Carly Dowless was just 6 years old the first time she rode into the Philomath Frolic and Rodeo arena while joining her aunt on a drill team in a moment she says sparked a lifelong love of rodeo.
Sixteen years later, and following in the footsteps of two aunts who each once wore the crown, Dowless was named the 2027 Philomath Frolic and Rodeo queen.
Dowless, 22, was crowned Saturday night during a break in the July 11 rodeo performance. She bested the competition’s only other contestant, Sadie Polk of Eugene, for the title.
It was Dowless’ second attempt at Frolic and Rodeo queen. She previously competed for the title in 2023 when she was among four contestants vying for the crown. Katie Kulcullen, then a student at Elmira High School, won that year.
“I tried for this title three years ago and lost, and I made the decision a couple months back that I wanted to try again and represent my hometown and represent this amazing rodeo,” Dowless said a few minutes after she was crowned. “I’m just so proud of myself and my horse that we’re able to do that next year.”
Dowless will serve as queen throughout 2027 following a coronation ceremony traditionally held early in the year. She will succeed Hallie Olsen, who will continue serving as the 2026 queen through the end of this year. Ashlyn Terry will continue on as princess; no contestants competed for the 2027 princess title.
For Dowless, the crown represents more than a personal achievement — it’s a continuation of a family story rooted in Philomath’s timber industry.
“My family’s been here for five generations in the timber industry, and I am honestly just so proud to be able to continue my family’s legacy through this rodeo,” she said.
Her grandfather and her father, Carl Dowless, both own trucking businesses in Philomath that haul woodchips.
The rodeo queen title runs in the family. Dowless’ aunt Sarah (Dowless) Nelson was queen in 2009, and another aunt, Shauna (Foster) Dowless, held the title in 2011.
“My mother really helped me through all of this. She was my rock and just pushed me to do this,” Dowless said, crediting her mother, Kerri. “My aunts, my dad — I have a great support system, and my trainer, Lynn (Honey). I wouldn’t be here without her. She gave me so much support throughout this, and she helped me with my horse throughout the entire process. And I’m just so thankful that she was here.”
Dowless’ path to the title began long before this year’s competition — in fact, before she was old enough to compete at all.
“I got into riding when I was little. I used to ride with my aunt,” she said, recalling that first drill team appearance in the Frolic and Rodeo arena as a child.
She didn’t compete in rodeo growing up, instead participating in 4-H and high school equestrian throughout her time at Philomath High School. She graduated with Philomath High’s Class of 2021 and last summer earned a bachelor’s degree in agriculture science at Oregon State University. Dowless then joined the Frolic and Rodeo flag team — a decision that reignited her pursuit of the queen title.
“That got me back in here and made me realize that I really wanted to chase after that dream of being the Philomath Frolic and Rodeo queen,” she said.
This year’s queen competition unfolded over three parts — a horsemanship event Friday morning, followed by speech, modeling and an interview portion at noon, with results announced Saturday night.
Dowless said the speech and interview segments were her strongest showing.
“I personally liked the speeches and the interview the best because it gives me a chance to really talk to the judges and let them get to know me,” she said. “Through the speech topic this year, it let them get to know my family as well, which is very special to me.”
Horsemanship proved more challenging, largely because of her horse’s dislike of pattern work.
“My horse genuinely doesn’t like doing patterns, but I knew he would crush everything else, so I just had to go out there and give it our best, and that’s what we did, and it was great,” she said.
Dowless credited much of her success to her horse, Scooter, whom she’s had since she was a child.
“I’ve had Scooter for 14 years. I got him when he was a 2-year-old. I had just turned 9, something like that, and he just was my rock throughout my entire childhood. We grew up together,” she said.
The pair spent the month leading up to the competition training at the rodeo grounds.
“We’ve been coming to the Frolic grounds and riding two to three times a week to get us comfortable in the arena and get us ready for the competition,” Dowless said.
As queen, Dowless will spend 2027 serving as an ambassador for the Frolic and Rodeo, traveling throughout the Northwest to promote the community’s heritage and the western way of life — a role she says carries deep personal meaning.
“To me, I’m just so proud to be able to represent Philomath,” she said.
