ST. PAUL – Over 127 young riders from across Alberta competed at the 27th Annual High School Rodeo in St. Paul, held at the Ag Corral from April 11 to April 13.
The rodeo was hosted by the St. Paul Ag Society and sanctioned by the Alberta High School Rodeo Association (AHSRA).
AHSRA operates rodeos in three districts, and St. Paul is in District 2, but contestants may choose to compete in whatever district they prefer.
AHSRA’s rodeo season officially kicked off on April 4 in Siksika and Stettler. St. Paul was the second stop for the season.
The top 10 to 12 contestants in each district can qualify for the provincial finals. The 2025 Alberta Junior High Finals will be held in Rimbey from March 23 to 25, while the High School Finals will be held in Stettler from June 4 to 8.
Trenten Pentilichuck, St. Paul’s High School Rodeo Committee chairperson, thanked all contestants for participating, everyone who came out to watch, and all those who volunteered to ensure the rodeo went on without a hitch. “Thanks for dealing with all the parking, because there’s a lot of trailers that showed up that weekend.”
According to Pentilichuck, the high school rodeo aims to help young cowboys and cowgirls develop their skills.
“We’re doing it for the kids,” he said, adding, the high school rodeo also serves as an opportunity to watch “the [rodeo] superstars” of tomorrow.
Junior High Results
Sixty-one of the contestants who came to St. Paul competed in the junior high school rodeo on April 11.
Laci Pole from Erskine is this year’s Girls Hi Point Champion. She placed first in Pole Bending, Girls Breakaway Roping, and Girls Goat Tying.
In Barrel Racing, Levi Volz of Marwayne placed first.
Wyatt Elder from Stettler was declared this year’s Boys Hi Point Champion. Elder placed first in Boys Goat Tying, as well as in Team Roping with Tryp Pugh.
Also from Stettler, Ridge Butterfield won the Boys Breakaway Roping and Colter Buchwitz placed first in Tie Down Roping.
Rhett Poitras of Ponoka won Chute Dogging.
In Ribbon Roping, Daxton Erickson and Lena Kronschnable won first place.
High School Results from April 12 and 13
Nathan Bishell of Consort is this year’s Mens High Point Champion. He placed first in Tie Down Roping and Steer Wrestling.
Cooper McNiven of Mundare won Saddle Bronc Riding, while Troy Peters placed first in Bull Riding.
In Team Roping, Rylan Keith of Barrhead and Stran Edge of Marwayne won first place.
This year’s Ladies High Point Champion is Grace Havens from Madden. Havens also won first place in Goat Tying.
Ellie Havens also from Madden placed first in Pole Bending, while Shelby Dutertre of Bonnyville won first place in Barrel Racing. Keely Pugh of Ponoka placed first in Breakaway Roping.
