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Miss Gem State Stampede

2025 Miss Gem State Stampede

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Amelie Johnson, a true Coeur d’Alene local, has been a part of this community since she was 4 years old after moving from Louisiana with her parents. Although Idaho is her true home, she’s not afraid to show her southern charm or hospitality and is proud of her southern roots. Growing up Amelie was very active in the Coeur d' Alene community as a horse 4-H member and loved competing in all of the local horse shows, attending roadside clean ups, and competing in county oral presentations. Currently, Amelie is a Junior at Eastern Washington University in pursuit of degrees in Social Work and Spanish with a minor in Psychology. With both parents in the medical field, Amelie developed a passion for helping people from a very young age. Her goals are to be a medical Social Worker at Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital. Ultimately, she would like to become an equine therapist for children and adults, tying in her love for the agricultural equine world with modern medicine. When she’s not riding in a rodeo, Amelie can be found skiing on the slopes of Silver Mountain, cooking Cajun food for her friends, working at Texas Roadhouse as a waitress, or playing with her two horses, Newt and Houdini. During this time in her life, Amelie has achieved many of her dreams, one of which being rodeo queening. As a little girl, Amelie grew up attending the Gem State Stampede and was always completely enamored by the grit, grace, and beauty of the girls running hot laps around the arena. In 2023, Amelie had the honor of being crowned Miss Spokane Interstate Rodeo and loved every second of her year but she truly feels at home as the 2025 Miss Gem State Stampede and is ecstatic to represent this year with pride and love. The North Idaho State Fair and Gem State Stampede is a second home to Amelie and her family and she is honored to hold this prestigious title and to represent during this year with her entire heart.

2025 SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

Sponsorship Tri-Fold

Sponsorship Opportunities
- Diamond ($500)
- Gold ($250)
- Silver ($150)
- Bronze ($100)

Thank you to our 2024 program sponsors!

Queen Sponsor

23 MGSS Sponsor

Our Past Queens

2024 Miss Gem State Stampede

Ainsley Goughnour, is the 20 year old daughter of Matt and Cori Goughnour of Naples, Idaho and sister to Alexis who has encouraged her to chase her dreams. Ainsley is currently a Junior attending the University of Idaho studying Agriculture Education with a minor in Agricultural Sciences Communications and Leadership. Growing up in an agriculture community has played a huge role in her life and shown Ainsley the importance of community and the impact you can have on people, and she can’t wait to follow her passion and continue to educate herself in agriculture and share that passion with others.

2023 Miss Gem State Stampede

Hayven Chase, is the 19 year old daughter of Reed and Roxanne Chase of Athol, Idaho. Hayven is a student at the University of Idaho where she is pursuing a degree in animal and veterinary science. Although Hayven wasn’t born in Idaho, while her parents were in the Air Force, they chose to return to her mother’s native home of North Idaho. She has grown up in the local area attending the North Idaho State Fair and the Gem State Stampede every year. Her passion for horses has kept her very busy even training her five-year-old gelding, Legacy, from birth.

Over her reign, she made 72 appearances as MGSS and traveled around 4,444 miles from as far south as Twin Falls, Idaho and as far west as Redmond, Oregon.

2022 Miss Gem State Stampede

Brianna Hoekstra, is the 19-year-old daughter of Jonathan and Jennifer Hoesktra of Athol, Idaho. Brianna was born right here in Coeur D’Alene and has spent many years living in Idaho, but growing up her father was in the military so she got the opportunity to live in many places, even in Okinawa, Japan. She is happy to have finally settled back down in the place she truly calls home; she only wishes that there was less snow and ice so she could ride her horses all winter.

Brianna spent her year attending local PRCA Events representing the Gem State Stampede.

2020/2021 Miss Gem State Stampede

Ashley Bennett is the 18-year-old daughter of Greg and Tawnya Bennett. She lives in Hayden, Idaho, with her horses right outside her front door. She is currently attending North Idaho College, and is working towards a degree in medical billing and coding. Aside from that, she works at a local coffee shop, where she has the pleasure of meeting many new people from our community. On the rare occasion when Ashley is not spending time with her horses you will find her doing other things she enjoys like; swimming in the lake, playing volleyball, hiking, and helping others in any way possible. Ashley also devotes time as a volunteer for a local youth group as a small group leader.

She grew up and flourished in 4-H, once her dad convinced her that horses weren’t as scary as she thought they were. Her parents have always supported her with all the different horse activities she wanted to participate in.

2019 Miss Gem State Stampede

Maranda Montgomery spent her year as Miss Gem State Stampede 2019, promoting rodeo and making each community better. She earned quite a list of adoring fans that would drive across the country to attend rodeos she was attending. The Kindest cowgirl you will ever meet, she carried on the prestige of the title as she traveled to over 60 appearances.

2018 Miss Gem State Stampede

Alex Sheets followed her dream and became the 5th young lady to wear the crown as Miss Gem State Stampede 2018. Alex’s love for the Fair & Rodeo showed as she shared her passion with others. Her attendance to events across the Northwest brought her great adventures and friendships. Miss Alex did an excellent job during her reign.

2017 Miss Gem State Stampede

Taylor Hill represented the Gem State Stampede in 2017. She was focused on her job to promote our rodeo and the importance of agriculture by visiting many youth camps and clubs in our area. Her travels across the Northwest provided opportunities to attend almost 40 events. Taylor’s genuine personality had a profound impact upon everyone she encountered.

2016 Miss Gem State Stampede

Cassy Ripatti was crowned Miss North Idaho Fair & Rodeo her reign was unique that she also carried forward the rodeo name change becoming Miss Gem State Stampede later in the year. Also a representative of the North Idaho State Fair, Cassy made 40 appearances throughout the year all over the northwest.

Miss North Idaho Fair & Rodeo 2014-2015

Haley Jackson Miss North Idaho Fair & Rodeo 2014-2015. Miss Haley was crowned during the fair in 2014 and held the reign for a little over a year. She attended over 30 functions including rodeos, parades, luncheons, community events and represented the North Idaho Fair & Rodeo during the Miss Rodeo Idaho Pageant, winning horsemanship and congeniality.

Miss North Idaho Fair & Rodeo 2013-2014

Jessica Norlander, Miss North Idaho Fair & Rodeo 2013-2014; Miss Jessica was the first young lady to wear the crown. Jessica was crowned during the taping of Chicks N Chaps for the Queen Latifah show at fair in 2013 and made over 20 appearances, attending rodeos, parades, luncheons, and community events.