County Fair kicks off its first event of the year on May 23 as nine young women will compete in the Blue Mountain Round-up Rodeo Queen contest.

The speech competition will begin Friday, May 25 at 5:30 p.m. at the San Juan County Fairgrounds in Monticello. The horsemanship competition will follow immediately after.

The young women will compete in three different areas: speech, interview and horsmanship. The speech and horsemanship events are open to the public to watch and are free to attend.

At the end of the night, a Queen, Princess, and two attendants will be crowned to represent the San Juan County Fair, which opens August 3 with the Blue Mountain Round-up Rodeo.

Contestants competing in the Senior division are Kylee Fullmer, daughter of Kyle and Melissa Fullmer of Monticello;  Kesley Backus, daughter of Brian and Kelsie Backus of Spanish Valley; and Amanda Grover, daughter of Erik and Janalee Grover of Blanding.

Contestants competing in the Junior division are Jordyn Moon, daughter of Justin and Cassy Moon of Blanding; Shelby Fullmer, daughter of Kyle and Melissa Fullmer of Monticello; Megan Grover, daughter of Preston and Tara Grover of Blanding; Kiley Tracy, daughter of Charley and Kim Tracy of Monticello; Kortney Backus, daughter of Brian and Kelsie Backus of Spanish Valley; and Kendall Harris, daughter of Joe and Kasey Harris of Monticello.

For more information on events and contests for the upcoming San Juan County Fair, join them on Facebook or text “sjcfair” to 91011.