Fourteen of the 55 North Washington Rodeo Queens were on hand for opening night Tuesday. They are, from left, Lanae Mortimer, 2013; Amanda Dillaman, 2006; Crystal Baptiste, 1998; De Anna Scheerbaum, 1989; Lacee Scheerbaum, 2012; Brianna Ivory, 2009; Miranda Stoner, 2011; Jennifer Pistorius, 2008; Jennifer Morrow, 2004; Christine Puryear, 1986; Carly Lazzo, 2010; Denise Kabay, 1985; Nancy Myers, 1979, and Laurel Johnson, 2014, on horseback.

NORTH WASHINGTON — Some former royalty visited the 55th North Washington Rodeo on Tuesday night when 14 rodeo queens were presented lifetime passes to the rodeo.

Jim Zanella, rodeo chairman, said the business card-sized leather passes bear the name of each past queen and the year she was crowned.

“We did it two events into the rodeo. That’s when we traditionally present the queen with roses and right after that we did the presentation,” Zanella said.

This year’s queen is Laurel Johnson of Chicora. She works as a groomer at Winning Key Farms in Slate Lick.

Zanella said if any former queens who were not at Tuesday’s presentation would like to attend the rodeo, they should call him at 724-287-6170 and perhaps a second presentation could be scheduled.

The weeklong event, which runs through Saturday, benefits the North Washington Volunteer Fire Department.