Killin’ it
Joe, Jordan run away with traditional sheep butchering contest
WINDOW ROCK
Eight young ladies dressed in their velveteen traditional dresses and moccasins sat with impeccable posture, and waited patiently to begin the pivotal point of the Miss Navajo Nation pageant – the sheep butchering.
The sheep and bread making competitions, plus the question and answer session, were all wrapped up into one morning of fierce competition. This session is always a crowd-pleaser.
And the contestants — Kaylee Renata Begay, Ronda Joe, Deidra Wilson, Alissa Kate Copi, Shannon Lynnise Gorman, Mariah Nicole Claw, Atheina Danylle Claw, and Rodina Jordan — each was determined to not only give the crowd what they wanted, but to also start the Miss Navajo pageant with a bang.
“Respect them and cheer them on,” said current Miss Navajo Alyson Shirley right before the contestants began to butcher. “If they struggle, encourage them to keep going. How many thousands of girls do we have on the reservation, and only eight stepped up to participate today, so that’s why I don’t want any negative comments.”
There was no utterance of negativity from the crowd as they cheered on the contestants from start to finish of the competition. This year the contestants were paired with one another. They each drew their partner’s name and so the luck of the draw played a big role in how they fared when it came to the task.
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