♪.

CHRISTINA: COMING UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," WE'LL HAVE THE LATEST ON THE WAR IN IRAN AS THE CONFLICT ESCALATES AROUND THE MIDDLE EAST.

>>> ALSO TONIGHT, ARIZONANS MAY HAVE THE OPTION TO BAN THE GOVERNMENT FROM REQUIRING ANYONE TO ACCEPT MEDICAL TREATMENT.

>>> AND RIDE ALONG WITH THE 3rd ANNUAL ROOTS N' BOOTS QUEEN CREEK PONY EXPRESS.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

.

CHRISTINA: GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

I'M CHRISTINA ESTES IN FOR TED SIMONS.

THE CONFLICT IN THE MIDDLE EAST CONTINUES TO ESCALATE TONIGHT AFTER ISRAEL INCREASED ATTACKS ON IRANIAN MISSILE LAUNCHERS AND FACTORIES, IRAN RETALIATED BY LAUNCHING DRONES ACROSS THE GULF INCLUDING HITTING THE U.S.

EMBASSY IN SAUDI ARABIA.

IT LEFT SOME AMERICANS STRANDED.

JOINING US TO DISCUSS THE LATEST FROM WASHINGTON, D.C.

IS DR.

EVELYN FARKAS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE McCAIN INSTITUTE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU SPENT YOUR CAREER WORKING AT THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF NATIONAL SECURITY.

YOU CAN PLEASE PUT THIS MOMENT INTO PERSPECTIVE FOR US?

WHAT IS GOING ON?

THERE IS SO MUCH COMING AT US.

GIVE US A SENSE WHAT THIS REALLY MEANS?

>> YEAH, CHRISTINA, IT'S REALLY INTERESTING TIMES.

WE HAVE PRESIDENT TRUMP BEHAVING IN A WAY THAT U.S.

PRESIDENTS REALLY HAVEN'T BEHAVED IN THE RECENT PAST, IN THE FACT THAT HE HAS LAUNCHED MILITARY OPERATIONS WITHOUT CONSULTING WITH CONGRESS, WITHOUT TRYING TO GET THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ON BOARD, FIRST IN VENEZUELA AND MOST RECENTLY IN IRAN, WHICH IS AN ONGOING WAR RIGHT NOW, SO WITHOUT AN END IN SIGHT, AND WHICH HAS, OF COURSE, SPILLED OVER BEYOND IRAN.

LOOK, IRAN HAS BEEN AN ENEMY OF THE UNITED STATES SINCE THEY GRABBED POWER, MEANING THE MULLAH, THE AYATOLLAH, THE RELIGIOUS AUTOCRACY GRABBED POWER IN 1979 IN A REVOLUTION, FAMOUSLY TAKING AMERICANS HOSTAGE IN OUR EMBASSY, AND EVER SINCE THEN WE'VE BEEN IN ADVERSARIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH IRAN.

ADDED TO THAT WAS THE FACT THAT IRAN STARTED PURSUING AGGRESSIVELY IN THE 80s AND THE 90s UNDER THE AYATOLLAH AND UNDER THE LATE KHAMENEI, THEY STARTED ACCELERATING NUCLEAR WEAPONS PROGRAM, WHICH, OF COURSE, WAS VIEWED AS A THREAT TO ISRAEL BECAUSE THEY WERE ALL ALONG SAYING DEATH TO ISRAEL, BUT THEY WERE SAYING DEATH TO THE UNITED STATES.

SO AS A MATTER OF INTERNATIONAL PEACE AND SECURITY, AND WE HAVE THE UNITED NATIONS BEHIND US, THE UNITED STATES ALONG WITH ISRAEL AND MANY OTHER COUNTRIES HAD DETERMINED THAT IRAN WAS ON A COURSE TO GET A NUCLEAR WEAPON, THAT IT WAS DANGEROUS FOR THE WORLD, AND THAT IT NEEDED TO BE STOPPED.

IT WASN'T WORKING, MANY ADMINISTRATIONS TRIED, OBVIOUSLY, WITHOUT INVADING IRAN OR WITHOUT DROPPING BOMBS ON IRAN, AND NOW WE HAVE A SITUATION WHERE PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS DECIDED TO NOT ONLY TAKE OUT THE NUCLEAR WEAPONS PROGRAM, BUT TO ESSENTIALLY CRIPPLE IRAN OR AT LEAST SEVERELY DIMINISH IRAN'S MILITARY CAPABILITY, AND ALREADY DECAPITATED THE HEAD, THE SUPREME LEADER OF IRAN.

CHRISTINA: YOU MENTIONED THE SUPREME LEADER IS DEAD.

WHO'S RUNNING IRAN RIGHT NOW?

>> WELL, THEY HAVE A COUNCIL THAT THEY ELECTED ACCORDING TO THE CONSTITUTION -- ELECTED IS AMONG THE ELITE AYATOLLAHS, THE RELIGIOUS LEADERSHIP.

IT APPEARS THAT THERE WILL BE AN ELECTION OF PERHAPS ANOTHER SUPREME LEADER.

IT IS UNCLEAR WHETHER THEY WERE GOING TO REMAIN WITH THE COUNCIL OR PICK ANOTHER SUPREME LEADER.

OF COURSE, WHOEVER THEY PICK WILL BE AT RISK BEING ELIMINATED BY FORCE BECAUSE THE UNITED STATES IS CONTINUING TO PUT MILITARY PRESSURE ON IRAN BECAUSE THE OBJECTIVE IS TO GET IRAN TO CAPITULATE.

OKAY, WE WON'T HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPONS PROGRAM.

WE WILL LET YOU BASICALLY ELIMINATE OUR BALLISTIC MISSILE CAPABILITY, WHICH IS HOW THEY WOULD DELIVER THE NUCLEAR WEAPONS, BUT ALSO CONVENTIONAL WEAPONS AS WE SEE THEY'RE DOING TODAY.

CHRISTINA: TALK ABOUT THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ, IRAN'S REVOLUTIONARY GUARD DECLARED IT CLOSED.

150 SHIPS STRANDED THERE.

ANALYSTS SAY CRUDE OIL, A BARREL COULD SKYROCKET TO AROUND $120, IF THE WAR LASTS LONGER THAN THREE WEEKS.

IS THIS SOMETHING THE GLOBAL ECONOMY CAN TAKE?

IS THERE A TIME LIMIT ON THAT?

>> I THINK THE GLOBAL ECONOMY IS NOT INTERESTED IN HAVING THE INCREASED STRESS, THE REALITY, THOUGH, IS THAT I BELIEVE THE UNITED STATES HAS TARGETS THAT ARE NAVAL AND WILL TAKE OUT IRAN'S ABILITY TO OBSTRUCT TRAFFIC.

PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS SAID THAT.

THE CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF WHEN HE GAVE HIS BRIEFING, AND THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE ALSO TALKED ABOUT THE FACT THAT NOT ONLY DO WE WANT TO ELIMINATE IRAN'S NUCLEAR WEAPONS PROGRAM AND THEIR BALLISTIC MISSILE CAPABILITY, BUT ALSO THEIR NAVY BECAUSE, OF COURSE, IT'S THE NAVY THEY'RE RELYING ON FOR THE BLOCKADE TO A LARGE EXTENT.

I BELIEVE THAT THE ONGOING BOMBING CAMPAIGN, THE MILITARY WAR AGAINST IRAN'S MILITARY WILL ADDRESS -- WILL TAKE OUT THEIR ABILITY TO SEIZE THE STRAIT, TO CONTROL THE STRAITS.

CHRISTINA: ARE WE WATCHING A REGIONAL WAR BECOME A GLOBAL CRISIS?

IF SO, WHERE DOES IT STOP?

>> AT THE MOMENT, I WOULD ARGUE IT'S NOT QUITE A GLOBAL CRISIS, BUT AS YOU SAID, THE LONGER THIS GOES ON, IF THE OIL PRICES REALLY SPIKE AND CONTINUE TO STAY HIGH, THAT WILL BE BAD FOR THE WAR IN UKRAINE BECAUSE THE RUSSIANS WILL MAKE MORE MONEY WITH THEIR OIL SALES.

WE HAVE TO BE CLEAR WHO THE BENEFICIARY -- ONE BENEFICIARY IS, ALTHOUGH THE CHINESE AND THE RUSSIANS ARE CLOSERS ON THE OTHER HAND BECAUSE THEY WERE THE SUPPORTERS OF IRAN, BUT THE OIL PRICE WILL BE DIFFICULT FOR THE GLOBAL ECONOMY TO MANAGE.

I WOULD ARGUE TO SOME EXTENT IT'S A GLOBAL CRISIS, BECAUSE IRAN WAS WORKING CLOSELY WITH RUSSIA AND CHINA, BUT RIGHT NOW MILITARILY, IT IS SORT OF FENCED OFF, AND SO WE'RE NOT AT LEVEL OF GLOBAL CRISIS, AND I DO THINK THAT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS NOT INTERESTED IN ESCALATING THIS ANY FURTHER THAN THEY NEED TO.

THEY'RE TRYING TO APPLY PRESSURE ON THE IRANIAN ELITES ON THE GOVERNMENT, ON THE SECURITY FORCES TO CAPITULATE.

IF THEY DON'T CAPITULATE, CHRISTINA, YES, WE WILL HAVE A PROBLEM.

CHRISTINA: WE'VE GOT ABOUT 60 SECONDS LEFT, AND I WANT TO FIND OUT IF YOU THINK THERE IS A DIPLOMATIC OFF-RAMP, OR IS THIS SITUATION FOR IRAN WHERE IT REALLY HAS NOTHING TO LOSE AT THIS POINT?

>> IF THERE ARE LEADERS INSIDE IRAN WHO CAN COME TO AN AGREEMENT WITH THE SECURITY FORCE, SO I'M TALKING THE AYATOLLAHS, THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS, IF THEY CAN COME TO AN AGREEMENT WITH THE SECURITY FORCES THAT THEY WILL ABANDON THE NUCLEAR PROGRAM, THAT THEY WILL ESSENTIALLY REDUCE THE THREAT TO IRAN'S NEIGHBORS, HAVE A MILITARY THAT CAN PROTECT IRAN BUT NOT ESSENTIALLY TRY TO EXERCISE IMPERIAL, REGIONAL HEGEMONY AND USE THE PROXY FORCES TO TERRORIZE THE REGION, PERHAPS THERE IS A DEAL TO BE MADE, BUT THEY WILL HAVE TO FIND A CREDIBLE GROUP OF ELITES OR ONE ELITE WHO WILL WORK WITH THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, OTHERWISE WE'RE IN DANGER OF HAVING THE SECURITY FORCES RULE IRAN, AND THAT WOULD BE ALMOST WORSE FRANKLY THAN HAVING THE AYATOLLAHS IN CHARGE.

CHRISTINA: DR.

EVELYN FARKAS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT McCAIN INSTITUTE.

GREATLY APPRECIATE YOUR INCREDIBLE KNOWLEDGE AND TAKING TIME TO EXPLAIN THIS INCREDIBLY FAST MOVING SITUATION, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU, CHRISTINA.

.

CHRISTINA: IN NOVEMBER, ARIZONA VOTERS MAY GET TO DECIDE ON A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT THAT WOULD BAN THE GOVERNMENT FROM REQUIRING ANYONE TO ACCEPT ANY MEDICAL PRODUCT OR TREATMENT FOR THE CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION OR ACCESS TO PUBLIC SPACES.

SUPPORTERS SAY IT'S ABOUT BODILY AUTONOMY, NOT ANTI-VACCINE SENTIMENTS, BUT OUR NEXT GUEST DISAGREES.

WILL HUMBLE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ARIZONA PUBLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION.

THANKS FOR COMING IN.

>> MY PLEASURE.

CHRISTINA: TALKING ABOUT A RESOLUTION THAT'S MAKING ITS WAY THROUGHOUT THE STATE LEGISLATURE.

THE WORD VACCINE IS NOT IN THERE.

WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT?

>> I THINK IT'S BY DESIGN.

IT'S A SHORT -- BY THE WAY, IT'S A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT REFERRED TO THE BALLOT.

THAT'S PRACTICALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO CHANGE AND FRAMED AS MEDICAL FREEDOM, THAT'S WHAT THE LANGUAGE OF IT SAYS, YOU CAN READ THE LABEL IN THE STATUTE, IT NEVER MENTIONS VACCINES.

THAT'S WHAT IT'S ABOUT.

VACCINES ARE A MEDICAL TREATMENT TO PREVENT ILLNESS, IT DEFINITELY FALLS UNDER THE AUSPICES OF WHAT THIS WOULD TRY TO STOP, SO ESSENTIALLY IT WOULD END OUR SCHOOL VACCINE REQUIREMENTS, AND, BY THE WAY, MAKE IT MORE LIKELY THAT DISEASES WOULD CIRCULATE INSIDE OF SCHOOLS, AND TAKE AWAY THE ABILITY OF SCHOOLS AND COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENTS TO MITIGATE THE SPREAD OF THE DISEASE, WE CAN TALK ABOUT THAT IN DETAIL, IF YOU WANT, THEY'RE CALLING IT MEDICAL FREEDOM BUT IT'S ABOUT ANTI-VACCINE AND TAKING AWAY AUTHORITY FROM SCHOOLS AND COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENTS.

CHRISTINA: THE BILL'S SPONSOR HAS SAID YOU CAN PUT UNVACCINATED KIDS IN A SEPARATE CLASSROOM, WHAT'S WRONG WITH THAT?

>> HERE'S WHAT HAPPENS, FOR EXAMPLE, IN A MEASLES OUTBREAK.

YOU'VE GOT A KID WITH MEALSES, SAY IN THE THIRD GRADE.

THE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT, AFTER THEY FIND THE CASE, THEY GO TO THE ADMINISTRATORS OFFICE, PULL THE RECORDS, FIND OUT WHICH KIDS ARE UNVACCINATED AND ASK THEM TO GO BACK HOME AND GET VACCINATEED BEFORE THEY COME BACK TO SCHOOL.

THAT'S THE PROCESS THAT YOU WOULD NORMALLY USE.

HE SAID YOU CAN GO INTO A SEPARATE CLASSROOM?

IT'S A POSSIBILITY.

YOU COULD HAVE A PORTABLE OR SOMETHING TO PUT THE UNVACCINATED KIDS INTO, BUT YOU GOT TO KEEP AWAY, THEY CAN'T BE IN THE CAFETERIA.

HERE'S THE THING, IT'S A SIMPLE MITIGATION MEASURE THAT WOULD GO AWAY.

AND BY THE WAY, NOT JUST LIMITED TO THINGS LIKE MEASLES, SCHOOLS COULDN'T -- SAY A KID SHOWS UP WITH LICE IN THE CLASSROOM, THE TEACHER SAYS WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE DYLAN BACK IN THE CLASSROOM AS SOON AS YOU GET HER TREATED WITH TOPICAL SHAMPOO.

SCHOOLS CAN DO THAT, SAME FOR SCABIES.

IT'S A BUG, AN INFESTATION.

THIS IS PRETTY BROAD.

CHRISTINA: THERE ARE SOME EXCEPTIONS, ARE THERE NOT, FOR HOSPITAL EMPLOYEES?

>> THEY DID AN AMENDMENT OVER IN THE HOUSE BECAUSE IT WOULD HAVE PREVENTED VALLEYWISE HEALTH SYSTEM, A GOVERNMENT ENTITY, THIS IS FOCUSED ON GOVERNMENT AUTHORITY, SO VALLEYWISE HEALTH SYSTEM IS A GOVERNMENT SUBDIVISION, SO THEY THOUGHTFULLY REALIZED THAT THEY WERE IMPOSING REALLY DRAMATIC CHANGES AND LIMITATIONS WHAT VALLEYWISE HEALTH SYSTEM COULD DO, BUT STRIPPED THAT OUT OF THE BILL.

AND IN TERMS OF EXEMPTED IT BY ADDING AN AMENDMENT.

CHRISTINA: YOU MENTIONED IF IT IS APPROVED BY THE VOTERS IT WOULD BE PART OF THE STATE CONSTITUTION.

WHY DOES IT MATTER AND WHY NOT LET VOTERS DECIDE?

>> I'M FINE BE VOTERS DECIDING BUT BE TRANSPARENT ABOUT WHAT IT DOES.

THE LANGUAGE IN THE ACTUAL STATUTE SAYS MEDICAL FREEDOM, IF YOU READ THE -- IT'S ONLY A ONE PAGE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT, ANY LAYMAN WOULD SAY I DON'T SEE ANYTHING ABOUT VACCINES, I DON'T SEE ANYTHING ABOUT SCHOOLS BEING ABLE TO MITIGATE TRANSMISSION IN THE SCHOOLS, THEY'RE PURPOSELY MISLEADING THE VOTER INTO THINKING THEY'RE VOTING FOR MEDICAL FREEDOM, WHEN IN REALITY, THEY'RE TAKING AWAY THE PUBLIC HEALTH TOOLS, AND BY DESIGN, LOWERING IMMUNIZATION RATES WHICH MAKES THE DISEASE TRANSMISSIONS MORE LIKELY.

SO THAT'S WHAT I'M WORRIED ABOUT IS PEOPLE ARE GOING TO VOTE YES ON SOMETHING AND NOT REALIZE THE CONSEQUENCES AND GETTING TO YOUR QUESTION, WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?

THIS WOULD BE A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT, WHICH MEANS WHEN THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES HAPPEN WITH MEASLES AND MUMPS BECAUSE WE HAVE LOWER VACCINATION RATES AFTER THIS, AND THINGS LIKE SCABIES AND LICE AND OTHERS, YOU HAVE THE -- PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE, WAIT, I DIDN'T VOTE FOR THAT, BECAUSE THE LEGISLATURE CAN'T FIX IT BECAUSE IT'S A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.

THIS IS NOT CHILD'S PLAY, THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT STUFF WHEN YOU AMEND THE STATE CONSTITUTION, AND VOTERS BETTER BE INFORMED WHAT'S IN IT BEFORE THEY CHECK THEIR BOX.

IT MAY NOT GET ON THE BALLOT, STILL HAS TO GET THROUGH THE BALLOT, BUT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT IT.

CHRISTINA: ABOUT 30 SECONDS LEFT.

WHAT DO YOU THINK THE CHANCES ARE IT'S GOING TO MAKE IT THROUGH AND END UP ON THE BALLOT?

>> YOU ARE ASKING THE WRONG PERSON.

IT'S UP TO THE SENATE PRESIDENT PETERSEN BECAUSE HE CAN PUT IT ON THE BOARD, SIGN IT, HE CAN PICK AND CHOOSE WHAT HE DOES.

I CAN'T PONTIFICATE ON THAT.

IF YOU GET HIM ON THE SHOW, YOU CAN ASK HIM.

HE'S GOING TO CONTROL THIS AT THIS POINT.

IF HE PUTS IT ON THE BOARD AND IT'S A SIMPLE COMMITTEE, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE A PARTY-LINE VOTE ON THE BALLOT.

BY THE WAY, GOVERNOR HOBBS CAN'T VETO IT.

THAT'S ANOTHER THING.

CHRISTINA: THANK YOU SO MUCH.

.

CHRISTINA: A GROUP OF ARIZONA RIDERS WILL TRAVEL 75 MILES ON HORSEBACK CARRYING MAIL THE OLD-FASHIONED WAY.

THE THIRD ANNUAL ROOTS N' BOOTS QUEEN CREEK PONY EXPRESS WILL TAKE PLACE ON MARCH 21.

JOINING US CAN THE ROOTS N' BOOTS RODEO QUEEN, DAKOTA BADEN.

FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE EVENT, EXPLAIN PONY EXPRESS' ROLE IN THE LARGER EVENT?

>> WELL, THE PONY EXPRESS' ROLE IS IT'S A SMALL FACET OF MANY EVENTS THAT HAPPEN DURING RODEO WEEK.

ROOTS N' BOOTS WEEK IS THE ANCHOR OF MANY DIFFERENT COMMUNITY EVENTS THAT HAPPEN, AND MINE'S JUST A SMALL PART OF IT.

THE NEAT THING ABOUT IT IS IT NOT ONLY FOCUSES ON QUEEN CREEK ITSELF, BUT IT CONNECTS KEARNY TO FLORENCE TO QUEEN CREEK WHICH PUTS PEOPLE ON THE ROADWAYS WHICH PEOPLE WORK AND GO TO CHURCH AND SCHOOL AT.

THEY CITY IN REALTIME, IT'S NOT AT THE MUSEUM, IT'S IN FRONT OF THEIR FACE.

THAT'S WHAT I LIKE ABOUT IT.

CHRISTINA: DAKOTA, HOW AND WHY DID YOU WANT TO GET INVOLVED?

>> WELL, I VOLUNTEERED WITH ROOTS N' BOOTS QUEEN CREEK AT A YOUNG AGE.

GOT INVOLVED WITH THE YOUTH COMMITTEE, AND THEN ONCE I GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL DECIDED TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY IN THIS PARTICULAR ROLE, THIS LAST YEAR, AND IT'S BEEN AN AMAZING OPPORTUNITY, AND I LOVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REPRESENT THE RODEO THAT I LOVE, BUT ALSO THE TOWN OF QUEEN CREEK.

CHRISTINA: PHIL, WILL YOU WALK US THROUGH MARCH 21.

YOU MENTIONED KEARNY, THE STARTING POINT FOR THE 75 MILES.

HOW LONG ARE THEY RIDING?

.

>> WE HAVE 26 RIDER, 27 INCLUDING MYSELF THAT CARRY THE MAIL ABOUT TWO MILES EACH.

MAYBE 2 1/2 MILES AT THE LONGEST.

WE'VE BROKEN THE 75 MILES UP INTO SHORTER LEGS, AND EVERYBODY HAS AN ASSIGNMENT, THEY HAVE TO GO FROM POINT A TO POINT B AND RELAY, HAND-TO-HAND, THE MAILBAG ON HORSEBACK AND MAKE OUR WAY THROUGH TO FLORENCE, AND ULTIMATELY IN QUEEN CREEK.

WE START AT KEARNY 7:30 IN THE MORNING, REACH FLORENCE ABOUT 11:30, NOON, AND STOP AT POST OFFICE AND COLLECT MORE MAIL THAT WILL BE COLLECTED THERE IN TOWN, AND THEN WE WILL REACH QUEEN CREEK, THE RODEO GROUNDS AROUND 4:00 IN THE AFTERNOON.

SO ALTOGETHER, 75 MILES ON HORSEBACK IN 8 1/2 HOURS BY A TEAM OF 26 PEOPLE, WHICH I THINK IS PRETTY COOL.

CHRISTINA: DAKOTA YOU ARE GOING TO BE ONE OF THOSE?

>> I WILL NOT BE RIDING BUT THERE FOR THE SENDOFF AND THEN DURING THE RODEO FOR THE RODEO PRESENTATION.

CHRISTINA: THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING.

WHY DO YOU THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO KEEP THIS HISTORY ALIVE?

>> WELL, I THINK THE WHOLE RODEO WESTERN HERITAGE IS IMPORTANT TO KEEP ALIVE, ESPECIALLY FOR THE EAST VALLEY AND FOR THE TOWN OF QUEEN CREEK WHICH IS GROWING SO MUCH.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO KEEP OUR WESTERN ROOTS PRESENT AND AVAILABLE FOR PEOPLE TO ENJOY AND TO CELEBRATE, AND THE PONY EXPRESS IS A GREAT WAY TO DO THAT.

CHRISTINA: SO PEOPLE CAN SEND A POST CARD, RIGHT?

>> YEP.

CHRISTINA: USING THE PONY EXPRESS FOR THE SAME PRICE IN 1860?

>> ABSOLUTELY, WE PRINTED OUT SPECIAL POST CARDS FROM ONE OF THE RIDERS FROM YEARS PRIOR, AND AVAILABLE FOR $5 EACH AND SIX DROP BOXES IN KEARNY, FLORENCE AND QUEEN CREEK, AND YOU CAN CHECK IT OUT ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE OR THE ROOTS N' BOOTS PAGE ITSELF.

$5 EACH, THAT WAS THE TRADITIONAL PRICE TO SEND A PIECE OF MAIL, HALF AN OUNCE FROM ST.

JOSEPH, MISSOURI TO SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA IN 1860.

NO INFLATION.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> THE ONLY PLACE.

FOR VIEWERS WHO WANT TO SEND A POST CARD, IS THERE A DEADLINE?

>> THERE IS A DEADLINE.

THE DROP BOXES ARE AVAILABLE IN THE SIX LOCATIONS, THE POST OFFICE IN KEARNY, IN FLORENCE, THE PIZZA PARLOR IN KEARNY, THERE'S A COFFEE SHOP, 1866 COFFEE SHOP IN FLORENCE.

DESERT MOUNTAIN EQUINE IN QUEEN CREEK AND ROSARIO'S ACE HARDWARE IN QUEEN CREEK.

ALL ON THE HONOR SYSTEM.

PICK UP YOUR POST CARD.

ADDRESS IT TO WHOEVER YOU WANT, WRITE A MESSAGE TO WHOEVER YOU WANT ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD.

LEAVE THE POSTAGE OFF OF IT.

I'LL TAKE CARE OF THE POSTAGE FOR YOU, WE'LL PUT IT IN THE MAILBAGS AND FIRST 75 MILES OF THE JOURNEY IS ON HORSEBACK.

CHRISTINA: DAKOTA I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT A NON-PONY EXPRESS TOPIC.

YOUR FUTURE PLANS.

IT SOUNDS LIKE THIS WHOLE CULTURE HAS REALLY MADE AN IMPACT YOU ON AND FUTURE PLANS?

>> YES, WELL, I AM VERY EXCITED TO SAY THEY WILL BE REPRESENTING THE RODEO IN THE TOWN AS THE PRO QUEEN FOR ANOTHER YEAR.

I'M STAYING ON.

AND AFTER THAT, I HOPE TO DO SOMETHING WHERE I CAN ADVOCATE FOR THE WESTERN HERITAGE AND FOR AGRICULTURE.

I JUST GRADUATED FROM THE UNIVERSITY.

CHRISTINA: CONGRATULATIONS!

WE'RE ALMOST OUT OF TIME.

WE GOT TO LEAVE IT THERE.

DAKOTA, PHIL, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

GOOD LUCK, MARCH 21.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

CHRISTINA: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

I'M CHRISTINA ESTES IN FOR TED SIMONS.

I HOPE YOU HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.

- Hello, I'm Alice Ferris, and we hope you enjoyed Arizona Horizon.

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