2025 MHES Queen Mila Stuut and Princess Joleigh Wood pose for a portrait following their crowning Friday night during Stampede rodeo action.--News Photo Anna Smith
asmith@medicinehatnews.com
The Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede’s 2025 Queen and Princess are hitting the ground running, ready to make their reign one to remember.
On Friday evening, the results of this year’s MHES Queen competition were announced, declaring Mila Stuut as Queen and Joleigh Wood as Princess during the intermission of the Professional Rodeo.
They are, in a word, thankful, said Stuut after the crowning. Thankful, and excited for the year to come.
“This is like a once in a lifetime experience, I grew up in Maple Creek and then we had a Queen and similar committee, and then it was abolished,” said Wood. “So, having this opportunity in Medicine Hat is just definitely something that is making my childhood dreams come true.”
The routine of being royalty has been an adjustment, said Stuut, who confesses to not initially being much of a morning person, but she has found that she is already enjoying the fruits of the work she’s put in to be ready for her time bearing the crown and sash.
While she says she is “a little sad” to see 2024 Queen and Princess Charlie Christie and Charlatan Sandford leave after all the incredible support and advice they offered before, during and after competition week, she is deeply grateful to them for all the strength they provided.
“They have been fantastic role models throughout the last couple months, showing us how to act and how to interact with people and what the expectations of us are,” said Stuut.
Looking forward to their own reign however, the pair already has big plans.
“We are on a mission. We are going to make it happen, to get at least five or six girls to run next year,” said Wood. “We both agreed that we are very grateful and honoured to have this position and basically be acclimated into it, but we want to give other girls the same opportunity we had.”
She continued on to explain that, while sitting in the wagon, they had a young girl approach them and enthuse about how she’d like to be just like them growing up, further cementing for them the impact that Stampede royalty can have and the importance of helping other young women have this opportunity.
Stuut and Wood are having a swift start to their reign, with the RCMP Musical Ride just around the corner on Aug. 6 and 7.
“I think we’re gonna have an absolute blast for the whole year. And starting it off on a great foot at the RCMP, it’s gonna be so much fun,” said Stuut.
They would like to take a moment to thank the members of the committee and community, alongside the numerous sponsors which make sure the pair will always have their best foot forward while representing MHES and the city, and they encourage residents to come up and say hello when they’re out and about, even if they are not currently in their crown and sash.
