For four days the Barrhead Agrena will be home to some of the best rodeo talent northern Alberta has to offer.
From Sept. 19 to 22, more than 100 competitors will descend on Barrhead to determine who the best Wildrose Rodeo Association (WRA) rodeo athletes are in both the senior and junior divisions.
In the senior division, an athlete must finish in the top ten in points in their event to qualify. Junior athletes must finish in the Top 6.
Senior events include bareback, saddle bronc, bull riding, ladies barrel racing, calf-roping, team roping, ladies breakaway roping and steer wrestling.
Junior events include junior and peewee barrel racing, junior breakaway roping, novice horse riding.
Tickets for single performances are $15 for adults and youth six to 17 years old are $10, while five and under are free. Five ticket packs are $65 and $40 for adults and youth, respectively. Ticket are available at the door and at Sanderman’s Home Hardware. All weekday performances start at 7 p.m. On Saturday there are two performances, the first one for Kids Day starts at 12:45 p.m. and a 7 p.m., while Sunday’s activities start at 1 p.m.
Barrhead and District president Randy Schmidt and long-time WRA finals, colour commentator, said as always Barrhead will have a strong representation going into the finals.
Once again Barrhead’s contingent will be led by a veteran calf-roper Marvin Braden, who has qualified for his 34th straight WRA finals.
Branden will be challenged by fellow Barrhead resident Wyatt Branden, as well as Mayerthorpe cowboys Dylan Knapp and Koby Ziemmer.
In the saddle bronc, Barrhead’s Kagen Schmidt and Mayerthorpe’s Mark O’Dempsey are considered strong favourites to take home the saddle for top place. Schmidt enters the finals in fifth while O’Dempsey qualified for the finals placing second in overall points.
The steer wrestling event will have a strong Barrhead flavour as Kagen and Cole Schmidt, as well as Quentin Branden, will challenge top spot as well as bragging rights.
In team roping, the Schmidt family dominates the event taking five out of the 10 available spots. Tate, Ty and Cole qualified as headers while Kagan and David qualified as heelers. Quentin Branden and Dylan Knapp will also be making an appearance in the event.
Barrhead will also be represented in the Ladies breakaway roping event with Dawn Marie Branden and Taylor Schmidt competing.
On the junior side, Barrhead is represented by Levi Schmidt in the junior breakaway roping event.
In addition to the competition, the Ag. society has secured the services of veteran announcer Dustin Edwards.
“Dustin has been the announcer for seven WRA finals and is a wealth of rodeo knowledge,” Schmidt said of his announcing partner, adding one of the world’s top rodeo clown’s Dennis Halstead will also be returning.
Although Halstead’s priority is competitor safety, Schmidt added, that one who has seen him perform know about his ability to entertain the audience.
After each night’s competition, except for Sunday, the Ag. Society will host a special event. On Thursday it is a Calcutta, on Friday the WRA will host its year-end awards and Saturday will be a social event for both competitors and rodeo fans.
