Meet Your DJJD Royalty Candidates: Britani Christensen-Cole

In just a few days, three young women will be selected as the new ambassadors of the Defeat of Jesse James Days.

A queen and two princesses will be selected from seven young women at the 7 p.m. Saturday coronation at the . Those selected receive scholarship money and represent DJJD all year at festivals, fairs and parades throughout the state.

Two youngsters will be selected as junior royalty at 2 p.m.

In the coming days, Northfield Patch will introduce you to this year's candidates.

Saturday's 2 p.m. event is $4 plus $4 for the DJJD button, which offers admittance to other events during . Saturday's 7 p.m. event is $6 plus $4 for the DJJD button.

Name: Britani Christensen-Cole

Age: 18

Parents: Dawn Christensen and Rick Cole

Employer: Northfield Dairy Queen and Timber Valley Horse Barn

Sponsor:

Education: Graduate of Northfield High School in 2011. Will be attending Cottey College in Nevada Missouri this fall.

Educational goals: I want to further my education so I can get a job to support myself later on. For the first 2 years I will be attending Cottey College to get my generals done while I decide what career path I will take. I then hope to transfer to a school that is a little closer to home.

School activities, honors, clubs, etc.: During high school I was a part of the Symphony Orchestra. I was a part of the Randolph FFA and was given my Green Hand Award (first year member)and Equine Science Entrepreneurship. I was involved in Cheerleading, Dance Team and Volleyball. My senior year I was captain of our cheerleading team. Dance team was the biggest part of my life throughout High School. My junior and senior year I was one of the many choreographers and my senior year was one of the three captains. I also received the All Conference Award.

Hobbies and recreation activities: I like to participate in volunteer programs. I have been a volunteer for the United Way Blood Drive, Crop Walk, Feed My Starving Children, and the Winter Special Olympics in Minnetonka. I also spend most of my time at my home near Dennison where I enjoy riding my horse and have recently shown him in the Rice County Fair open show and the Jesse James Days show at the Rainbow Saddle Clubs Arena. I also volunteer for the DJJD bank raids as one of the town’s people. 

Career or long-term goals: I have dreamt of becoming a veterinarian ever since I did a project about them in Fifth Grade. I know that to become a Vet I will need many years of school, but I was told “Going to a job that you don’t like is work, but going to a job you love is fun.” Since I have always loved to be both around people and animals; I decided Veterinary is a career I should pursue or consider on my career path.

Why do you want to a part of the DJJD Royalty Scholarship Program? The main reason I want to be a part of the Jesse James Days Royalty Scholarship Program is because not only to promote Jesse James Days Celebration, but to educate people about the events that occurred to our small town in 1876. I also love to volunteer and meet new people and hope to be able to do both through this scholarship program.

What do you hope to accomplish if chosen to be a part of the Defeat of Jesse James Days Royalty Scholarship Program? If I am chosen to be a part of the DJJD Royalty, I hope to be able to better educate people about DJJD and get more people to attend this event. I also hope to volunteer and help not just our own community but other communities with their events. Along with volunteering I would love to volunteer anywhere I can and help anyone who just needs that helping hand.

What is your favorite event during the Defeat of Jesse James Days Celebration and why? This is a really hard one to choose; considering our event has so many things going on every day. But if I really would have to choose I would choose the Raid Reenactments. I recently started to participate in the reenactments a couple years ago. I always loved to watch the Raids and always loved the dresses the actors would have to wear. When I became a part of the reenactments I got to see behind the scenes and loved the thrill of walking around the street just waiting for all the action to start. I’m also getting to educate the viewing audience about the history of the Jesse James and his gang.