The awards acknowledge the family’s commitment to agriculture and the community, and also showcase those who take an innovative approach to growing their business, demonstrate a commitment to traditional western values, and maintain an exceptional standard of sustainability.

The winning families received a photograph session, a personalized farm gate sign, and were treated to the afternoon at the rodeo.

This year’s honourees are: TR Cattle Corp., Roger and Lori Thomson (Cardston County); A and B Acres, Andrew and Bev Dykstra (County of Forty Mile); Henrickson Ranching Ltd., Will Henrickson (County of Newell); Snow Land and Livestock, Dale Snow (County of Warner); L. Gill Ventures Ltd., Laverne and Launa Gill and family (Cypress County); Dau Farms, Bill and Dallas Dau (Kneehill County); Double Diamond Farms, Wayne and Dianna Michaelis (Lethbridge County); Stimson Creek Ranches, Roy and Lenore McLean (MD of Foothills); Turnbull Charolais, Curtis and Nanette Turnbull (MD of Pincher Creek); Webster Ranch, Tony and Debbie Webster (MD of Ranchland); Reynolds family, Murray and Helen Reynolds (MD of Taber); Cudlobe Farm, Dyce and David Bolduc and family (MD of Willow Creek); Rafter TX Livestock, Bertram and Patricia Ann Pringle (Mountain View County); the Gallelli family, Darcey and Leisa Gallelli (Rocky View County); Majestic Ranches Ltd., Marg and Simon Schonhofer and family (Special Areas #2); Kulyk family, Russel and Carla Kulyk (Special Areas #3); Heck family, Brian and Kim Heck and family (Starland County); Tharle family, Glen and Marsha Tharle (Vulcan County); and Kaiser Charolais Farms, Randy and Wendy Kaiser (Wheatland County).

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The 15-year-old from Hanna emerged from the 19th annual Calgary Stampede 4-H Rodeo with one of the much coveted championship belt buckles, the Reserve High Point title, and a lot of great memories.

“It’s hard to pick just one highlight,” said Burgermeister, who was taking part in the event for the first time. “It was fun, busy, and great to be with friends.”

More than 75 competitors — most from Alberta — from 30 4-H clubs took part in the event.

In addition to a variety of riding and roping events, there were also clinics on proper rodeo and animal care techniques.

“For sure, it was really helpful. They answered all your questions, helped if you needed help,” said Burgermeister.

Senior results:

High Point: Grand Champion — Brooklyn Wipf, De Winton; Reserve — Morgan Burgermeister, Hanna.
Breakaway Roping: Grand Champion — Taylor Holt, Cranbrook, B.C.; Reserve — Brooklyn Wipf, De Winton.
Cow Riding: Grand Champion — Keaton Martz, Forestburg; Reserve — Jake Carlin, Carseland.
Senior Steer Daubing: Grand Champion — Cheyanna Girard, Barrhead; Reserve — Brooklyn Wipf, De Winton.
Goat Tying: Grand Champion — Morgan Burgermeister, Hanna; Reserve — Brooklyn Wipf, De Winton.
Thread the Needle: Grand Champion — Saige Jackson, Sundre; Reserve — Jaycee Reimer, Valleyview.
Pole Bending: Grand Champion — Kayly Monar, Calvet, Sask.; Reserve — Bryn Monar, Calvet, Sask.
Barrel Racing: Grand Champion — Rachel Deaver, Stettler; Reserve — Jamie Kuzma, St. Paul.
Jeopardy Trail: Grand Champion — Corinne Blair, Calgary; Reserve — Melissa Gablehaus, Calgary.

Intermediate results:

High Point: Grand Champion — Emily Morgan, High River; Reserve — Jessica Lundstrom, Okotoks.
Barrel Racing: Grand Champion — Rorie Perrott, High River; Reserve — Abbi Grieve, Sedgewick.
Cow Riding: Grand Champion — Beau Gardner, Arrowwood; Reserve — Ella Fischl, High River.
Pole Bending: Grand Champion — Rorie Perrott, High River; Reserve — Abbi Grieve, Sedgewick.
Thread the Needle: Grand Champion — Danielle Sigouin, Rocky Mountain House; Reserve — Jessica Lundstrom, Okotoks.
Goat Tying: Grand Champion — Mckinley Wall, Rocky View County; Reserve — Jessica Lundstrom, Okotoks.
Steer Daubing: Grand Champion — Hailey Bird, Bonnyville; Reserve — Alex McDonald, De Winton.
Jeopardy Trail: Grand Champion — Jacelyn Pedersen, Hanna; Reserve — Mckinley Wall, Rocky View.

Junior results:

High Point: Grand Champion — Brook Baehl, Okotoks; Reserve — Faythe Bergen, Aldersyde.
Thread the Needle: Grand Champion — Joel Evans, Okotoks; Reserve — Haylee Weatherly, Botha.
Barrel Racing: Grand Champion — Faythe Bergen, Aldersyde; Reserve — Veronica Pedersen, Hanna.
Pole Bending: Grand Champion — Brook Baehl, Okotoks; Reserve — Adelaine Hutchings, Consort.
Goat Tail Untying: Grand Champion — Faythe Bergen, Aldersyde; Reserve — Hailey Nelson, Longview.
Jeopardy Trail: Grand Champion — Veronica Pedersen, Hanna; Reserve — Joel Evans, Okotoks.

The post Champions crowned at Calgary Stampede 4-H Rodeo appeared first on Alberta Farmer Express.

Each year, the municipal districts in southern Alberta nominate one family, who are honoured at a reception, and given a family photograph session, a personalized farm gate sign, and rodeo tickets.

The Stampede also posts a history and biography of each family at ag.calgarystampede.com.

The winners of the 2015 BMO Farm Family Awards are: J.R. and Nikki Thompson (Bar XT Farms, Cardston County); Will and Jean Van Roessel (Specialty Seeds Ltd., County of Forty Mile); Darren and Kim Taylor (DRT Farms Ltd. County of Lethbridge); John Dyck Family (Brookside Farms Ltd., County of Newell No. 4); Ken and Nora Balog (Ken & Nora Balog Family Farm, County of Warner); Trevor and Janet Biemans (Peter-Built Farms Inc., Cypress County); Harold, Rick and Doug Hansen and Families (Hansen Farms, MD of Foothills #31); Bryan and Sherry Mackenzie (Brylor Ranch, MD of Pincher Creek); Pepneck Family (Pepneck Family Farm, MD of Taber); Roy and Karen Hall (The Hall Farm, MD of Willow Creek); Dennis and Joanne Overguard (Dennis & Joanne Overguard Family Farm & Ranch, Mountain View County); Eric Longeway Family (Rockyview Farm, Rocky View County); Oscar, Glenn, Michelle and Brian Quast (Quast Family Farm, Special Area #2); Ted Mundt Family (Twin R Ranching, Special Area #3); Terry Riggs and Family (Riggs Farm Ltd., Starland County); Dale and Diane Groves (Groves Family Farm, Vulcan County); and Ernest and Joyce Walker (Walker’s Farm, Wheatland County).

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Troendle, of Lead, South Dakota., knocked off fellow American Hilary Gietzen of Minot, South Dakota in the open-division final. “It’s indescribable. It feels really, really good to win Calgary,” said Troendle,, who began competing at the Stampede in 2006, and was runner-up in each of the past two years.

Troendle sheared six sheep in six minutes, 29 seconds, compared to Gietzen’s seven minutes and 39 seconds, and with the judged portion of the competition a virtual saw-off, came out ahead with a total of 46.95 points, compared to Gietzen’s 49.28.

Troendle takes home $2,000 and a Limited Edition Calgary Stampede Centennial Commemorative Pendleton Wool Blanket, while Gietzen collects $1,000.

In the intermediate final, Matt Breakey of Bragg Creek, defeated Clive Reynolds of Airdrie — shearing two sheep in four minutes, 11 seconds, compared to Reynolds’ time of 4:55, and coming out ahead with a total of 42.05 points to Reynolds’ 47.75.

The Australian team, consisting of Pora and Steve Mudford, won the International Team Challenge over second-place Canada and the third-place United States. Australia scored 87.81 points, while Canada totaled 111.82 and the U.S. ended up with 113.29.

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The BMO Farm Family Award recipients were chosen by the Alberta Agricultural Service Board based on the difference they have made to the farming community. The awards highlight many innovations and skilled business and environmental practices of Alberta farmers and ranchers within an industry that also upholds western heritage and family values. “These families are outstanding examples of how far farm management has come and the tremendous contributions they make to the Alberta economy,” said Bill Hogg, vice-president, Alberta/NWT Commercial District, BMO Bank of Montreal.

All of the families are deeply involved in their local community. At least 16 out of 18 employ environmental practices, such as wildlife habitat retention and 10 have lived in the same place for over a century, passing on the family operation from generation to generation. “We are proud to recognize these farm families who uphold the traditions of the past while strengthening Alberta’s economic growth,” said Mike Casey, president and chairman of the board for the Calgary Stampede.

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Bennett, one of the premier saddle makers in North America, hasn’t taken on large orders in decades, preferring to produce his celebrated creations one at a time. But when folks from the Calgary Stampede’s Western Performance Horse Committee approached the sublime craftsman over the winter, with a certain centennial celebration in mind, well . . . you might say Bennett’s foot was already in the stirrup.

“That’s the tantalizing thing. It’s very hard to say no, when you’re selected to be involved in the Calgary Stampede’s 100-year anniversary,” says Bennett, whose company, Vic Bennett Saddles, is based just outside Sherwood Park, Alta. “It’s something to think about . . . an easy decision to make, really.”

With Bennett and his two-man crew taking up awls, rasps, and stamping tools for the next several months, the Calgary Stampede’s Western Performance Horse Committee is commissioning the production of up to 100 identical Vic Bennett Custom All-Round Saddles – handcrafted exclusively for the 2012 Calgary Stampede Centennial, and available for sale to the general public.

Never to be reproduced again, these so-called “century saddles” promise meticulous craftsmanship, right down to the Calgary Stampede brand lasered on the stirrup. The limited-edition saddles will be numbered, signed by stampede president and chairman of the board Mike Casey and Bennett, and accompanied by a certificate of authenticity.

They’ll be presented during a Centennial Saddle Celebration in July 2012.

“One of our (WPH) committee members, David Palmer, has said for a long time that we should have a special project that involves saddles. And when the stampede started asking for ideas to be submitted for centennial, everything just clicked,” says Karen Mix, a member of the Calgary Stampede’s Western Performance Horse Committee.

“Even to be part of this whole adventure, I’m just thrilled to death. We’ve got quite a few sold already . . . a couple of these saddles will also be auctioned off, as well, and we expect a huge response.

More than 20 of the century saddles have already been pre-purchased – sight unseen, and purely by word of mouth to this point.

“As soon as we explain the centennial saddles program to people, the reaction has been amazing,” says Mix. “One lady ordered one for each of her children as an inheritance. A couple of energy companies have already bought them.

“And one fellow told us: ‘If I’m going to buy a saddle anyway, I’m going to buy a centennial saddle, because it’s a keepsake.’”

The Western Performance Horse Committee plans to use proceeds from the centennial saddle program to reward various champions at the 2012 stampede. Another 25 saddles, with a different design, are expected to be built and presented to the various division winners of the stampede’s three Western Performance Horse events – the Team Cattle Penning Competition, the Cutting Horse Competition, and the Working Cow Horse Classic.

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