Katie Mc Eachin -- Miss Salinas Valley Fair 2008

KING CITY --  Saturday was a special day for Katie Mc Eachin of Soledad. Crowned Miss Salinas Fair Hostess, she won three of the four areas of competition, horsemanship, appearance and personality in a competition that was held in the Pavilion Building and enclosed arena at the fairgrounds in King City. Others running for the crown were Ashley Swartz of Prunedale and Kayla Curry of Carmel Valley. “I would like to give a round of applause to all three candidates,” said Rich Casey, Heritage Foundation and emcee at the event.  “It is not easy to do everything that these young ladies did and I am proud of all three of them.”

Katie will reign over this year’s Salinas Valley Fair and represent the Fair throughout the year. She is also eligible to vie for the Miss California Rodeo title next year.

“Miss Salinas Valley Fair has a very important job. She presents awards, welcomes people and generally is the official hostess for the Salinas Valley Fair,” said Marianne Madson, one of the key organizers of the event.

Katie, a junior at Soledad High School is 16.  She is currently vice president of her class and is active in student body activities.  She is a member of California Scholarship Federation and ECHO.  Also a member of the Renaissance, which is an academic club, she is also carrying a 4.0 grade point average. 

Her rodeo and horseshow experience includes showing at Carmel Valley Trial and Saddle Club, where she has won four championships.  She has also won the Buckaroo Class at the Santa Cruz County Fair.  Recently, Katie competed at the Show of Champions representing Region 10 for high school rodeo and won the state championship in Gymkhana with the highest written test score and highest riding test score. 

      Katie is the daughter of Deneen Newman and Pat Mc Eachin and stepdaughter of Larry Newman and Vern Mc Eachin.  She resides in Soledad.

Winning the Horsemanship category was Katie Mc Eachin, who was presented a cowgirl tool box donated by Tom Pettitt.  Appearance also went to Katie, who received a western “bling” belt donated by Mickey and Patty Hearne from the L.A. Hearne Company.  Scholastic portion went to Ashley Schwartz, who won a tooled leather organizer donated by King City Rotary and Rodgers Supply.  Personality category went to Katie, who won a Cowgirl Princess Bag loaded with western treasures from Bella Mia Salon and Boutique and Cowgirl Princess Clothing.

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Katie Mc Eachin, 2008 Miss Salinas Valley Fair, with her horse Ginger.