Fernley High School sophomore Amanda Downs, who holds the Nevada Region 3 high school rodeo queen title, will compete for the title of Nevada state queen at the Humboldt County Fair Grounds in Winnemucca today through June 22.

One girl will be selected queen from several regions representing high school rodeo clubs throughout Nevada.

The competition was Tuesday, with modeling, speech and impromptu competitions at the Martin Hotel and the Queen's Dinner. The results were unavailable at press time.

The Nevada State High School Rodeo Association, whose slogan is "Cowboy-up!" "encourages High School students to participate in rodeo by sending qualifying students to the National High School Finals Rodeo where they represent the State of Nevada in competition," according to its Web site.

Downs has attended Fernley schools for several years. She enjoys cheerleading, riding, and competing in rodeo and cheerleading competitions.

"She has forever ridden" horses, according to her mother, Cheri Downs. "Because our horses are primarily therapy horses, Amanda is experiencing her first year participating in rodeo."

Downs' mother coaches her in cheerleading and riding. She has lifelong experience caring for horses as well as riding

She helps with the family's small group of horses daily. They are primarily trained to be therapy horses, which help children at risk and special-needs individuals gain confidence and better physical conditioning.

For more information about the Nevada State High School Rodeo Association and the results of the state finals, go to http://www.nshsra.org. For more information about the Downs' equine therapy horses, go to http://downshorseplay.googlepages.com.