December Reflections: A Grateful Farewell to an Unforgettable Year

December began with a moment that truly marked the closing chapter of an incredible year. I dropped off my Cam Clark Ford truck, and said goodbye to a vehicle that has been such a loyal companion throughout my travels as Miss Rodeo Canada. From countless miles on the road to early mornings and late nights, that truck carried me through so many special moments. I am so incredibly grateful to Cam Clark Ford for their generous sponsorship and unwavering support throughout my reign. 

From there, I made my way to the Calgary airport to begin one of the most exciting trips of the year, my journey to Las Vegas for theWrangler National Finals Rodeo. Vegas is always electric during WNFR, and this year was no exception. I had the honour of attending countless incredible events, including the Miss Rodeo America Pageant, where I was fortunate to watch 27 of my American sash sisters compete for the title of Miss Rodeo America. It so was inspiring to witness their hard work, grace, and dedication firsthand while getting to cheer on these girls who have become such close friends throughout my year.

This year was especially meaningful as we celebrated 70 years of Miss Rodeo Canada alongside the Miss Rodeo America organization. Sharing this milestone with our sister organization made the experience even more special and it was so fun to celebrate this by sharing birthday cake with my Miss Rodeo America. During our time in Vegas, we stayed at the Palms Casino Resort, which truly became our home away from home. From viewing parties to their annual lobby dance party on Canada Night, the Palms was filled with energy, pride, and plenty of Canadian spirit.

One of my favourite parts of the trip was getting to cheer on our Canadian athletes while reconnecting with so many familiar faces. The entire week felt like a big family reunion. I had the chance to see and reconnect with so many incredible people who played a meaningful role in my year - whether they had hosted me along my travels, worked behind the scenes at rodeos, or became close friends along the way. Those connections are truly what make this role so special.

While in Vegas, I also had the opportunity to reconnect with many of my generous sponsors, including Wrangler, Double D Ranchwear,Dan Post Boots, Fellowship of Christian Cowboys, Montana Silversmiths, and Barry Lammle of Lammle’s Western Wear, who so kindly invited Miss Rodeo America and me to visit his suite. Thank you to Cheryl Daines (MRC1988) and Jeff Chadwick (Wrangler) for the amazing rodeo tickets.  These moments of connection and gratitude meant the world to me and reminded me how blessed I have been to be supported by such an incredible community.

This year, I was deeply honoured to participate in all 10 National Finals Rodeo Grand Entries, alongside Miss Rodeo America, walking on the dirt of the Thomas & Mack each night while proudly representing Canadian Professional Rodeo. This was such a huge honour and an experience that I will always carry with me!

On Canada night I got to ride in the Thomas and Mack which was another huge highlight as I carried in our Canadian Flag and got to present it for our Canadian National Anthem. Having the honour of carrying our Canadian flag is one that I will never take for granted and still brings chills each and every time, however doing so at this level of event in particular is forsure a moment that will be etched in my memory until the end of time. It was such a surreal moment for me! Thank you so much to Angie with Las Vegas Events and Wrangler National Finals Rodeo for granting me such an amazing experience!

Following the WNFR, my time as Miss Rodeo Canada has mostly wrapped up. I’ve spent the last couple of weeks catching up on social media, taking final farewell photos, and reflecting on what an extraordinary year this has been. As Christmas has passed, I find myself overwhelmed with gratitude for the experiences, the people, and the growth that came with this title.

A special thank you to our major sponsors, 840 CFCW, Canadian Cowboy Country Magazine, Edmonton's Best Hotels, Cam Clark Automotive Group, Lammle's Western Wear, and Palms Resort & Spa.

With a full heart and endless gratitude,

Codi Wilson

Miss Rodeo Canada 2025