Three rodeo athletes who call Rocky View County home are competing in the 49th edition of the Canadian Finals Rodeo (CFR).
The first of six performances were held in Red Deer at the Peavey Mart Centrium at Westerner Park on Nov. 1 – and wind up this coming Sunday, Nov. 5
Throughout the span of five action-packed days, all major pro-rodeo events are on the docket including bareback, steer wrestling, team roping, saddle bronc, tie-down roping, ladies barrel racing, and bull riding.
Rodeo fans will also get the chance to check out junior steer riding, novice saddle and bareback riding as well as breakaway roping during select performances.
Competitors from Rocky View County hoping to finish at the top in the CFR and take home a prize-winning buckle are:
- Shelby Boisjoli, from Langdon, ranked fourth in breakaway roping with earnings of about $17,727.54 this season;
- Makayla Boisjoli, also from Langdon, ranked fifth in breakaway roping with earnings of about $17,246.21;
- Tyler Craig, from Crossfield, ranked 10th in bull riding with earnings of about $21,629.76.
The event is officially sanctioned by the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association.
This is the last year the CFR will be held in Red Deer as it moves to Edmonton in 2024 for a three-year agreement at Rogers Place, according to an Oct. 25 news release from the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association (CPRA).
CPRA has its headquarters in Airdrie, and is the official sanctioning body for Professional Rodeo in Canada.
The release stated the CFR started in 1974 held at the old Edmonton Gardens. It was held there from then until 2017, until it moved south to Red Deer for a run from 2018 through next week's celebration, Nov. 1-5 at Westerner Park in Red Deer.
The total projected economic impact of bringing CFR back to Edmonton is more than $30.4 million, supporting more than 5,578 jobs, and bringing in an estimated 45,000 spectators, stated the release.
-With notes from Simon Ducatel/ Mountain View Publishing.
