Well another month has come and gone. January was a blast! I was able to attend the National Western Stock Show and Rodeo in Denver, CO. I got to represent Canada in the opening ceremony by carrying the Western National Stock Show flag as well as running sponsor flags during the performance. I met several of the state queens that attend and help with the rodeo, and I also met Miss Pat Thompson and sat with her in the VIP area during the performances. Unfortunately, we missed meeting Mr. John Cavey but I was able to send him a picture and wish him all the best!
I attended the WESA Market where I had the opportunity to help Roper/Stetson showcase their new lines. I got to try on and model some of the upcoming lines so that clients could get a better feel for the clothes, not just see them on a hanger. This also gave me a chance to meet and visit with some clients as well. It was great to find out what goes on behind the scenes and see all the hard work the Roper/Stetson crew puts into everything.
One afternoon I was able to stop by the Montana Silver booth. They are one of my major sponsors and it was nice to visit and thank them in person for all they have done and continue to do for the Miss Rodeo Canada pageant. I am happy to say that I have received my Montana Silver Smith Buckle and am overjoyed with the amazing workmanship. I will wear it with great pride!
The Airdrie Pro Rodeo Queen and Princess came down to attend the Rodeo and Market on the Saturday. We all went out for breakfast that morning and then headed over to the market, which gave me a chance to show them all the booths and where to find some good shopping. It was great to have the opportunity to give the Canadian girls a little taste of some of the things you get to do as Miss Rodeo Canada. So, all in all this was a trip that I will not soon forget and I am very grateful to Jim Nevada and everyone else at the Roper/Stetson booth for making me feel right at home while I was there.
I also attended the Alberta Feeders Convention in Red Deer, AB this past weekend. I, along with Miss Rodeo Sundre, helped hand out tickets and prizes during their annual STARS fundraiser and wrap up dinner. For over 21 years, the organization has held a fundraiser for STARS, with a grand total of $321,773.51 raised to date. This year, they raised $30,000.00 in just one night! It was an honor to be a part of this wonderful organization and their cause.
February will be a busy month too as I will be attending many different events in my home town of Sundre, AB. I will also be at the Alberta Association of Agricultural Society function in Edmonton, AB and the Olds RV Show in Olds, AB. I’m looking forward to all of these upcoming events and hope everyone January was as awesome as mine! God Bless.
Arleta Bowhay
Miss Rodeo Canada 2012
Well, we are now in the New Year and I am very excited for all the adventures I will have the opportunity to experience. I had a wonderful Christmas with my family and friends. It was great to be able to visit and get updated on their lives. They sat me down and said, “Arleta, we need to do a question and answer period.” Ha ha! They started asking me a bunch of questions to learn what my job as Miss Rodeo Canada entails. It was awesome to be able to share with them what my new duties are. They are very excited to learn about all the opportunities I have in 2012.
I got to go down to Las Vegas to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo at the beginning of December. This was a trip I was most excited for after winning my title, as I have never been to the WNFR before. Being able to ride in every grand entry, hand out the go-round buckles to the cowboys & cowgirls and visiting with all the old time competitors before every rodeo made my trip something I will never forget.
I keep getting asked what part of the trip was my favourite part. You know it’s hard to pick, as everything was so incredible. Being able to ride every night representing Canada was a huge honour and definitely a highlight of my trip, but I would have to say that going to the Gold Card Room every night before the performance, visiting with all the old competitors and hearing their amazing stories of past rodeo adventures was my favourite part. They all welcomed me with open arms and really made me feel at home. Wayne Brooks and I handed out different door prizes every night and we always had a great meal donated to us from various hotels in the Boyd Gaming group of companies. Boyd Gaming sure did an awesome job hosting the Gold Card Room each night.
Just about every day I got to go to different trade shows around the city and visit the Roper, Stetson, Wrangler, and Montana Silversmiths booths to do autograph signings. Most times I had one or two cowboys with me signing as well. It was a thrill to have everyone so excited to see someone from Canada down there. I had lots of folks saying I have a really cool Canadian accent, and that I didn’t say “eh” as much as most Canadians they had met!
I also got to go and watch most of the Miss Rodeo America Pageant. It was very interesting to see how they run their competition. They had 28 ladies running for the title so as you can imagine, it is a much bigger production then we have in Canada! I got to know Mackenzie Haley (Miss Rodeo America 2011) quite well as we worked together everyday doing different events. She was getting ready to pass down her title to the new Miss Rodeo America 2012; I heard nothing but great comments about the incredible work Mackenzie did during her reign. I truly believe this as she was a very warm, welcoming young lady that loved what she was doing!
Overall, the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo was something I will never forget and an experience I am so grateful to have had. Now, I’m off to the National Western Stock Show in Denver on January 12th and will there representing Canada. At the end of the month I will be attending the Feeder Associations of Alberta Convention in Red Deer, Alberta and the Country Road RV Show and Sale in Olds, Alberta.
I hope everyone had an amazing Christmas and I wish you all a happy New Year! 
A dream I have been waiting for years to do finally came true on Nov. 5, 2011. This was the day that I got to start the competitions for Miss Rodeo Canada 2012 and meet three other amazing ladies that have been doing an awesome job representing their rodeos over the past years. I could not have asked for a better bunch of girls to have gone through the competition with, as we all got along so well and had a blast doing everything we did.
Megan Luider, Cochrane Lions Rodeo Queen, the lady that when we were all starting to power down on the drive back at night got her second wind and made us all laugh and come back to life. Samantha Callioux, Miss Grande Prairie Stompede, an amazing lady that I have had the opportunity to meet and work with two years at the Sundre Rodeo and she always had a smile on her face and someone I thought so highly of. And Kenna Lockwood, Miss Rodeo Okotoks, a beautiful lady that I had never met before but we got along so well and I had so much fun with. She always had my back helping me get in and out of my dresses or reminding me to put my poppy on. I truly think I have made three new and amazing friends from this competition and can only hope the best for every one of them!
Our week went by so fast, we all said it seemed like we just got here, and Nov. 10 crowning day was already here. We were so busy everyday doing different appearances and competitions that our days flew by. Here is a short and brief idea of how our week went.
Saturday Nov.5 we all arrived at Borden Park to find our awesome horses that we would be riding in the River City Round Up, then we signed autographs, walked around city hall, and visited with different people.
Sunday we had our horsemanship at Top Notch Arena where we had the opportunity to ride their reining horses for the competition. We each did two reining patterns, one flag pattern, and a presentation ride. We also each got to do an impromptu question. We later returned to Sutton Place Hotel and we did our written test portion of the competition.
Monday we had our personal interviews also at the Sutton Place Hotel, where we all sat down with three different judges and they asked us a bunch of different question to see how we would deal with things, and to just learn a little more about each one of us girls.
Tuesday we got to do our speeches, a promotional piece for our communities and rodeo, and an impromptu. We each had family and friends that were able to make it out and cheer us on.
Wednesday, the day we all referred to as “the fun day”, we got to be in a fashion show at West Ed Mall. We each got to model an outfit from Urban Woman, Lammles, and we each brought our own dresses to model. Then that night we each got to do our presentation ride during the first performance of the 2011 Canadian Finals Rodeo.
Thursday, the day we have all been waiting for, the new Miss Rodeo Canada 2012 was announced. Walking out into the arena was what we had all been waiting for all week. As we all stood there waiting, I can just remember thinking, “Is this really happening?”. We all held hands as we waited to hear what name Les McIntyre was going to call.
I was overwhelmed with joy, tears, and extreme happiness when Les said “Arleta Bowhay Miss Rodeo Sundre”. To hear my name being called as the new Miss Rodeo Canada is a dream come true. I am the very first Miss Rodeo Sundre to ever be crowned Miss Rodeo Canada, so that is something that I am very honoured to be able to do.
The next three days were packed full of appearances, interviews, pictures and being able to carry the Canadian Flag at each performance. I am very excited and honoured to be the new face/ambassador of Canadian Professional Rodeo. And I will do my very best to do my country and the sport of rodeo proud.
I will be heading to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in the next couple days and will be down there representing Canadian Professional Rodeo. I am very excited and honoured to be going down and can’t wait to be a part of the whole finals.
I would like to say a huge thank you to Tara Gamble, for all her time that she put into making the competition run so well and be an amazing experience for all of us. Thanks to Jocelyne Lambert, for taking on the role of President of MRC and being my new boss for the year haha. To all the rest of my MRC committee I am looking forward to working with you all. And a big thanks to all my amazing sponsors, some being Roper, Stetson, Wrangler, Smithbilt Hats, Montana Silver, and all the rest of the greatly appreciated sponsors!
I’d like to say another big thank you to my family. Mom and dad, thanks for always believing in me. Carson, Bronwen, and Dayla, thank you for always helping me out and cheering me on. To the Sundre Pro Rodeo, thanks for sending me to the competition and also believing in me. And thanks to everyone else that supported and cheered me on during my journey to Miss Rodeo Canada.
I look forward to informing you all of my experiences at the National Finals Rodeo after I return!
How does one sum up 12 months/ 365-days/8760 hours as Miss Rodeo Canada Princess 2011 in a few short minutes? It seemed impossible at first but looking back at all the amazing memories it makes the impossible worth a try. At the age of 18 winning this title has provided me with a year of great personal growth. I have not only been blessed to attend over 400 appearances and meet countless wonderful new people, but to have the continued support of my family, friends, hometown community and many sponsors has made this experience even more meaningful.
From my first event as Miss Rodeo Canada Princess 2011, to these final days at the 38th Annual Canadian Finals Rodeo, this has truly been a year of many amazing surprises, unforgettable memories and various lessons I didn’t expect to learn as a rodeo princess.
I am proud to be able to say that I represented one of the greatest sports in the world and to be able to represent my country through the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association has been an honor I hold dear to my heart. I have attended over 25 rodeos through out Western Canada and the United States driving over 40,000 km to rodeos big or small. Each rodeo that I have attended has reminded me that this sport is not just a hobby; it’s a lifestyle. Our western way of life will continue to grow and flourish with the amazing people who work hard to keep it alive through the sport of professional rodeo. The memories that I have made at each rodeo will never be forgotten.
I could not say my farewell with out mentioning the best part of my year as Miss Rodeo Canada Princess 2011. I had the honor of sharing my year with one of the most intelligent, caring, beautiful and talented woman I have ever met. I would like to thank Kezia Morrison, Miss Rodeo Canada 2011, for making my year as incredible as it was! I will cherish every memory that we made as Thing 1 and Thing 2. I know you have a bright future ahead of you and I know that I have made a life long friend.
Through out my year as Miss Rodeo Canada Princess 2011 I have eaten more pancakes then any normal human being should, signed my name more times than I probably will for the rest of my life, locked my self out of my host families home, heard my name pronounced differently at every rodeo, became an expert at packing as many items as possible into one suitcase, ridden good horses as well as lets just say unique horses, used over 10 bottles of hairspray and shoved a countless amount of bobby pins into my hat to the point where I think I have permanent dents! I wouldn’t change any of it for the world.
With out the amazing Miss Rodeo Canada Board, Sponsors and Volunteers this program would not be possible. I would like to thank everyone behind the scenes who have helped Kezia and I along our journey; we appreciate all the support, kind words and sponsorship that you have given us. I would especially like to thank Dianne Young for hosting me for the year in Edmonton; Kezia and her family for making me feel apart of their family and most of all my family and friends who have stuck behind me through such a crazy and amazing year! But most of all I would like to thank my Mother, I could not have gone through my year as Miss Rodeo Canada Princess with out her love and support, words could not express how thankful I am that she is my mom!
I would like to say good luck to the contestants for this year. Each one of you has brought something special to this competition and it has been an honour to get to share this experience with you all. You are all winners in my eyes! To next years Miss Rodeo Canada, I would just like to say hold on tight because you are in for the ride of your life. Take every moment and opportunity that is given to you and cherish them. You are now apart of a remarkable legacy to represent the professional sport of rodeo in Canada as the First Lady of Rodeo. Remember to stay true to yourself, to never sweat the small stuff, never leave the house without your bobby pins, back comb brush, lipstick or hairspray and most of all never stop smiling!
With my year as Miss Rodeo Canada Princess coming to an end I am looking forward to all the great future endeavors I have ahead of me. The next step in my busy life will be attending the University of Lethbridge this coming January where I will be taking a combined major in Education and Theatre. Being Miss Rodeo Canada Princess has given me more confidence as a person, shown me I can influence others to live a positive way of life and has given me the assurance that I can set my own goals high and with hard work and dedication anything is possible. The friendships I have made and the lessons I have learned through out my journey down the rodeo trail have made me proud to say I’m a country girl.
Best Wishes and Happy Trails
The month of October was filled with some great events leading up to the River City Round Up Festival and the 38th annual Canadian Finals Rodeo.
After having a couple of weeks off at the beginning of the month I headed to Calgary for the Canadian Professional Rodeo 
Association Hall of Fame Inductees Gala. I enjoyed listening and learning about the amazing inductees accomplishments and their life stories. Arleta Bowhay, Miss Rodeo Sundre, and Samantha Callioux, Miss Grande Prairie Stompede joined Kezia and I at the gala. We were all asked to help hand out the lifetime membership cards and to walk around with the live auction items. I would like to congratulate all of the inductees for their amazing accomplishments and would like to thank the Canadian Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame Committee for having us.
Then it was back to Edmonton for the Canadian Finals Rodeo and River City Round Up Media Kick Off at the Northlands Expo Centre on the 28th.
Later that night Kezia and I were excited to attend the 19th annual Black Tie Bingo at the Weston Hotel. We were asked to help sell the Big Toy Raffle tickets as well as model jewelry from Independent Jewelers who was one of the sponsors for the raffle. We all enjoyed an amazing dinner and ended the night with playing 5 rounds of Bingo! I had an amazing time at the Black Tie Bingo and would like to thank the committee for treating us to such a great evening. I would also like to congratulate Bob Steadward, the past Miss Rodeo Canada President, for winner the Big Toy Raffle and taking home a beautiful ATV!
It’s crazy to think that my year as Miss Rodeo Canada Princess 2011 is coming to an end. To see what Kezia and I will be doing for our final weeks as the Canadian Rodeo Royalty Duo check out our schedule at www.missrodeocanada.ca or follow us on facebook or twitter!
Best Wishes and Happy Trails!
My journey as Miss Rodeo Canada 2011 began in Rexall Place arena on November 12, 2010. A journey can be defined as a passage travelling from
one place to another but in my case it involved travelling more than seventy thousand kilometers on the ground and in the air making four hundred and fifty appearances across Canada, the United States and Australia. This journey has brought me full circle back to the magnificent Canadian Finals Rodeo where my dream to become an ambassador for the sport I love and the country I cherish became a reality.
I had the privilege of sharing this outstanding adventure with the beautiful and talented Kirsten Braumandl. Many memories were made on the backs of horses and the front seats of our cars over our many miles travelled together. Our 
families often referred to us as “two peas in a pod” due to our uncanny similarities and as a result there was never a dull moment when Thing 1 and Thing 2 were together. We were fortunate to grow a lot as individuals and as a team because we always challenged each other to be our best while still having fun. I believe the ultimate success of our reign was to accomplish our goal of inspiring children to follow their dreams.
Kirsten and I were so very fortunate to have received the whole-hearted support of each and every sustaining partner, sponsor and official supplier. The many donations and assistance we received enabled us to represent professional rodeo to the best of our ability. We would also like to sincerely thank the Miss Rodeo Canada Committee for giving us this opportunity and for booking us at the most amazing events, rodeos, and appearances. 
A huge thank you is owed to all of the communities and fans that invited us to their events and into their hearts. These individuals made our year not only possible but also one we will forever treasure. Lastly, we must thank the people who were beside us every step of the way – our exceptional families and friends who encouraged us to achieve greatness through thick and thin. Thank you for being our biggest fans.
While this marks the end of one journey for the Canadian Rodeo Royalty Duo it also commences the many new adventures that await Kirsten and I. We leave you with one simple message: Always follow your dreams no matter how big or small they may be. Best Wishes and Happy Trails!
October was a fabulous month full of many media appearances leading up to the River City Round Up Festival and the magnificent 38th annual 
Canadian Finals Rodeo.
I began the month in the city of Lethbridge where I had a follow-up interview with Global Lethbridge’s Elisha Rasmussen for her program, Profiles. Elisha interviewed me last October before I ran for the title of Miss Rodeo Canada so it was wonderful to come full circle back to Lethbridge with the crown. The full interview will be aired on Global Lethbridge on October 28th so keep your eyes peeled! I also had an interview with the Global Lethbridge News Anchor Tom Roulston that was aired that night to promote my presence in the city.
Up next, I returned to my hometown for a photo shoot for the December issue of Okotoks Living Magazine. Miss Rodeo Okotoks 2010 Kenna Lockwood and the current Miss Rodeo Okotoks Nicole Shlaak joined me in the photo shoot to promote and feature local rodeo royalty. We were asked “if you were given $500 to have a shopping spree in Okotoks where would you go and what would you buy?”. You will see 
the answers to this question in the December issue so make sure you grab one!
I travelled to Sherwood Park for my next appearance with Global but this time it was my fabulous sponsor, Global Edmonton. I was asked to shoot promotional clips for the upcoming Miss Rodeo Canada pageant as well as the Canadian Finals Rodeo. It took a couple of takes but in the end everything went very smoothly and the results amazing…we even beat the rain!
I was asked by one of my outstanding sponsors, Western Financial Group in High River, if I would be interested in getting my hands a little dirty at a local charity event. I was extremely excited as the request was for me to be a celebrity server at Boston Pizza with all of my tips donated to UNICEF. This was an amazing opportunity for me to put my serving skills to good use and to help make a difference in my community. All of the patrons were very patient with me and I even had a chance to meet some young fans. I am so impressed by how well this event was organized and how patient the staff of Boston Pizza were with all of the celebrity servers. What an amazing group of people!
Mid-October I attended a fabulous event at Kayben farms located just north of Okotoks called the Scarecrow & Pumpkin Festival. The farm was absolutely beautiful and was decorated just in time for fall and Halloween. It was “Town of Okotoks Day” so all of the town councilors and town workers were there with their families enjoying the sunshine and the festivities. Miss Rodeo Okotoks 2011 Nicole Shlaak attended this event with me and we were fortunate to judge the relay races and pumpkin slinging competitions. It was a wonderful way to spend time in the Okotoks community surrounded by many smiling Okotokians.
Later in the month I was reunited with my partner in crime at the Canadian Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame Banquet and Inductee Ceremony at the Coast Plaza Hotel in Calgary. Also in attendance were Miss Rodeo Grande Prairie Samantha Callioux and Miss Rodeo Sundre Arleta Bowhay. I was honoured to hold the Canadian flag during the singing of our national anthem, hand out lifetime membership cards, and model auction items. I would like to congratulate each and every 2011 inductee (Don Johansen, Ted Vayro, Glen O’Neil, Joe Lucas, Ernie Marshall, Ralph Murray and Charles Manson of Franklin Rodeo) for all of their accomplishments. I would also like to commend the Canadian Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame Committee for putting on such a magnificent event and treating us to such a magical evening.
At the end of the month I found myself in Edmonton for more promotional work as the CFR and River City Round Up draws near. I attended Edmonton City Hall for Council Meeting where Northlands and the River City Round Up were recognized and commended for their efforts. Following the meeting I posed for a promotional photo for the Edmonton Journal that will be printed with a short story about my year as Miss Rodeo Canada in the November 7th issue.
Next, I had a very emotional appearance to make at Northlands where I filmed my farewell video that will be played at intermission during the Thursday evening performance of the Canadian Finals Rodeo. It is not easy to try and capture a year as full and exciting as the one I have just lived and it was difficult for me to wrap my head around the idea.
Kirsten and I look forward to our few as the first ladies of Canadian rodeo with great anticipation. Make sure you come out to see us in November at the River City Round Up Kick Off, the Miss Rodeo Canada 2012 Pageant events and of course the Canadian Finals Rodeo! I will do my best to keep everyone updated on the final few weeks of my reign so make sure you check back regularly and follow us on Facebook & Twitter (missrodeocanada)!
For more information please visit these great sites!
River City Round Up : http://rivercityroundup.com/
Canadian Finals Rodeo : http://www.canadianfinalsrodeo.com/
Canadian Professional Rodeo Association : http://www.rodeocanada.com/
September was an absolutely amazing month and it all began on the long weekend at my hometown
rodeo – The Twentieth Anniversary of the Okotoks Pro Rodeo! The lovely Miss Rodeo Okotoks 2010, Kenna Lockwood, kept all of the visiting royalty busy at various appearances throughout the town all weekend. The Okotoks Pro Rodeo made sure that we were all very well fed and sent us to some of the best restaurants Okotoks has to offer – Original Joes, Boston Pizza, Riley’s Cattlebarn and The George. They also ensured that each of the visiting rodeo royals were transported around town in style by proving sponsor vehicles from each of the rodeos partner dealerships while I had the extreme honour of driving my amazing Terrain sponsored by Keith Buick Chevrolet GMC. At each of the rodeo performances I was proud to carry the Canadian flag during grand entry, assist with the mutton bustin’ and sign autographs on the concourse. Other highlights of the weekend included the Lions Club Pancake Breakfast, the Okotoks Kids Rodeo, sponsor visits around town, and the Ol’ Town Okotoks Farmer’s Market. I also had an amazing time with this year’s Miss Rodeo Okotoks Princess for a Day.
After a wonderful time spent in my hometown I met up with Kirsten in Edmonton for our Canadian Cowboy Country Magazine photo shoot with the renowned photographer, Mike Copeman. The shoot this year was featured on the Edmonton River Queen, a Class II Passenger Tour Vessel located in downtown Edmonton.
It was the perfect day for a photo shoot with the sun shining and beautiful fall fashions at our disposal.
The first annual “Gathering of the Horse Industry” event drew several equine enthusiasts from the Edmonton area to the Sherwood Park Community Centre. I was invited to give a speech about the Miss Rodeo Canada Program and the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association. I was very impressed by this function as it created a venue for horse lovers to share information and learn about various aspects of the horse industry.
Another debut event, hosted at the Marriott River Cree Casino, wowed Edmontonians at the end of the month. The First Annual STARS Bling N’ Boots Gala was the product of a unique partnership between STARS and the Edmonton Cowboy Benevolent Fund. The décor was absolutely stunning with chandeliers hanging from the ceiling and hot pink flowers sprouting from the centerpieces. I had the pleasure of sitting with the fantastic people of the Foothills Auction Market for dinner before I modeled the auction pieces alongside Miss Rodeo Bonnyville and her Princess.
At the end of the month I made my way to Edmonton City Hall for a unique River City Round Up Media
event where Northlands and Mayor Mandell announced their partnership in producing this magnificent event. This event was a great way to render rodeo spirit with the fast approaching Canadian Finals Rodeo and River City Roundup Festival.
Kirsten and I look forward to our final month as the first ladies of Canadian rodeo with great anticipation. Make sure you come out to see us in October at the High River Boston Pizza UNICEF event, Canadian Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame Inductee Ceremony, and the Edmonton Cowboy Benevolent Fund Black Tie Bingo event. Also, keep your eyes peeled for the October/November issue of the Canadian Cowboy Country Magazine as I am the cover model and there is a full spread of Kirsten and I modeling the latest in western fall fashion. Remember that you can keep up-to-date with my adventures on twitter (missrodeocanada) or facebook!
September was a crazy month for me, after an amazing trip to the Wrangler Canadian Professional Rodeo Tour Finals Armstrong, BC I traveled back to Edmonton for the Canadian Cowboy Country Magazine photo shoot. Kezia and I had such a great time with the crew on the shoot at Edmonton’s Riverboat Queen! We were asked to model some very beautiful outfits; we are both very excited to see the outcome of the shoot. Pick up the October/November issue of Canadian Cowboy Country Magazine to see our shoot.
I was very excited to get the chance to head back to Williams Lake for a couple special events. My first event was the Williams Lake Fall Fair and BC Professional Bull Riding Finals September 11th. My day began with a pancake breakfast, which was followed by a quick shift at the information booth to sign autographs. After a quick hello at the Williams Lake Fall Fair 
Gymkhana, I headed off to help judge the pet parade where the entries varied from cats, guinea pigs, dogs, horses, rabbits and sheep! At the BC Professional Bull Riding Finals opening ceremonies I was given the opportunity to walk out with all of the bull riders while being introduced to the crowd. Once the opening was complete I sat back, and enjoyed the Bull riding show!
My next event in Williams Lake was the Cops for Cancer Tour de North with the riders ending their journey from Fort Saint John B.C. to Williams Lake at Boitanio Park. I was asked to help MC the event along side Miss BC Interior, Cindy Durst, and Evan though it was cold and rainy outside the riders were greeted by the local pipe band and an enthusiastic group of fans and supporters. Afterwards we all made our way to the Thompson River University to attend the gala dinner for the riders. Cindy and I were asked to help MC again. While enjoying a delicious dinner, 
everyone in attendance listened to the riders share their stories from their ride. Every year the riders choose a child that has some form of cancer to help support them financially. This year they chose, Nicholas Paul. Nicholas is an amazing young man, who never once stopped smiling. Paul has inspired me to remember to smile, no matter how hard life can get.
I said goodbye to Williams Lake and made my way up to Quesnel, BC for the British Columbia Rodeo Association Finals from the 16th-18th. The rodeo began Friday with a Tough Enough to Wear Pink performance and ended Sunday with a Wear Red to Support the Troops performance. I was given the honor of carrying the Canadian Flag during the anthem, leading the victory laps for each event, and helping with push out during the rodeo. Davana, Bobi, and Alexia, the Williams Lake Stampede Royalty, joined me for the weekend. While in Quesnel I also went to the Bouchie Lake Feed Store and Circle S Western Wear for some autograph signings. Rain, sun, hail, and cloud, I had an amazing time in Quesnel for the BCRA Finals. I would like to thank the Bouchie Lake Feed Store, Circle S Western Wear, and Fas Gas for sponsoring my trip to Quesnel. Also a big thank you to C plus rodeo for providing me with horses for the weekend, Ray Jasper, Trish 
Kohorst, and everyone else on the BCRA Finals Rodeo Committee for hosting me, it was great to be back home cheering on some familiar faces!
My final event of the month took place in Hanna, Alberta for the Hanna Professional Rodeo September 23rd-25th, While Kezia attended The Stars Bling n’ Boots Gala in Edmonton on the 24th . My first event took place at the Hanna Primary School where Stacey Kading, the Hanna Pro Rodeo Queen, Samantha Callioux Miss Grande Prairie Stompede and I talked with the entire school about what we do as rodeo queens and about rodeo! Our next stop was the JC Charyk School where we split up and visited different grades to give more presentations. After a wholesome meal sponsored by the Willow Creek Café we walked down Main Street and judged all of the decorated storefronts. Before we knew it, it was time for the first performance of the Hanna Pro Rodeo. I was excited to be able to carry the Canadian flag during the anthem, carry sponsor flags after each event and help Stacey with push out. When the rodeo was finished Stacey, Samantha and I headed to the front lobby to sign autographs. The next day started with a pancake breakfast at the grounds where all of the visiting royalty got together. Once everybody showed up, there was a totally of 13 rodeo royalty in attendance from Airdrie, Bonneyville, Cochraine, Medicine Hat, Sundre, Taber and Okotoks. After the breakfast we all prepared our horses for the parade. The Hanna Parade was very special because it was an all horse parade! During the parade we all carried sponsor flags, I was given the honors of carrying the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association Flag. When the parade was finished and our horses were all put away, we all enjoyed lunch sponsored by IGA where we mingled with everyone there. Once everyone had eaten we walked over to the local Dodge dealership to say a quick hello and give a big thank you for supporting the rodeo! The Rodeo was a packed grand entry, with 13 girls coming in for their presentation rides but it was a lot of fun, Stacey and I did push out together and the other royalty took turns with the sponsor flags. To end the rodeo we all signed autographs in the front lobby for all of our little fans! Most of the visiting royalty left before the last rodeo performance so it was a smaller group of girls for the Sunday Tough Enough To Wear Pink rodeo performance. I would like to thank Stacey Kading and her family for being such amazing hosts for my weekend in Hanna. Stacey you did a great job of organizing for 13 royalty, and ensuring that everyone felt welcome and had something special to do at the rodeo and received a wonderful gift bag. I would also like to thank the Hanna Pro Rodeo Committee and the community of Hanna for having me at your rodeo!
With the final rodeo of the 2011 CPRA season finished Kezia and I are sad to see our year as the Canadian Rodeo Royalty Duo coming to a close. After a quick trip to Okotoks to FACES and an afternoon with Kezia, I am off home to British Columbia for Thanksgiving and back to Edmonton where we will be wrapping up our year with the CPRA Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame Gala October 22nd, Black Tie Bingo on the 28th.
November will be our final events as we meet the 2012 Miss Rodeo Canada Contestants, follow them through their week of competition, Crown a New Miss Rodeo Canada and be a part of the Canadian Finals Rodeo November 5th-13th.
To see more information about the 2012 Miss Rodeo Canada Pageant and the 2012 contestants check out our schedule at www.missrodeocanada.ca or follow us on facebook and twitter!
Best Wishes and Happy Trails!
The hottest month of the summer did not slow Kirsten and I down as we blazed a trail 
through three countries. It all began in beautiful northern Alberta at the Elks Pro Rodeo in High Prairie. We were up bright and early for a radio interview with 93.5 Prairie FM radio where we were able to share some of our stories and talk about rodeo. After a lovely morning chat we found our way to the parade marshalling area where we were provided with two beautiful horses and we had an opportunity to meet the lovely young ladies vying for the title of Miss Rodeo High Prairie. After a short break we attended the first performance of the Elks Pro Rodeo where we carried out our usual tasks. We were also given a very special opportunity to ride into the arena alongside an eighty-five year old Elks veteran who showed off the raffle pony. The next morning we were invited to attend a photo shoot with the High Prairie royalty contestants before heading off to the final performance of the Elks Pro Rodeo.
After our brief stay in the north we returned to Edmonton for a more relaxed appearance at the Putting 
Horse Ranch. We were given the afternoon to golf, or rather learn to golf, and enjoy an evening with sponsors and friends. The Putting Horse Ranch has been so supportive of the Miss Rodeo Canada program and I am so grateful that they provided Kirsten and I this opportunity to enjoy an evening with good food and great friends.
Kirsten and I were invited to attend a very exciting event for Edmonton and the surrounding area – the grand opening of Cabela’s! The store was absolute joyful chaos with fabulous deals and excited men and women running around with heaping carts. We signed autographs for the many children who were there to accompany their parents in what seemed to be “Christmas Day for Grown Ups”. I was so impressed with the friendliness of the staff and how the store was so beautifully decorated. This was definitely a very impressive experience for the Canadian Rodeo Royalty Duo.
Next, we packed up our fabulous sponsor vehicles and made the journey south to Omak, Washington for the Omak Stampede an
d World Famous Suicide Race. Before the dust had even settled upon my arrival I joined Miss Omak Stampede Jonni Crossland and Miss Rodeo Washington Amanda Emerson at the Elks Kick Off Party before heading to the Western and Native Art Show. Omak is a very special place for Miss Rodeo Washington as it is her hometown and her grandfather is the President of the Omak Stampede. The following morning they had me up before the sun for a radio interview at the Stampede grounds were I joked and chatted with the rodeo announcer Steve Kenyan, rodeo clown JJ Harrison and the bullfighters. I then joined Miss Omak Stampede and Miss Rodeo Washington at the Omak Rotary Luncheon. We then went somewhere very near to Miss Omak Stampede’s Heart, the Valleyview Seniors Living Centre in Okanogan. Jonni volunteered at Valleyview for many years prior to earning her crown and knew all of the residents. We were also joined by a couple of the suicide racers who brought their horses for the residents to see and touch. Next, we were treated to two BBQ’s. If there is one thing I know for sure it is that the people of Washington will never let you go hungry. Finally it was rodeo time! There is energy in the air in Omak that makes your lap around the arena feel like the best and only moment you ever want to live. Following the rodeo Kirsten and I were joined by nearly thirty visiting royalty in an autograph session. I could not believe how many people were there and were truly excited to meet each and every queen. Friday brought
several autograph sessions around Omak including Detro’s Western Wear, Rawson’s, Walmart, and Safeway. I had a fabulous time travelling the city with all of the visiting royalty and getting to see some of the sponsors of the Omak Stampede. Saturday was an absolute blast and was kicked off by the Kid’s Parade in downtown Omak. The visiting royalty were given the very difficult task of judging the entries, which was nearly impossible because all of the kids were so cute! We changed pace in the afternoon by getting into our gowns and attending the Miss Omak Stampede Queen’s Luncheon where Jonni was able to share her journeys and treat everyone to a very delicious meal. After the luncheon the visiting royalty were taken to a Legislative gathering outside of the city. It was a great honour to mingle with some of the state’s very prestigious politicians. Our final day in Omak began with the Grand Parade where I was very fortunate to ride Miss Omak Stampede 2010 Michelle Demmit’s horse Chance. I told her to watch out because Chance told me that he wants to be a
Canadian! It was very bittersweet to leave Omak where the people are beyond generous and the rodeo is outstanding. However, my next journey was one that I had been looking forward to for a very long time – Australia!
It took my mother and I three flights, twenty-nine hours and more than 20,000 kilometers to reach our final destination in Darwin, Australia – but it was definitely worth it! I was greeted in the airport terminal by members of the Rotary Club of Darwin North, my home stay host Andrew Wright and a magnificent bouquet of flowers. Andrew took my mum and I to his beautiful condo where we met his amazing wife Kim and the other international guest Miss Rodeo Australia Caitlyn McPhee. It was so wonderful to see Caitlyn again after having met her at the Canadian Finals Rodeo last November. We definitely had a lot of stories to share about our reigns. After a few hours of relaxing and freshening up we headed to my first appearance at the Robbie Robbins Reserve. The Rotary put on a grand BBQ and welcomed Caitlyn, my mum and I to Darwin. I was blown away by the generosity and excitement of these amazing people. Later that evening Caitlyn and I joined the welcoming committee for the three international cowboys who were flown in to compete in the International Bull Riding Challenge – Adam Jamison from New Zealand, Joao Henrique Almeida Lucas from Brazil and Steven Turner from Canada! The next day was full 
of promotional work for the Darwin Championship Rodeo. The major sponsor of the rodeo, Creative Jewelers, hosted us in the open-air mall for an autograph session. We even passed out information pamphlets to help educate the locals about the rodeo. That evening we found ourselves at Mindil Beach, a market that draws locals every Thursday and Sunday to take in the sights, smells and sales of the many vendors. Caitlyn and I were up bright and early for a Radio Interview with ABC where we were able to promote the rodeo and talk about each of our programs as national rodeo royalty title-holders. Afterward, we made our way to Essington School, the top private school in Darwin, where we handed out awards, signed hundreds of autographs and taught the children a bit about the sport of rodeo. All of the children were so well behaved and so fascinated by Caitlyn and I that I could have spent the whole day with them, however, there was no time to waste! We were then taken to a local radio station Radio 
Larrakia for another interview before making our way back to Robbie Robins Reserve for the first performance of the Darwin Championship Rodeo. I was honoured to carry the Canadian flag in the grand parade – what we would call grand entry but takes place during intermission – alongside the American and Australian flags. I assisted Caitlyn with push out during the timed events and even threw candy to the children over the fence. After the rodeo, Caitlyn and I were overjoyed as we got swarmed by children at our autograph signing session. Saturday began with an early morning radio interview on Territory Top FM 104.1. After the interview Caitlyn and I had some time to relax before the final performance of the Darwin Championship Rodeo. Once again I had an amazing time representing the red and white on foreign soil.
Though my time representing Canada from a rodeo arena had come to a close with the end 
of the Darwin Championship Rodeo I still had many opportunities to spread the word of Canadian rodeo through many other experiences. It is a joke among Territorians that the front page of the local newspaper will feature a story about crocodiles three hundred and fifty days in the year. To help me learn a little bit about their culture the Rotary Club of Darwin North arranged to have me tour the Crocosaurus Museum in downtown Darwin. What I did not realize was they had also arranged for me to take a dunk in the Cage of Death. Luckily, the cage of death was extremely safe but it got be up close and personal with the star crocodiles of the museum – Denzel, Chopper, Will & Kate. I then had the fantastic opportunity to feed three-year-old crocodiles and to hold a twelve-month-old crocodile. Later that evening I was invited to attend the weekly meeting for the Rotary Club of Darwin South to give a powerpoint presentation on Miss Rodeo Canada and the Canadian Pro Rodeo Association. The Rotary Club of Darwin North also treated my mum and I to a day 
tour through Linchfield Park. The tour began with a trip through a very well preserved bird sanctuary. We were not allowed to get off of the bus due to the rogue 6-meter long crocodile that refused to be caught. Next, we floated down the Adelaide River to see the amazing jumping crocodiles followed by a tour of four of the most breath taking waterfalls I have ever seen. My final day in Australia was absolutely spectacular. My hosts, Andrew and Kim, took my mum and I to feed fish at the pier before taking us to the speedway. I was invited by one of the Rotarians to attend the sprintcar races, which is not an opportunity I had ever expected to have as Miss Rodeo Canada. I was absolutely spoiled by the members of the speedway who allowed me to sit in the infield during the sprintcar hot laps, ride in the push car, ride in the pace car and throw candies to kids, tour the pits and have a live interview over the loudspeaker. It was definitely an amazing way to wrap up my time in Darwin before taking three flights and travelling over 20,000 kilometers back to Canada.
Kirsten and I look forward to our final few months with great anticipation. Make sure you come out to see us in September at the Okotoks Pro Rodeo, Gathering of the Horse Industry, and the Stars Boots and Bling Gala. Remember that you can keep up-to-date with my adventures on twitter (missrodeocanada) or facebook!
