Hi Rodeo Fans! I am so thrilled to be your new Miss Rodeo Canada 2024, and I look forward to sharing all of my adventures with you through the Blog! I am a 23 year year old residing on a farm within Ponoka county with my family. I am so honored and grateful that I was able to represent my home rodeo of Ponoka Stampede on the national stage of Miss Rodeo Canada. This experience would not be possible without my family and friends that have been supporting me from the very beginning, it surely takes a village to raise a rodeo queen!
The Miss Rodeo Canada competition this year was unlike any experience in my life. I am so grateful for the lifelong friendships that were forged over the week. Thank you so much to the volunteers, judges and countless individuals that made it so special. I am looking forward to where my competitors' futures take them.
To finish off the Canadian Finals Rodeo, I hit the ground running with the Miss Rodeo Canada Alumni Breakfast where I had the privilege of getting to know more alumni and their families. I then got to shadow Mackenzie with buckle presentations and congratulating our crowned champions! When the dust settled as I returned home I had a wonderful visit with our oldest sponsor 840 CFCW.
In the beginning of my journey, I was able to do some sponsor visits, starting with Smithbilt where Mackenzie and I actually learnt the process of building the hats! I then had so much fun with our official photographer Leslie Dawn, getting pictures done for my autograph sheets. The Calgary location Lammles had their Grand opening, so Mackenzie and myself spent the day with the Calgary Stampede Royalty greeting everyone, spreading our excitement for the new store and I received my very first pair of Dan Post Boots!
I had my very first flight as lady-in-waiting to the bright lights of Las Vegas for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. I had a beautiful stay at our sponsor hotel, the Palms and attended the viewing party each night to mingle and sign autographs. I had the privilege of being in good company with JB Mauney, Fred Whitfield as well as Tuf Cooper! I had so much fun mingling at the Montana Silversmiths booth signing autographs, getting to know our Dan Post Boot sponsor as well as the Fellowship of Christian Cowboys at Cowboy Christmas. During Canada night I had the privilege of being interviewed on the Cowboy Channel Tailgate Party and I cheered on Mackenzie as she proudly carried our nation's flag in the arena at the Thomas & Mack Center! Congratulations to Zeke Thurston for his fourth saddle bronc world champion title and Shelby Boisjoli on her first breakaway roping world championship!
I am really looking forward to this year and can’t wait to see where my adventures take me!
Kindest regards,
Miss Rodeo Canada 2024
Kaylee Shantz