Meet our 2026 Miss High Desert Stampede, Bella Hester!!!

Bella Hester is a 20-year-old first generation cowgirl, and Daughter of Jay Hester and Carmen Hu. Bella first started riding around 11 years old but has loved horses since she could walk. Bella wasn’t born around horses but made it a goal to find a way to own one and bought her first horse at 12.  She owned a handful before she met her heart horse, Shorty May, in 2021.

Outside of rodeo, Bella works as a Vet assistant close to her hometown of Roseburg, Oregon. She also loves to trail ride, hunt, fish, golf, and be around her family.

Bella is currently in the process of starting her own PEMF business where she will be certified in people and equine, so that eventually she can work while she travels down the rodeo road as a professional barrel racer! PEMF and equine rehab is something Bella is extremely passionate about; She believes horses should be running feeling their best!

About a year ago, Bella was diagnosed with an auto immune disease, and was told that it might be “too hard” to continue to work and rodeo as hard as she does, and it might be in her best interest to give it up. But being a first-generation cowgirl, she has gotten used to things being “too hard” and continues to give it her all and show up every day with a good attitude despite it all! Bella wants to be a light to everyone who might be struggling with something only they can see, and wants them to know that they can conquer anything they set their mind too!