CEDAR CITY – DeLaney Westfall, who was named Miss Iron County in August, has begun her first semester at BYU and is learning the delicate balance of school, a title and everyday life.

Since the Miss Iron County pageant things have been quite busy for her with all her duties and preparing for school.

Westfall said even though school is about three hours away from Iron County and she realizes things may be a bit difficult at time, even so she is determined to happily follow through on all her responsibilities.

“Hopefully I have created a reasonable school schedule that will allow me to be able to also focus on my title and my different responsibilities,” Westfall said. “Once the Iron County Fair is over I hope to be able to stay put in Provo for a while.”

Miss Iron County also happens to be the daughter of Judge G. Michael Westfall who presides over Fifth District Court in Iron County.

“I know that balancing her responsibilities as Miss Iron County with everything else she has to do will be difficult, but DeLaney has always had more to do than most people though (she’s) capable,” her father said.

According to a Utah State Courts Web site at www.utcourts.gov/judgesbios/showGallery.asp?ct_type=D&dist=5, Judge Westfall has been serving Beaver, Washington, and Iron County since 2003.

The Web site reported that he worked as a deputy Washington County attorney from 1987 to 1991, and was the Washington County Attorney from 1991 until his appointment to the bench.

Westfall was a graduate of BYU’s J. Reuben Clark Law School at Brigham Young University in 1987 and he says he is very proud of his daughter’s accomplishments.

“Within the past couple of weeks there have been several instances when, upon learning my last name, people did not identify me by my job or position in the community but, instead asked me if I was related to Miss Iron County,” he said. “While personal success is important, I am very pleased to be known as the father of a successful child. The success of my children brings me the greatest joy.”

Westfall said her major at BYU is Musical Dance Theater.

“I plan on earning a degree in Musical Dance Theater and performing wherever I can,” Westfall said.

Westfall is extremely dedicated to her future career as well as any other projects she takes on, her father said.

“While attending Cedar High and earning an almost straight A average she participated in varsity sports, school clubs, Honor Society, school government, church leadership callings, earned her Young Women Recognition Award in her Church,” her father said.

She was also a judge for musical theater training.

“For several years after moving to Cedar City, she traveled to St. George several times each week. She would do homework in the car as her mother drove.”

The reigning Miss Iron County said she has a wide variety of interests, everything from sports to being a strong steward in her community, but she especially enjoys horseback riding on her horse, Sierra, and spending time with her family.

Westfall said she is also happy to be able to be a strong advocate for adoption, which is the platform she took during the pageant and she feels that earning the Miss Iron County title will allow her to push that even further.

The hardest part of the pageant for her was the swimsuit competition as well as the interview, Westfall said.

“Interview because it just is always hard and Swimsuit because that is something you have nightmares about,” Westfall said.

Besides the pageant, Westfall has had a number of great accomplishments during her young life that she is proud to have been a part of.

“Definitely graduating high school as a member of Honor Society (would be one of them),” Westfall said. “(Also receiving) the Diploma of Merit and being an Academic Medallion Recipient, being a Sterling Scholar, and of course winning the title of Miss Iron County, and being accepted into BYU.”

All of this and still she keeps her course toward a successful future, her father said.

“DeLaney is a fun-loving, beautiful woman who is building her life on a solid foundation of faith, hard work and service to others,” Judge Westfall said. “I am extremely happy for DeLaney’s success in the pageant and the opportunities this will provide her for service and growth as she serves the community for the next year.”