Successful sisters

By Melissa Piche Times Contributor

Sisters Maysa (15) and Hadley (13) Schiffner both had successful 2023 riding seasons ending with qualifications to the National High School Finals Rodeo (NSHFR) and the National Junior High School Finals Rodeo (NJHSFR) respectively.

“As soon as she could walk, she was riding,” said Brandy Schiffner of her daughter Hadley. 

The Schiffner daughters come from a long line of ranch riders and rodeo affiliations. Brandy participated in high school rodeos and rode on her family’s working farm growing up near Strathmore in Wheatland County. 

Their father Scott Schiffner is a retired professional bull rider and hosts bull riding clinics and steer riding schools provincewide.

To qualify for the NJSHFR and the NHSFR the contestants have to place Top 4 in their province and state in North America, along with Top 4 from Australia, Mexico and New Zealand. 

Hadley was the reserved champion for her age group and placed Top 2 for breakaway roping in Alberta and was guaranteed a spot in the junior high school finals rodeo, which took place June 18-24 in Perry, Ga. 

“She caught in her (first) round but missed in the second round, so that bumped her out,” said Brandy. “She didn’t place there, but she got a great experience.”  

The beginning of the 2023-2024 season is slated to start Aug. 24 in Stettler, Alta. Hadley will be competing in barrel racing, pole bending, goat tying, breakaway roping, team roping and ribbon roping. 

Breakaway roping is gaining in popularity and has a growing fan base; thus more and more professional rodeos are including it in their events. In years past, women could only participate in the barrel racing at professional rodeos, but change is coming. Professional rodeos started adding breakaway in 2020. 

“It’s the up-and-coming event in rodeo,” said Brandy of breakaway. 

Maysa was also classed as the reserved high school champion in Alberta for breakaway roping and competed in the high school finals rodeo in Gillett, Wyo. from June 15-22. 

“She did really good,” she said of Maysa’s performance. “She caught all three of hers (calves) and ended up ninth in the World.” 

This win was a pretty monumental achievement for the young rider. On top of winning a plaque and a buckle, she also received a scholarship for post-secondary school for making Top 10 in the World. 

Maysa’s 2023-2024 season also begins in Stettler on Aug. 24. She will be competing in barrel racing, pole bending, goat tying, breakaway roping and team roping. 

“The Alberta High School Rodeo Association has the fourth highest membership, including the United States,” said Brandy.

Maysa and Hadley would like to thank their sponsors – without the help from these companies and individuals, they wouldn’t able to represent our town and province at respected national rodeos.