May 2023 - Mackenzie Skeels

Starting off the month of May, I was at my home town and got to visit my old Elementary school. It was so wonderful to be back in my elementary school and talk to all of the wonderful teachers that taught me when I was there. Later on in the week I got to visit with my favorite radio station, CFCW, to do some rodeo ads and promotions, and then attended the Ponoka Stampede tarp auction where I crowned the new Miss Ponoka Stampede, Kaylee Shantz. Something really cool about Kaylee is that I have actually had the opportunity to crown her three times! In addition to Ponoka, she was the Rimbey Rodeo Queen, as well as Miss Rodeo Sundre the years after me. I am so proud of her and know that she will represent Ponoka well this year! 

From there, I was off on another adventure attending the Canadian Pro Rodeo Hall of

Fame banquet. Congratulations to all of the inductees for 2022; Rob Bell- contestant, Dusty

LaValley- contestant, Bill Reeder- contestant, Mike Copeman- builder, VJV Slash/ Vold Family-

animal, and Greg Rumohr- legend. 

Mid month I had the opportunity to announce at the Rimbey Interclub 4-H show and sale

and that was a really wonderful experience as this was the interclub I was a part of for 12 years. It

was so much fun to catch up with everyone, and to watch and cheer on the next generation of

farmers and ranchers. The next day I spoke at the FCSS general meeting in Ponoka alongside

Miss Ponoka Stampede, and got to help Brenda Vold tour the meeting participants though the

Canadian Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame. Staying in central Alberta, I made my way to the home of the CFR, Westerner Park, for the Cowboy Kicks charity auction in my favorite Dan Post boots. The attendance of the night went to support the modernizing of the Canadian Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame and further the Westerner Foundation's objective of promoting, fundraising, and investing in initiatives that will support the future sustainability of Westerner Park. 

From there I attended the Miss Rodeo Edmonton public speaking and crowning. Throughout the day the Miss Rodeo Edmonton contestants and I went and visited some mutual sponsors such as CFCW and Lammles at West Edmonton Mall, where we got to do some radio interviews as well as pick out and style an outfit at Lammles. Congratulations to your newly crowned and first ever Miss Rodeo Edmonton, Codi Wilson! Codi will do an excellent job representing this year and I am excited to see what the future holds for her! 

Nearing the end of the month of May, I attended another school visit, the New

Humble School is quite unique compared to some of the other school visits I attend this year.

This rural school only has 114 students and was reopened by the community in 2021. This

school focuses primarily on agriculture and food production alongside the kids' regular studies.

With this, the kids learn about caring for the land and livestock through having animals on the

school grounds that they take care of alongside a garden and other hands-on agriculture

learning experiences that relate to the real world. 

From there I headed to the Buffalo Lake Metis Settlement for their first ever Pro Rodeo,

and the Rodeo that kicked off this year's SMS Pro Tour! I had the opportunity to meet so many

wonderful people that are a part of this community, and it was an honor to be a part of the meet

and greet with C5’s F13 Virgil. I got to talk to so many of Virgil's wonderful fans and was able to watch this two-time World Champion bareback horse in action at his hometown rodeo! As May

comes to a close, I am off to Grande Prairie for the Grande Prairie Stompede! Be sure to tune in

next month as I continue my travels and enter into the busiest month for Canadian Professional

Rodeo!  

With Gratitude, 

Mackenzie Skeels

Miss Rodeo Canada 2023