Four lovely young ladies are vying for the coveted title of Miss Rimbey Rodeo this year.
For 17-year-old Kaitlin Malterer from Ponoka, the experience is fun and exciting.
“I was inspired by seeing other rodeo queens and I wanted to give it a try myself,” she said.
Malterer, an accomplished horsewoman who participates in rodeo events and also performs with her horse outside the rodeo arena, is pleased that horsemanship plays a major role in being rodeo queen.
Malterer, sponsored by Stouts Trucking, lives on a farm near Ponoka and has three horses. She is a member of the Central Alberta Beef 4-H Club and the Western Central Rebel Riders Horse Club.
The Grade 11 student enjoys riding her horses, rodeoing and training horses.
“I show cattle as well and I love to be outdoors,” she said.
Whitaney Block, a 16-year-old Grade 10 student from Edson was selected as last year’s Alberta High School Rodeo Queen.
It was an experience she thoroughly enjoyed and one that she says will help her represent Rimbey well.
“It was an amazing year,” she said.
Participating in the Calgary Stampede parade, filling for Miss Rodeo Canada, attending schools and visiting the children’s hospital were some of the highlights, she recalled.
Block, sponsored by A & W competes in high school rodeos and CARA rodeos and has been in 4-H for nine years.
She lives on an acreage near Edson where her family has 16 horses and seven dogs.
She and her younger sister help look after the dogs which are raised to be bred and sold. The girls use the money from the sale of the dogs to enter rodeos.
Martina Holtkamp is the only Rimbey contestant.
Holtkamp, a 16-year-old Grade 11 student at Rimbey Junior/Senior High School said she has been competing in the Rimbey rodeo for some time.
“I have always looked up the queen and I think it would be an honour to represent my own community as the 2014 rodeo queen and promote rodeo in Rimbey as well as other communities.”
Holtkamp, who is sponsored by Holly’s Greenhouse, belongs to the Kansas Ridge Riders Gymkhana Group and enjoys barrel racing and pole riding.
When she is not participating with her horse she enjoys snowboarding, rugby and simply being outdoors.
And she loves riding.
“My four little sisters and I all ride together,” she said.
Competing for the honor of being rodeo queen is fun, she said.
“I’m excited. I wanted to do this for a long time.”
Nineteen-year-old KC Goller, sponsored by Nikirk Bros. from Leduc began rodeoing a couple of years ago.
She decided to run after watching her friend compete last year.
“I wanted more insight into the rodeo scene,’ she said. “There are many different sides to rodeo.”
Goller competes in ladies barrels and ladies cow riding.
So far she said the competition has been fun and exciting.
“I learned a lot already,” she said.
Goller lives on an acreage near Leduc and works as a welder’s apprentice. Her family lives near Rimbey.
Last year’s Rimbey rodeo queen Kellyn Christensen said the experience was incredible.
Now she is hoping for the chance to become Miss Rodeo Canada and wishes every contestant the best of luck this year running for the 2014 title.
Christensen, who graduated from Ponoka Composite High School in 2012, plans to attend the University of Alberta and pursue her goals in the safety industry by becoming an occupational health and safety advisor.
Christensen works for Calnash Trucking as a pilot truck driver and volunteers with the Ponoka Fish and Game Association and at the Centennial Centre.
This year’s CARA rodeo will be held July 12 and 13. The local rodeo will be held July 11.