Editor's Note: The Douglas County Fair & Rodeo marks its 108th year July 24th through August 2nd celebrating Douglas County's western and ag roots. This year's fair and rodeo features premier acts such as Trace Adkins and AWOLNATION, ProRodeo events, food and arts open class competitions, and more. Find tickets and more information douglascountyfairandrodeo.com.
As little girls dream of becoming royalty, there’s usually a crown, a ball gown, and a magical castle at the heart of their childhood fantasies. A handsome prince escorts them to the dance floor, and their subjects watch with envy as they float around the palace. It’s about enchantment, magic, and grace.
For Douglas County Fair & Rodeo Queen Taina MacDonald, royalty looks different. The crown, ball gown, and castle are replaced with a cowboy hat, spurs, and an arena. Her horse guides her as she waves and smiles at the crowd, inspiring other young women to find their passion in rodeo royalty. Sure, there’s enchantment, magic, and grace here, but there’s also determination, work ethic, and confidence.
“Rodeo means teamwork, grit, hard work, and coming together to represent the sport of rodeo to all the little kids,” Taina says. “As a little kid, I’d always watch the rodeo and just always wanted to be a part of it.”
“I had been around horses all my life,” she explains. “I love the hard work and determination that it takes to own a horse. Being raised in 4-H, I was always at our rodeo in Douglas County.”
Indeed, Taina’s love for the rodeo started at a young age with her horses. Her family owns two, and she leases a third.
As a Castle Rock resident since she was young, Taina credits her Haitian heritage and worldwide travel during her schooling with her mom for shaping how she views rodeo through a different lens.
“With my Haitian heritage and my international travel, I’ve been able to use a lot of my experiences of connecting with different cultures and religions and people like me and different from me to rodeo,” Taina explains. “It’s so much about connecting people as a rodeo queen and so much trying to get to know people and reach out and promote the sport of rodeo.”
Taina’s mother gave her the wonderful opportunity to be world-schooled, traveling to different parts of the world while being homeschooled. She has been to all the countries in South America and 75% of the countries in Europe. Those experiences have grounded her in connection, helping her understand that people from different backgrounds could come together through rodeo.
As the Douglas County Fair & Rodeo celebrates its 108th year, the popularity of this 10-day event held at the end of July has reached a next-level status. Debbie Mills, Taina’s mentor and the Douglas County Fair & Rodeo Fair Board Director, saw the $10,000 purse rise to $300,000 in her 20 years with the rodeo. Those winnings go to competitors and showcase the massive interest and value that the rodeo brings to the Douglas County community.
Taina believes that the rodeo matters more than ever when she says, “I think it connects to our roots. Douglas County originally was a big farming and ranching community. And as it grew, with more cities and houses, that kind of started to go away, but I feel like our rodeo is a time when everyone can come together and be reminded of the history of Douglas County.”
With the fair and rodeo combined, there is something for everyone. Rodeo competitors participate in everything from Mutton Bustin’ to barrel racing to bull riding and roping. Meanwhile, the fair showcases a concert; this year features country legend Trace Adkins. There is also a farm-to-table brunch where local farmers provide delicious foods from their lands. Add in carnival rides and a petting zoo, and the excitement builds throughout Douglas County in anticipation of this yearly event.
For Taina, her involvement as queen started a year ago. The grueling process of the royalty pageant, featuring speeches, interviews, modeling, and riding, brought about a confidence she had striven for throughout the process. The experience has helped her inspire other young girls.
“I would say just do it,” Taina says about trying out for the royalty. “Get out of your comfort zone. There’s never going to be a time you feel fully ready, and if you just get out there, you may not win, and that’s fine. But the community out there that is supporting you and the girls out there that are supporting you is amazing. Just ask your questions, study, and arrive.”
As the rodeo remains a valuable way of life, it demonstrates how everyone is connected to it. From agriculture and competitions to the royalty program, residents reap the benefits of this incredible community, keeping it relevant in an ever-changing urban landscape.
“Through my experience, the biggest thing I’ve learned is that leadership is serving others,” Taina says. “A lot of people think as rodeo queen you are in the spotlight the whole time, and that is a big part of it. But also serving your community and trying to be the person who cheers on the little kids out there and be the one who represents the sport of rodeo and try to get the word out there.”
An avid horse lover, Taina will ride her leased horse Rusty in the royalty parade in Downtown Castle Rock on July 25. Her history of barrel racing, reined cow horse, and Western Dressage keeps her attuned to the horses and their demeanor.
“Before I get on my horse, I lunge them [lead them with a rope around in a circle],” Taina says. “And you can tell if they’re tentative…You figure out how they move and how you can connect that to how you ride.”
With this remarkable woman as queen of the rodeo and high school in the rearview mirror, Taina has enjoyed every step of the process.
“I think being part of the rodeo and the community, every single one of the girls who try out and are part of royalty throughout Colorado and some we’ve met in Wyoming are all so kind and just want to see you succeed.”
"Being raised in 4-H, I was always at our rodeo in Douglas County.”
"Serving your community and trying to be the person who cheers on the little kids out there and be the one who represents the sport of rodeo and try to get the word out there.”