June was a very busy month for Canadian rodeo!
I finished off my time in Grande Prairie for Stompede week where we visited many schools, day care centers, barbeques and of course the rodeo and chuckwagon performances.
I then made my way to Lea Park rodeo, where I had the privilege of singing our national anthem each night! It was action packed with rodeo performances, crowning champions on the sunday night.
Applications for our Miss Rodeo Canada 2025 competition were released in the middle of the month as we are seeking out our contestants! We are so excited for our ladies to be staying at the best accommodations thanks to Edmontons Best Hotelsduring our competition week.
On my way to the Daines Ranch Pro Rodeo, I stopped in to see the team at Innisfail Chrysler for some TLC on my gorgeous Ram 1500 “Goose”! I am so grateful for their generosity and support to keep me on the road driving the best!
Daines Ranch Pro Rodeo was a rainy one but that certainly did not stop the hardworking contestants and tough C5 Rodeo stock! I also had a front row seat to Canadian Rodeo History watching Shaya Biever break the record in the breakaway roping with a 1.6!
New Humboldt Community School was my next stop, where I taught about the sport of rodeo and what my job is as a rodeo queen. The school is so unique, as they wrap their entire curriculum around agriculture! I had so much fun working with these kids as they are the future of our western industry.
Following my school visit I toured down to High River for Guy Weadick Rodeo, where our western heritage and history is so prominent! I had so much fun alongside the C5 Rodeo team!
During Guy Weadick Rodeo, the Sundre Pro Rodeo was also taking place, so I had the unique privilege of driving back and forth between both rodeos to make it to each performance that I could! Sundre Pro Rodeo was highly anticipated for me as this rodeo holds a very special place in my heart. I was so proud to come back as an alumni and participate in this rodeo as MRC.
To wrap up the month of July, I got to spend the last week at my hometown rodeo, the Ponoka Stampede! It was a week of family, friends, rodeo and chuckwagons. The perfect place to officially mark the halfway point of my year. I had the privilege of catching up with some sponsors G&T Custom Farming as well as CVS Controls. I also had the immense privilege to sing our national anthem, which is a stage I have been dreaming about for a long time. I also had the chance to try the wild pony racing, and boy was I humbled by that pony! I was sad to say goodbye to Ponoka Stampede as I will never be in that arena as a rodeo queen again. However, I know I will have a little less rhinestones on my clothes next year, but I will have the same full heart.
Cowboy Christmas this year has been one of my favourites as I have been traveling alongside our athletes as they work towards the Canadian Finals Rodeo!
With my whole heart,
Miss Rodeo Canada 2024
Kaylee Shantz
