Miss Rodeo Canada Princess Kirsten Braumandl has been having a great time representing rodeo in Canada and in the U.S. over the past few months.
The lakecity teen was crowned in Edmonton in November and is travelling with Miss Rodeo Canada Kezia Morrison.
Their first big adventure, of course, was to participate in the Canadian National Rodeo Finals in Edmonton, where they also earned their crowns.
Since then the pair have attended several big events to help promote the sport of rodeo.
They travelled to Denver, Colorado Jan. 12 to 16 where they participated in four Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association rodeos and helped out at the National Western Stock Show.
During the rodeo Braumandl says she had fun joining Morrison and several rodeo state queens in helping out with the mutton busting competition in which children ages five to eight ride sheep, hanging on to the wool.
Braumandl worked as pickup woman, escorting the contestants back to the starting line after their ride. The little riders wore protective helmets and body protection.
“All the trophies were taller than they were,” Braumandl says.
She says the winning girls accepted their trophies with a kiss from a bullfighter and the boys accepted their trophy with a kiss from a rodeo queen. “It was pretty cute.”
She says the royalty also participated in four grand entries, carrying event and sponsor flags, and presented prizes in the barrel racing competitions.
When they weren’t at the rodeo they helped out at the buyer’s market, and did some modeling for Roper boots and apparel and Stetson hats and apparel.
During some free time she says they drove to Colorado Springs to see the Rodeo Hall of Fame.
She says it was inspiring to see some Canadians immortalized in the hall of fame. “It was kind of cool,” Braumandl says.
After Colorado she says they returned to Alberta where they participated in the 64th Annual Alberta Agricultural Society Conference in Edmonton, Alberta Feb. 4.
She says Morrison escorted the Premier of Alberta to the banquet and she escorted the Alberta Minister of Agriculture. Morrison was also given the honour of saying grace before dinner. “We also helped to sing happy birthday to Lisa Hardy who organized the conference.”
She says the rodeo royalty from Airdrie also attended the event.
Coming home to Williams Lake for a couple of weeks in February, Braumandl helped out with the Stampede dinner and dance and raised money with her dance card and sweetheart tree prizes for the Miss Rodeo Canada travel fund.
Braumandl also helped out at the Family Literacy Day event held at Marie Sharpe elementary and then headed home to give a presentation at Horsefly school where she attended elementary school.
Feb. 18 Braumandl and Morrison attended the Diamond and Denim Gala in Red Deer, Alberta where they helped to raise money for the Canadian Paraplegic Organization by selling keys for $20.
“One of the keys opened a treasure chest that held a diamond necklace,” Braumandl says.
She says she and Morrison also signed autographs for children at the Okotoks Family Day celebration and that she helped serve cake and sing happy birthday at a senior’s activity center birthday celebration.
The duo also attended the Spring Ball in High River, Alberta.
Braumandl will be in Williams Lake April 15 for the Williams Lake Indoor Rodeo, and is scheduled to attend the Ponoka Stampede, June 27 to July 3; and the Cheyenne, Wyoming, Frontier Days July 21 to 25.