Local rodeo fans won't want to miss out on the action-packed Canadian Collegiate Rodeo Finals event heading to the Rimbey Agrim Centre May 15-18.
The Canadian Collegiate Rodeo Association is an organization of Canadian college and university students and coaches who are passionate about the sport of rodeo while expanding their futures through post-secondary education.
The association is made up of seven teams throughout B.C, Alberta, and Saskatchewan.
These teams take turns hosting eight to 10 rodeos throughout the school year from September to April.
"It's a great opportunity to see rodeo collegiate athletes from all across Alberta," said Trina Carroll, student life coordinator of athletics and student life at Red Deer Polytechnic, one of the teams set to take part.
She said the Red Deer Polytechnic rodeo team is celebrating its 11th season this year, and for the 2024-2025 season, they've joined the ranks of the RDP Kings and Queens.
"Our team has had an outstanding performance this season, and we will be sending six of our 11 athletes to the Canadian Collegiate Rodeo Finals," she added.
"I started here in 2009, and we had students who were interested in rodeo. They walked into my office one day, and asked about how they could start competing. And it sort of evolved from there," she said of the launch of RDP's team.
"We are always trying to build awareness that we have these opportunities here for college students," she said.
"They can come to RDP, get a degree, and carry on with the sport that they love! It's amazing."
At the 2024 finals, the RDP Kings and Queens teams won three event championships.
In the previous season, two RDP student-athletes took top honours at the finals, landing the 2023 CCRA Cowgirl and Cowboy of the Year awards.
In total, RDP student-athletes have taken 15 Canadian Collegiate Rodeo titles over the years.
The following athletes will represent Red Deer Polytechnic during the upcoming Rimbey showdown - Taylor Cholach, (Botha) in barrel racing, Elyse Terpsma, (Alhambra) in pole bending, Casey Thomson (Longview) in bareback, Ryan Collett (Beaverlodge) in tie-down roping and steer wrestling, Garrett Cullum (Three Hills) in steer wrestling, and Julia Holtkamp (Rimbey).
"Our schools also all collaborate to help make this happen. Rodeo is like family, and you have to work together to get these events to fly."
Besides RDP, the league consists of the Olds College Broncos, the Lakeland Rustlers, the Bulls (Southern Alberta College rodeo team), Central Alberta, Northern Lights College, and the University of Saskatchewan.
For more information about the Canadian Collegiate Rodeo Finals, head to www.canadiancollegerodeo.com.
