by Blake Herzog
Gianna Minton has lived in Prescott for just a couple of years but already has joined the ranks of local royalty as 2023’s junior rodeo queen for the World’s Oldest Rodeo®.
At 16 she is an avid equestrian enthusiast who participates in rodeos and shows around the region and trains horses for other riders, switching recently to homeschooling so she can have more time to devote to horses.
“I just really enjoy how horses are and working with them, I really prefer it over people,” she says. “I just love how they work with people.”
She’s been one of the top ambassadors for Prescott’s iconic event held over the week of July 4 since the 2022 edition wrapped up, so she’s traveled to rodeos and other events across the state ever since “just to represent Prescott and show them that Prescott Rodeo wants to be included in all the different areas.”
This year, the rodeo will be held June 28 to July 4 and the Senior (ages 18-23) and Junior (13-17) Courts will greet attendees, sell raffle tickets and sign autographs, as well as appear in the July 1 rodeo parade and other events.
Growing up in a horse-loving family in rural Yuba County, California, Gianna got to go for her first ride around age 1. Since they relocated to Williamson Valley, she’s been closer to her extended family and more resources for the equestrian world she loves.
Gianna says she loves the rodeo environment and being able to teach people about the ins and outs of it, especially kids.
She’s also developing her passion for reining and cutting, two equestrian events that turn on the connection between the horse and rider and their ability to work together to guide cattle or execute complex patterns.
“It’s very different from rodeo, but rodeo has a lot of great aspects to it,” she says.
In her spare time, she likes to ride with friends on state land near her family’s home in Deep Well Ranch and down to the Old Stage Stop gas station on Williamson Valley Road.
