Where there’s a cowboy, there’s always a cowgirl! They just have to go together.
When Ogden Pioneer Days made its debut at the height of the Great Depression in 1934, nearly 25% of people were out of work. Times were grim and local leaders, including Ogden’s Cowboy Mayor, Harman W. Peery, led an effort to lift the people from their doldrums by reminding them of both their pioneer heritage and also the many things they had to be thankful for. It was a time of celebration during the week of July 24th commemorating the arrival of Brigham Young and his hardy band of Mormon Pioneers in 1847.
There had been rodeo queens before the official inception of Ogden Pioneer Days, including Hope Fox and her horse Commanche, who reigned over Ogden’s Wild West Show in 1921 as “Miss Utah.” For Ogden Pioneer Days’ second year in 1935, Marilyn Eccles was selected as the Rodeo Queen. From about 1936 until 1963 or 1964, the title was actually Pioneer Sweetheart. Thereafter, the title has been Miss Rodeo Ogden.
In a wonderful twist of fate, Hope Fox became the mother of Spencer Fox Eccles, after whom the historic Pioneer Stadium was renamed in 2024.
In 1936, the iconic image of Ogden Pioneer Days was introduced, eventually becoming known as “The Whoopie Girl,” when Lorene Donaldson had her photograph taken in a costume that replicated a famous Hollywood poster of a “rope twirling western beauty.” Her photo appeared in over 1,400 newspapers, establishing Ogden Pioneer Days as a national event.
Since then, the Miss Rodeo Ogden Pageant has been held each year, selecting a queen and two attendants to reign over the celebration and throughout the year until the next rendition of Ogden Pioneer Days the following year.