2024 Rodeo Queen Candidates Released

The 2024 Phillipsburg Rodeo Queen contestants have been released. This year, the contest will feature two candidates, Kendall Hackerott of Canton, Ks. and Halle Barker of Manhattan, Ks.

The contest will begin Wednesday, July 31 at 9:00 a.m. at the Phillips County Fair grounds with the coronation taking place on Thursday, Aug. 1 at approximately 6:45 p.m. at the Phillipsburg Rodeo grounds. The public is invited to attend the coronation.

The first contestant Kendall Hackerott, daughter of Brandy and Tony Hancherott, is sponsored by K n K Performance Horses. Hackerott has two brothers Colton and Kyler.

Hackerott has been riding horses for eight years and her current horse is an Arabian and Quarter horse whose name is Badger. Hackerott belongs to the NCK Saddle Club, NHSRA, Cloud County Community College Equestrian, horse judging and rodeo team.

Hackerott competed in high school rodeo, specifically barrel racing, pole bending and trap shooting. Outside of school she enjoys shooting, kayaking, reading and spending time with her dog, friends and family.

Hackerott confessed she wants to become the Phillipsburg Rodeo Queen “to share my love of rodeo with others, especially in Kansas, where our Western heritage runs deep in our roots. After 104 years, Phillipsburg’s rodeo brings rodeo athletes and rodeo lovers from all over to partake in all Kansas’s Biggest Rodeo offers.”

The second candidate is Halle Barker, daughter of Kendra Hagerman and Nathan Barker. She has one brother, Hunter.

Barker has been riding horses for one and a half years. Her current horse is an American Quarter Horse named Buckwheat.

Barker currently belongs to the Kansas State University Rodeo Club. She is majoring in wildlife and outdoor enterprise management with minors in Biology and entrepreneurship and innovation. Additionally, Barker is a College of Agriculture Ambassador at Kansas State.

Barker also enjoys golfing with friends and family, hunting and fishing, showing livestock and shooting sporting clays.

Barker said she would like to be rodeo queen because, “I would be able to share my love of the sport of rodeo with fans young and old. I remember looking up to the rodeo queens when I was younger and the impact they had on me.”