People in this state should be bursting with pride over the accomplishment of a 21-year-old young woman who learned to sit a horse at age 2.

One of North Dakota's bright young cowgirls represented her home state and herself so well in the Miss Rodeo America competition that she'll have a year's reign to be an embodiment of professional rodeo all around the country and in other countries.

Miss Rodeo North Dakota Ashley Andrews prevailed in Las Vegas on Saturday at the 52nd pageant, the judges' choice over rodeo queens from 27 other states.

The 21-year-old University of Mary student majoring in communications, public relations and political science swept the speech and personality contests and aced the written test.

Andrews, from Bowman, also has prevailed in one of life's tests.

At her young age, she's been through being diagnosed with cancer - Hodgkin's disease, a cancer of the lymphatic system - enduring treatment of it and not long ago hearing the pronouncement that the disease is in remission.

"Getting cancer and being a big-haired rodeo queen," she said, smiling ruefully when addressing one group. So she made friends with a few wigs. And never stopped being a beauty.

Andrews will have a busy year as a rodeo ambassador. But she'll have her education to which to return to afterward, being rewarded by scholarships of $10,000, $1,500 and $500.

People who know her swear that she won't stop being a North Dakota partisan after ceasing to be the state rodeo queen.

She'll be a face of North Dakota to friendly crowds. Rodeo fans love their bull riders, their saddle bronc cowboys and their barrel racers - and they love their rodeo queens, especially the one who reigns over them all.

Andrews will take over as Miss Rodeo America in a few days at the final session of the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas. After that, it's off and running to make 100 rodeos as well as a slew of other appearances. Her entry into the arena spotlight as the queen, with the bright light glinting from the Black Hills Gold crown fitted to her cowboy hat, will come at the National Western Stock Show and Rodeo in Denver next month.

All North Dakotans should be cheering her on this coming year, joining with her biggest fans, her folks, Bob and Rita Andrews, and her five older brothers and sisters.

Cheer her riding, cheer her beauty, cheer her courage and tenacity as a survivor. Cheer Ashley.