Looking to capture the centennial crown

Posted on: J A McRae

Shannon LeClair 
Times Reporter
 
Rockyford resident Danielle (Dani) Gariepy is all smiles these days, and for good reason. 
On Sept. 24 she was selected as one of the top six finalists in line for the centennial Calgary Stampede throne.  
The competition for the 2012 Stampede Queen began at the beginning of September and saw just over 20 girls vying for the Stampede’s top spot. 
The competitors have been kept busy with dinners, speeches, riding competitions and interviews, all of which they are judged on.  
“It’s very busy, between school and work and sports. This stampede queen stuff is a lot, it’s busy but, it’s really fun and you meet so many interesting people,” said Gariepy. 
“I mean the girls that you’re competing with, you already have something in common with them just by being there.”
Gariepy decided in the summer to try to become royalty. She has been involved with the Stampede and coaching future rodeo queens for quite a while. One of the reasons Gariepy said she tried this year is because she has had a chance to meet a lot of royalty while being a Stampede ranch girl. 
“I got to ride during the Stampede and meet a lot of really awesome girls that have gone through the program. I also run the Rockyford Horse Club and within that is the Rockyford Rodeo Queen program which I kind of facilitated during the last five years or so,” said Gariepy.  
Because she has experience with coaching girls to become rodeo queens on a more amateur level, she decided it was time to be a role model and try it out for herself. 
“Even if I don’t (win) the experience is worth so much. It’s been really fun, and if I don’t (win) I will try again next year,” said Gariepy.
“It’s been really good, and I hope I can just be an ambassador for Calgary and for the Stampede. It’s just something that I really enjoy and I just absolutely love western culture and being a farm girl, so I don’t think there’s anything better than to try for that.”
Gariepy will find out on Oct. 2 whether or not she has won the competition when the finalist is revealed.