Novalee Haney was born and raised in Pend Oreille County, where agriculture, animal husbandry, and strong community values have always been central to her life. Growing up, she was actively involved in FFA and 4-H, serving as a chapter officer and spending many years raising lambs and pigs. Through these experiences, she developed a deep respect for animal husbandry and gained hands-on knowledge that shaped her work ethic, leadership skills, and passion for agriculture.
Although she was surrounded by agriculture from a young age, she was not heavily involved in rodeo until just last year. Entering the rodeo world later than many, she quickly fell in love with the sport and the close-knit community behind it. During her time as the Pend Oreille County Fair and Rodeo Princess, she had the opportunity to meet incredible people, build meaningful connections, and make lifelong friends—experiences that inspired her to continue growing within the rodeo community and pursue the role of Miss Gem State Stampede.
Currently, Novalee teaches part-time and truly loves getting to work with her students, finding joy in helping them learn and grow. Looking ahead, she plans to continue learning the trade of training horses and to remain involved in the rodeo industry. She also dreams of becoming a mom one day, inspired by the incredible women in her life who have given her faith, strength, and confidence in everything she does.
When she isn’t attending rodeos or community events, she can often be found on the slopes of Schweitzer or spending time with her big family, who remain her greatest supporters. Novalee is beyond excited and deeply honored to serve as Miss Gem State Stampede, and she cannot wait to represent the Stampede, the Fair, and the state of Idaho with pride, enthusiasm, and a genuine love for the rodeo and agricultural community.