The return of Miss Strathmore Stampede

Times Contributor 

 

Former Crossfield rodeo Queen Becca Walters is going to be wearing the crown and sash for Strathmore Heritage Days this year. Walters was the Crossfield Queen from 2008-2009 and became the Queen after showing interest in the Heritage Days’ lack of royalty. 

“I was talking to Darcy (Ledene), the general manager (of the Strathmore Ag Society) and Pascal (Del Guercio, Rodeo & Chuckwagon Chairman) about bringing the royalty back, because it’s such a big part of the rodeo,” said Walters. The shortage of volunteers to run the pageant committee was the reason for the shut down of the program approximately ten years ago. 

“They used to have a committee but they kind of ran out of people to run the royalty committee, so I brought up to them that I would help them out, running it. So they kind of appointed me Miss Strathmore Stampede this year, just to go around to all the different functions and rodeos to promote the town and [the Strathmore] Stampede,” said Walters. This year Walters will be jumping into her rodeo duties with both feet, representing Strathmore at other rodeos as well as helping out at the Strathmore Stampede. She’ll be working with other royalty, Miss Rodeo Canada, in the arena. 

“During the rodeo I’ll be pushing cattle out with her, so we’ll be working together a bit during the rodeo doing that,” said Walters. As she was appointed late, she was unable to organize as much as she wanted to.

“This year, because it’s so last minute, I’m still trying to get sponsors and everything, trying to help out with travel expenses and all that,” said Walters. But she looks forward to next year when she will have more time on her hands to fully organize the pageant and all that goes with it. 

“In the new year [I’m going] to start the pageant up again, so that it can be open to other girls for next year, so that they’re able to run,” said Walters. She also looks forward to the new year and being able to organize charity work through the future Strathmore Stampede Queens. 

It would be ideal to “pick [a charity] that may not have as much promotion,” Walters said, ”It would be good to find one that doesn’t get promoted as much as other ones do, just so their name can get out there as well.” 

As Heritage Days is right around the corner, Walters has a lot to plan, but her queen duties don’t worry her too much. 

“It’s a lot of fun,” she said.