Several members of the Meadowview 4-H Club had an enjoyable learning opportunity at the end of Aug. when they traveled down to Olds for the annual Calgary Stampede 4-H Rodeo.
Club members Skyler Hofstra, Dayna Powell, Holly Charles, Bailey Hofstra and Cheyanna Sirard arrived in Olds Aug. 24 for the two-day event.
Participants were split into three categories; junior, intermediate, and senior. Skyler and Cheyanne were both intermediates, a group of 18 competitors, while Dayna, Holly and Bailey were seniors, in a group of 25.
Events for junior, intermediate and senior competitors included barrel racing, thread the needle, and pole bending. For just intermediates and seniors, there was breakaway roping, cow riding, goat tying and steer dobbing as well.
The five Meadowview members participated in six of the seven events, with the exception of Dayna, who added cow riding to the mix. In fact, this was her favourite part of the weekend.
“I liked cow riding,” said Dayna, who has been attending the rodeo for five years now. “It was something different. You weren’t on a horse.”
In addition to the rodeo, the event offered arena safety seminars, sports medicine and conditioning demonstrations.
There were hands on clinics for participants, including cow riding, goat tying, and breakaway roping, as well as yoga and trailering.
Learning the art of goat tying was a favourite for Skyler, who attended the 4-H rodeo for the first time this year. His sister Bailey was also a first timer, and said the weekend was a great experience she would like to take part in again.
“It was a blast. And it was competitive, but fun,” she said. “You’re with all 4-H members so it was kind of low-key. We’re all just there to have fun.”
“I would go back again next year,” added Cheyanna, who also went for the first time this year. “It was really fun. I liked everything.”
The weekend was a great learning experience said Holly, who returned to the rodeo for the second time. There were lots of people helping out, and those who were teaching were happy and willing.
The breakaway roping clinic, for example, was a positive learning atmosphere. Participants were split into two groups, one into the box and the other to practice roping.
“Halfway through they switched, so everybody had a fair chance at both,” said Holly. “It wasn’t like they were showing us what to do and we just watched. We did it, went through it. We learned what to do, what not to do.”
The club members all agreed the teachers wanted all participants to learn, but they let each person go at their own pace.
