Thursday, January 2, 2014

Ride of a Lifetime

Wow I cannot believe I am sitting here reflecting on 2013, its crazy how fast time seems to go by when you are on the ride of a lifetime! My experiences over the last 6 months of this journey have been nothing less than INCREDIBLE!!! I have met so many amazing people and attended some amazing events!!
 
I kicked of my year with Stampede 101, The Ranchman's PBR Bull Busting, Pancake Breakfasts, Calgary Stampede 101 Parade, Visiting Royalty Day, I had a blast at all the stampede events met so many amazing people and Come Hell or High Water the Show went on in true Stampede Fashion!
After Stampede I ended July at  the Medicine Hat Stampede and Exhibition. The Committee there treated us like true Royalty, helped settle our horses into their stalls, took us for a home cooked meal, we got to meet Gretchen Wilson, participate in Grande Entry and the Parade!!! It was a fantastic Rodeo with some amazing people!!!
 
 
We started off August with a trip to Omak, Washington, for the Omak Stampede and World Famous Suicide Race! It was an amazing experience, we were welcomed their with open arms, there were 7 Canadian girls there as visiting royalty with 41 American girls, including Miss Rodeo Canada 2013 Gillian Shields and Miss Rodeo Washington Jessie Tenant!! The suicide race sent a rush of adrenaline through my veins just watching 20 horses run straight down a very steep cliff into the canal swim across and run up into the arena first one in wins! To be apart of a Grande Entry of 48 Visiting Royalty was amazing!
 
 
We came home to a couple of Rodeos in my home Arena in Airdrie, The Calgary Police Rodeo which was something I had never seen and I thought was awesome, as well as Bikes and Bulls which was also very different with the Bike Rodeo but very entertaining!
 
 
As we moved into fall I had the opportunity to attend a few more rodeos, The Cochrane Lions Rodeo, Okotoks Pro Rodeo, Canadian Senior Pro Rodeo Finals in Claresholm. I also attended the Terry Fox Run, Art of the Harvest , Canadian Cowboy Challenge Finals and celebrated Halloween at Bass Pro.


November brought us to CFR 40!!! Going up to Edmonton to watch Nicole Briggs in the Miss Rodeo Canada 2014 competition. I got to watch the Public Speaking, Horsemanship and Fashion Show portion of the Competition. At the Ladies Fashion Show I  got to help sell boas for the game that took place throughout. Watching 3 performances of the CFR in including the Crowning of Miss Rodeo Canada 2014 Nicole Briggs was very exciting!

December brought us to Santa Clause Parades and Pictures with Santa Clause to kick off the festive Holiday Season! I took part in the High River Santa Clause Parade at a chilly -42 there were still a fair few cheerful people out to bring in the holidays. I also took part in the Airdrie Parade which at a -30 brought out a lot of people in the community to bring Santa to town!!!
 

So as I reflect on 2013 and all the many adventures I got to take part in, all of the amazing people I have gotten to meet along the way! I am sad to see such a fantastic year come to an end but I am very excited for what lies ahead for me in 2014 and many more adventures to come on this Ride Of A Lifetime!!!!
 
 
 
Happy Trails
 Miss Rodeo Airdrie 2013
Kelsey Reinboldt-Lynch