Strathmore Rodeo queen crowned

Andrea Roberts
Times Intern

 

The end of the 2016 Strathmore Stampede is the beginning of a new reign.
Nineteen-year-old Cayley Peltzer from Rosemary, Alta. was crowned the new Strathmore Stampede queen on July 30. She was one of three contestants competing for this year’s title.
“I definitely had mixed emotions going into the arena on Saturday,” said Peltzer. “All the girls were capable of being crowned and I just wanted to stay neutral to not disappoint myself I guess.
“When they did call my name, I was like ‘oh my goodness.’ This has been like a lifelong dream of mine since the age of six. To be crowned and represent one of the biggest rodeos in Canada is such a great feeling for sure.”
Peltzer and two other contestants, Shelby Stout and Lindsay Newman, were judged throughout the week before the Stampede. Despite how busy the three were, Peltzer enjoyed the competition, citing the horsemanship and the personal interviews as two of her favourite components.
She also enjoyed being able to meet new people and getting to know them personally, from the sponsors to the rodeo fans and to all the people who are part of the rodeo world.
Strathmore’s new queen will have August off during which she will take some time to spend with family and friends, something she hasn’t been able to do much this summer. However, once September begins she will be off to different rodeos and events around Alberta representing the Town of Strathmore and the Strathmore Stampede.
One of the rodeos she would like to attend is the Patricia Rodeo, where she won one of her first buckles when she was younger. Rodeo is part of her background: her father takes part in team roping and she had previously taken part in barrel racing, pole bending and goat tying before she retired her horse. She moved on to showing horses and black Angus cattle.
Peltzer currently attends Lakeland College, studying for a diploma in agribusiness focusing on livestock. Although her queen schedule will involve a lot of travel and events, the Strathmore rodeo committee assured her that school would be a priority and they would work with her schedule to ensure this is the case.
Once her reign is over, Peltzer would like to apply to be Miss Rodeo Canada before eventually moving on to study for an animal health technician diploma.
“I have always been that kind of person with little goals to accomplish big goals,” she said, “so when I set my mind to something, then I definitely try to achieve it.”