Waitsburg Cowgirl to Sing at Round-Up

WAITSBURG - Eight-year-old Makenna Barron says she can only recall one of the two times she attended the Pendleton Round-Up. She will attend for her third time next week and this visit she won't forget. The pint-sized cowgirl will kick off the week of rodeos by singing the national anthem in the Happy Canyon arena at Monday's opening night PBR Classic rodeo.

Makenna, who reigned as Miss Rodeo Washington Sweetheart last year, has rodeo in her blood. Her mom, Tracy Barron, belonged to the Pro West Rodeo Association when Makenna was born and included her from the start.

"She was born in February and the rodeos began in April. We would go to three or four events a weekend," said Tracy. At two, Makenna struck out on her own and began competing in Pee Wee Barrel Racing and Goat Tail Tying.

Makenna began singing the national anthem at rodeos two years ago when her dad, Charlie, was on the Columbia County Fair Board and organizing the rodeo there. She has never had voice lessons. When asked if she had to learn the words Makenna said, "I already knew them. I've been in a lot of rodeos!" She has opened Dayton's rodeo for the last two years.

Last year Makenna decided to see if she had what it takes to entertain the crowd at the Pendleton Round- Up. Out of 36 applicants, 15 contestants -- ranging in age from 8 to 80 -showed up to audition. Makenna, the youngest contestant, was chosen to perform on opening night.

When asked if she was nervous Makenna responded with a hearty, "Ohhh yeaah!" She says the performance will be nothing like in Dayton where she sings from the announcer's roost and doesn't have to look at the crowd.

"At the Round-Up I have to walk out to the middle of the arena and everyone will be looking at me," she said. But she's ready for the attention. Her grandma is making a sparkly pink belt to go with the silver, black and white dress her mom ordered online. "It's hanging in mom's bedroom," she said, eyes sparkling with excitement.

Makenna will sing acapella which is "a lot easier," she said. "I don't have to keep up with the music and I can take breaths whenever I want - as long as it's not in the middle of a word. I have trouble with that, sometimes."

When asked if she enjoyed Round-Up last year, Makenna said she had fun and got to talk with 2011 World Champion Calf Roper Tuf Cooper - except she didn't know who he was at the time. Tracy said she had noticed someone sitting with Makenna while she was eating lunch at last year's Walla Walla fair but didn't pay much attention. Then, at Round- Up the following weekend, Cooper walked up and said, "Hi Makenna!" When Tracy asked if she knew who that was Makenna said simply, "Some guy I ate noodles with in Walla Walla."

Waitsburg's cowgirl sweetheart will surely do the city proud, and likely return home with more tales to tell.