Border Days Queen Cressis Holes
2024 Border Days Queen Cressis Holes has a long history in the saddle. Literally.
The 16-year-old daughter of Ray and Lisa Holes of Grangeville is also the great-granddaughter of the late Lillian and renowned saddlemaker, Ray Holes.  She is the granddaughter of Ellamae and former Grangeville Border Days Grand Marshal, Jerry Holes, and Toni and the late Tony Popp of Harpster, as well as sister to Vade and Ray Holes, Jr.
She attended Sts. Peter and Paul School, and has continued as an honor roll student at Grangeville High School. She will be a senior this fall, graduating with the class of 2025.
Holes has represented Grangeville Border Days not only as a queen, but as a competitive barrel racer, as well. She rode with the Riggins Drill Team for two years, and has participated in Grangeville’s Triple Bar Drill Team for four years (she served as Triple Bar Queen in 2021). In 2021, she won her first barrel racing champion buckle at the Weippe Rodeo, and followed that by being the buckle winner at 2022’s Grangeville Border Days Rodeo.  In the last three years, she has also won titles, buckles, and a saddle from competing in rodeos of the Clearwater Valley Rodeo Association (CVRA) at Kamiah, and the Central Idaho Rodeo Association (CIRA). 
“I feel fortunate to have packed sponsor flags at many, many rodeos and parades,” she said.
She has volunteered time at Hearts that Heal Riding School in Winona, and also gives private lessons in Grangeville.
A two-time state qualifier in the Business Professionals of America program, she plans to seek higher education and an occupation in the equine world once she graduates.
“However, I have such varied interests that I’m currently unsure of what to study in college,” she said. She enjoys reading, baking, horse and stock dog training, and helping out on the family ranch.
Holes said she has been fortunate to have many amazing animals in her life. Her horses are Monkey, Montana, Dame, Chica and Voodoo, and her working stock dog  is Jake. During her reign as Grangeville Border Days Queen, she is riding her 6-year-old mare, Voodoo, who is now her main ranch and competition mount.  She has trained Voodoo since she was a foal, from imprinting, groundwork, starting, breaking and patterning.
She said she enjoys her life as the daughter of a rancher, reveling in all aspects of the lifestyle, from gathering in the mountains, to doctoring calves and branding, to breaking colts and turning out each spring.
“I’m used to early mornings and long days in the saddle and I’m happy to help with just about anything … except fencing,” she laughed.
Holes especially thanks sponsors Lindsley’s Home Furniture and Greenacres Nursery for their support. She also thanked Princess Noelle Chmelik, as well as her parents and advisor Anna Wren, “for all they do.”
“I’m so excited I was able to represent Border Days with someone as awesome as Noelle,” she said.
One of Holes’ favorite memories of her reign so far is the coronation and benefit event held last fall.
“The support from family and friends who attended was so heartwarming.,” she said. “Combined with the generosity of the communities and sponsors, we really kicked our royalty reign off right!”
She also enjoyed attending the lighted Christmas parades in Clarkston, Wash., and Cottonwood, the Asotin Fair and Rodeo, Riggins Rodeo, Grangeville Trunk-or-Treat and the Walla Walla Royalty Clinic.
Holes also expressed excitement about the Border Days promo trailer that has been newly “wrapped” with hers and princess Noelle Chmelik’s photos where they are dressed in their Les Schwab Tire Service-sponsored royalty chaps.
“To be featured on the back of the promo trailer is just unreal! Princess Noelle and I are so crazy  lucky,” she smiled.


Border Days Princess Noelle Chmelik2024 Border Days Princess Noelle Chmelik is the daughter of Jim and Colleen Chmelik of Cottonwood and the granddaughter of Ron and Glenda Frei of Grangeville.
The 17-year-old is the youngest of eight siblings, with three brothers and four sisters, ranging in age from 34 down to 19. She will be a senior at St. John Bosco Academy in Cottonwood this fall, where she enjoys playing basketball and volleyball,  and is involved in school fundraisers and volunteer projects such as faith retreats. She is also a member of the SJB Pro-Life Club/Students for Life, and has been in many school drama productions.
Chmelik is no stranger to the saddle, having been a member of Triple Bar Drill Team for three years. During her royalty reign, she is riding her 13-year-old Arabian, Bennie.
“I very much enjoyed our coronation auction and dinner that Queen Cressis [Holes] and I put on,” she said. “It was a lot of work, but worth it.”
She also acknowledged all those who donated to their royalty endeavors to help with traveling, attire and accessories as they represented Border Days.
“A huge thanks goes out to all who have supported us,” she said.
The Border Days royalty team especially thanks major sponsors Les Schwab Tire Center, Gortsema Motors, Cloninger’s, the Idaho County Free Press, Cody’s Cowboy Hats, CHS Primeland, Super 8, Bud’s PowerSports and Cook and Sons Construction.
Chmelik said she has also enjoyed all the parades she and Holes have been in.
“It’s fun to see all the young girls and their big smiles,” she said.
When she isn’t busy with school and representing Border Days, she works as a lifeguard, as well as babysitting/nannying. In her spare time she like to hike, run, swim, boat and travel.
Following high school graduation next year, she plans on attending Ave Maria University, where she hopes to study philosophy and the liberal arts.