Nicole and I were invited to the Cheers for Volunteers event
this past Sunday, April 26th at the Rocky View Schools Education
Center. We were asked to
give a little speech about our year and how we contribute to the volunteering
community. I have included our speech in this blog post for those of you whom
were not able to attend.
On July 1st 2012, we were crowned as Miss Rodeo
Airdrie and the Airdrie Pro Rodeo Princess. Along with those titles comes a
year long commitment to volunteer out time to help and promote the Airdrie
community. In the past few months we have attended approximately 90 events and
put on almost 30,000 kms. In the end we don't do it for money or to get
something in return, we do it for the love of rodeo and the Airdrie community.
That is what makes a great volunteer, help out for the good of others.
Since we are both from the Edmonton area, we were not too familiar with
Airdrie when we started our reign. But we have been able to make a smooth
transition into our new family thanks to its very unique and loving community.
It is a community that supports and recognizes volunteers, a community that
rallies together when someone is in need, and a community that focuses on the
proper up bringing of their children. The Mayor and MLA's are regular attendees
at community gatherings. Whether it be at the Airdrie Rodeo, or strapping on
some skates and playing hockey with a young team. We have found that if you
have a connection to Airdrie, you have a certain demeanour about yourself. You
want to help out and be a part of everything, or you say hi to a stranger
walking down the street. It seems so simple right now, but you don't seem to
find things like that in other communities.
Let's talk a little bit about our year so far.
After the Airdrie Rodeo, we were pretty much non stop until October. That was a
challenging 3 months, especially for me. If I wasn't sweating through my shirt,
thanks to the plus 30 weather, my hair was going flat thanks to the humidity. I
think that hottest day of the year was the visiting royalty day for the Calgary Stampede. We
picked the heaviest shirts to wear that day, and we watched the rodeo standing
on the black asphalt. So needless to say that was a very uncomfortable day, but
so much fun and something we will remember for the rest of our lives. We were
accompanied by 20 other visiting royalties from around the world! We also got
to participate in the centennial stampede parade, and there were people
everywhere. The streets were absolutely full and there people were hanging out
of windows cheering for us as well. After that we went to the Strathmore Rodeo,
the Cochrane Rodeo, the Okotoks Rodeo, the Millarville Rodeo, the Medicine Hat
Rodeo, the Canadian Finals Rodeo, the Denver Stock Show, the Calgary Police
Rodeo, and the Airdrie Ranch Rodeo just to name a few. We also have gone to
many community events including multiple visits at the Bethany Care Center, the
Hair Lounge Event, ARTember, Airdrie fest, Diamonds and Denim, the Mayor’s
Prayer Breakfast, and some Airdrie Food Bank events as well. Outside of
Airdrie, some events we have attended are the Leduc Santa Clause Parade, the ‘Heaven
Can Wait’ fundraiser, the Ranchman’s
Bull Busting and Mutton Busting, Bass Pro Events, and Blue Grass Nursery events
as well.
During the winter we did slow down a bit, but
as spring finally starts to get here our events calendar is really starting to
fill up. Then just like that it will be over and we will be passing our crowns
on to a new pair of girls. This experience has showed us the beauty of helping
out in your community and I am sure that we both will be volunteering our time
after we pass our crowns on, partly because we won't know what to do with
ourselves! But also because that is what the Airdrie Rodeo Royalty Program does
to you. It creates socially confidant, helping, and amazing women. And those
skills can be used throughout your life.
We would like to leave you with a few words
from Margaret Mead, 'Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed
citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.'
Thank you for having us speak today and we hope
to see you at the 2013 Airdrie Pro Rodeo!
This event was a great way to say thank you to the many
volunteers of the Airdrie Community. They are what make Airdrie truly unique
from other communities and we are so glad to be a part of that.
See you down the trail!
Airdrie Pro Rodeo Princess 2012
Sam Bilsborrow
On May 31st, I was able to attend and help out at the Female Beef Show during 4-H on Parade. It was great to see so many 4-H members out showing off their projects they have spent so much time on over the past few months. Being a past 4-H member and a current 4-H leader, it was great to be able to give back to the 4-H program. All the members did a fantastic job showing their projects and congratulations to all of them!
June 1st, Sam and I were back at the Big Top at Stampede Park to help present ribbons and prizes to the members during the Steer Show. Yet again the members did a fabulous job and we had the honours of presenting buckles and banners to the Grand Champion and Reserve Champion Steers in each category, overall and for Showmanship. Following the show we were treated to dinner by the steer committee and had a great time visiting with all the volunteers that helped make the show such a great success! 
