Each year Whitefish Winter Carnival celebrates a Royal Court. Candidates are nominated for their outstanding service to Whitefish, and are voted upon by multiple groups across the community. We are thrilled to recognize the many exceptional individuals who make up the Whitefish Winter Carnival Royal Court.
Thank you for all you do!
Ross Pickert
KING ULLR LXVI
Ross Pickert is deeply honored to be crowned King of Winter Carnival LXVI. Born and raised on a small ranch near the railroad town of Emporia, Kansas, Ross has always felt the pull of the great outdoors. Among nature’s many offerings, snow and water held a special allure, inspiring him to become an avid skier of both. His family frequently embarked on snow skiing trips to Colorado and Wyoming, as well as water skiing adventures in Kansas and Missouri. After graduating high school, Ross attended the University of Kansas (go Jayhawks!) before returning to Emporia to join his father’s real estate business.
In the fall of 1991, a fly-fishing trip brought Ross to Whitefish, where he was captivated by its charming small-town atmosphere and breathtaking mountains, lakes, and rivers. Inspired by the natural beauty and vibrant community, he decided to make a change. By May 1992, he had spread his wings, taking a real estate job in Whitefish and planting roots in the place he now calls home.
Ross takes great pride in his more than 30-year affiliation with the Northwest Montana Association of Realtors, where he currently serves on the NMAR MLS Board of Directors. For the past 14 years, he has worked with Glacier Sotheby’s, serving as the company’s president from 2010 to 2020. His dedication to community service extends beyond real estate. With a passion for supporting the arts and education, Ross sits on the board of the North Valley Music School and has previously served on the Columbia Falls Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and the United Way. He has also devoted many years to Realtor food drives supporting the North Valley and Columbia Falls Food Banks.
Ross is a proud father to three children—Gabby, Reid, and Cole. Whether coaching youth hockey, cheering from the stands, or serving as a devoted “stage dad,” Ross has always been an active presence in their lives. The Winter Carnival holds a special place in his heart, and he has frequently participated in its parades alongside his family, the Montessori School, and the Glacier Hockey Association. When he’s not cheering on his kids, you’ll find Ross enjoying life’s simple pleasures. Whether at the ice rink, on the mountain, lake, or golf course, or cruising through town with his beloved dog Shatzi and wife Coco, Ross embraces every moment in the place he loves most
Coco Pickert
QUEEN OF THE SNOWS
Coleen “Coco” Pickert is proud to be a fourth-generation Montanan who has called Whitefish home for over 30 years. A self-proclaimed ski bum in her early days, Coco balanced her adventurous spirit with stints as a flight attendant and restaurant server before settling into her most cherished role; Mama Coco. Together with her husband Ross, they raised three children—Gabby, Reid, and Cole with an open door to welcome anyone and everyone, all while building a life deeply rooted in the Whitefish community.
Passionate about giving back, Coco has dedicated countless hours to local nonprofits and community programs, including Whitefish Safe Grad, Alpine Theater Project and Glacier Hockey Association to name a few. A highlight was serving as room mom in her children’s classrooms through their elementary years.
An enthusiast of Whitefish’s iconic Winter Carnival, Coco’s family has a long history. Her cousin, Kay Knapton, was Queen of the Snows in 1961, her daughter Gabby served as Princess Freya LXII, her son Cole as Prince Frey LXIV, and her son Reid earned a knighthood through the Whitefish Mountain Resort Scavenger Hunt.
Coco’s love for Whitefish shines through her contributions, celebrating the traditions, people, and spirit hat make this mountain town so special.
Eric Schmidt
PRIME MINISTER LXVI
Eric Schmidt is a proud fifth-generation Whitefish Montanan, with his father’s family homesteading in Whitefish and his mother’s family in Columbia Falls both over 100 years ago. Raised in Whitefish, Eric cherishes the traditions of the community, especially the Whitefish Winter Carnival, and is honored to serve as Prime Minister LXVI, following in the footsteps of many remarkable predecessors.
After graduating Whitefish High School in 2004, Eric attended Montana State University in Bozeman, where he focused on Finance and Accounting, ultimately obtaining degrees in both. After a complication with surgery shortly after college graduation from donating a kidney to his younger cousin, Eric decided life was too short to jump into an 8-5. That decision ultimately landed him back in Whitefish where he would continue to serve tables at the Whitefish Lake Golf Club Restaurant in the busy seasons to save up enough money to travel around the world for the next three years in the off seasons.
Once he aged out of being covered by his parent’s health insurance, Eric decided it was time to jump into a career. After a short stint as Deputy Clerk of District Court for Flathead County, an opportunity at First Interstate Bank in Whitefish as a personal banker came open. Eric received the position and has worked his way up in the bank through various positions, ultimately leading to his current position as the Bank President of First Interstate Bank Whitefish. His commitment to community service is evident in his active involvement with various non-profit organizations, including the North Valley Music School Board of Directors, Logan Health Foundation Board of Directors, Whitefish Legacy Partners Hootenanny Committee, and the Whitefish Winter Carnival Board of Directors. As chair of the Penguin Plunge for the Carnival and for the Special Olympics of Montana, Eric has assisted in raising over $1 million for the cause within the Flathead, with plans to increase that total significantly by jumping with the entire Whitefish Winter Carnival LXVI Royalty in 2025. In 2023, Eric was awarded the prestigious High Ullr award during the Whitefish Winter Carnival, a testament to his dedication to the community. February 2024 marked another milestone for Eric and his better half with the arrival of the sixth generation Schmidt to Whitefish and feels blessed for the community’s support. Eric couldn’t be happier to serve as Prime Minister LXVI alongside Hillary as the Duchess of Lark LXVI and looks forward to continuing one of the longest standing traditions that keeps Whitefish one of the greatest places to live.
Hillary Crowley
DUCHESS OF LARK
Hillary Crowley was born in the mountains of Colorado, back when family-owned businesses thrived, and the streets were a merry romp of ski bums, dogs, and local kids. After graduating from high school, she pursued her passion for design at the Rhode Island School of Design. She then followed her big-city dreams to Boston and New York, working in the rapidly evolving world of web development.
Craving a life by the water, Hillary moved south to Naples, Florida, where she soaked up the sun, fell in love with conch fritters, and served as lead design engineer for a public engagement startup.
In 2001, a trip into the perfection of Glacier’s backcountry called Hillary home to the mountains. Over the years, she has had the honor of getting to know the heart of the community, serving alongside incredible volunteers as a Big Mountain Ambassador, an EMT and tracker with Flathead County Search and Rescue, a board member of the Whitefish Theatre Company, Advancement Chair for Kalispell Boy Scout Troop 1933, and a Whitefish Chamber Ambassador.
Together with her husband, Jay, Hillary was honored as the Whitefish Chamber's 2024 Volunteer of the Year. For the past four years, she has delighted in coordinating The Great Whitefish Gingerbread Contest, a fundraiser benefiting affordable workforce housing. A firm believer in the magic of the Whitefish Winter Carnival, Hillary’s love for this cherished tradition runs deep. She has treasured her time in various roles, including serving as chair of the gala and disco party and protecting the realm’s citizens as a Viking Diva. For the past two decades, Hillary has applied her design skills to all things Carnival, and in 2016, she was honored as a High Ullr. With joy and gratitude Hillary is thrilled to serve alongside Prime Minister LXVI Eric Schmidt as this year’s Duchess of Lark to King Ullr LXVI and his Queen of the Snows. She looks forward to celebrating the season with her husband, her son Alex, and the community she adores—because there truly is "snow" place like home
Photos: Jessie Mazur
2024 Royalty
2023 Royalty
2022 Royalty
2020, 2021 Royalty
2019 Royalty
2018 Royalty
2017 Royalty
2016 Royalty
2015 Royalty
2014 Royalty
2019 Royalty
Travel through Whitefish Winter Carnival history, visit the Stumptown Historical Society to view additional images of past Royal Courts. Located in the historic Train Depot in downtown Whitefish!
OUR SIGNATURE SPONSORS
