BELLE FOURCHE - What's special about the long weekend of Independence Day celebration and rodeo called the Black Hills Roundup?

"It's just an old cow-town tradition that is part of Belle Fourche heritage," Faye Kennedy said Friday afternoon. "It's what keeps Belle Fourche growing, and they have some excitement around it."

Kennedy, the "little lady" - under 5 feet tall - with the huge smile is known throughout America's rodeo community as one constant for the Roundup. For the past few decades she has promoted the event with the official Roundup committee. Before that, she was the rodeo's booster through the Belle Fourche newspaper where she worked.

It's been her love affair for more than 70 years.

On Tuesday, Roundup Chairman Gabby Bush gave her a unique rodeo committee vest. In spite of an oxygen tank carried on a wheelchair, Kennedy stood to accept applause and cheers.

On Friday, a surprise proclamation and recognition program at the rodeo crowned her "Queen of the 90th Annual Roundup."

Saturday is the big day in her domain:

There's the 10 a.m. parade that stretches a mile long. The rodeo will start with a roar at 1:30 p.m. from an Ellsworth Air Force Base B-1B Lancer taking a low pass over the rodeo grounds.

There is music throughout the day, ending with a major concert at 8 p.m. at the rodeo arena.

"The Roundup is a Cowboy Christmas here in Belle Fourche," Kennedy said. "It just helps build interest in our old tradition of the cowboy country, and that's about all I can say."