Ag Society’s rodeo school returns for third year training high school rodeo students
By John Watson Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Returning for its third iteration in Strathmore, the Strathmore and District Agricultural Society is once again bringing back its rodeo school from Aug. 16 to 20.
Ryan Schmidt, general manager and CEO of the ag society, said the school was implemented to help develop high school aged athletes to grow in their rodeo skills.
“The timing is such that we place it right before the start of the high school rodeo season so everybody can get their skills sharpened coming into the high school rodeo year,” he explained.
“We get the top coaches from all over Alberta to come and give us a hand so that they have the highest level of coaching possible, and really it’s grown each year to the point where we now run the largest rodeo school in Canada.”
Schmidt added the school generally gets a mix of students, usually ranging from ages 14 to 18, some of whom are just starting and have never ridden in a rodeo, to those who are looking to sharpen their skills for the competitive season.
Some older students have been allowed to join the school for the saddle bronc and bareback training. Schmidt said those sports tend to have an older starting age group than the others currently featured.
The week-long training school features bull riding, bull fighting, saddle bronc, bareback and barrel racing. The lattermost of which was added to the program this year.
“It’s a full week, so we’ll run Monday, Tuesday will be bareback and saddle bronc. Wednesday, Thursday will be bull riding and bullfighting. And then Thursday, Friday is barrel racing,” said Schmidt.
He explained he expects to see roughly 60 students in attendance throughout the week, with some who are interested having been put on a wait list to be allowed to attend.
Registration for the school was opened in March, though Schmidt explained it was only open for roughly a week before selling out and reaching capacity.
In addition to the training courses, the school will also host a barbeque at the start of each event to help socialize the students, their families and the coaches.
According to Schmidt, the event has seen only growth since its inception, with more events added to the program each year.
“[The school is] part of our strategic plan as the Strathmore and District Agricultural Society. One of our goals is to become the heart of a rodeo and the development of its athletes in Southern Alberta,” he said.
“We know it’s making a difference and the reality is that it’s a unique sport and you need to provide opportunities for kids to get training and coaching.”
He added that many of the students who pass through the training school have gone on to pursue rodeo, and some prior attendees have shown up in the Foothills Cowboy Association circuit.