Union-Bulletin

WALLA WALLA -- It was a royal night for fair and rodeo fans Thursday.

At a dinner and show at the fairgrounds, the Walla Walla Fair & Frontier Days royal court was introduced as was the opening act for this year's concert. Also announced were the parade co-marshals as well as this year's theme, which is "Making Tracks to the Fair."

The Band Perry, made up of siblings Reid, Kimberly and Neil Perry, was introduced as one of the acts for this year's concert. The event's second artist will be announced at a later date, organizers said. Concert tickets will go on sale March 19 and daily thereafter at the county fairgrounds main ticket office.

Queen of the 2011 royal court will be Madeline Jensen of Dayton. The 17-year-old daughter of Melissa and Patrick Jensen, she is a student at Dayton High School with plans to attend Eastern Oregon University in La Grande to major in nursing. She will ride her 12-year-old sorrel quarter horse, Cactus Jack, and Dually, a 19-year-old chestnut gelding.

This year's princesses are Brittney Cutlip and Amanda Quintal. Cutlip, 17, is the daughter of Cindy and Richard Cutlip of Walla Walla and is a Walla Walla High School student.

Her plans are to attend Walla Walla Community College before transferring to Eastern Washington University to major in education.

Quintal is the 16-year-old daughter of Kathy and John Quintal of Weston. She is a Weston High School student with plans to enroll in the nursing program at Walla Walla Community College after graduation.

During the rodeo, Cutlip will ride her 19-year-old palomino, Goldie, while Quintal will ride her 15-year-old mare, Missy.

Sharing the honor of co-marshaling this year's parade will be Connie Vinti and Rose Hof.

Both have been longtime supporters of fair and 4-H activities, working in a wide variety of roles to help organize the annual fair and rodeo events.

The 2011 Fair & Frontier Days will begin Aug. 31 and run through Sept. 4, with the Frontier Days Parade set for Sept. 3 through downtown Walla Walla.

Andy Porter can be reached at andyporter@wwub.com or 526-8318. Check out his blog at blogs.ublabs.org/randomthoughts.