The Hand Hills Lake Stampede Centennial is just weeks away, and royalty is getting ready to come out.
The Calgary Stampede Queen Maggie Shortt and Princesses Bailee Billington and Chelsey Jacobson will be coming out for the Hand Hills rodeo on June 3-5. For Drumheller native Jacobson, the Hand Hills Lake Stampede is a date she has been looking forward to.
“I would go almost every year. It is pretty special,” Jacobson tells The Mail. “We have travelled all over Canada and literally across the world, so I am really excited to come to my hometown rodeo and see some family and friends.”
So far, they are committed to appear in the parade on Saturday morning, but may also be onsite for more events during the commemorative rodeo.
“Being the 100th anniversary it will be pretty special,” said Jacobson. “Hopefully we’ll be able to stay a bit and watch some of the rodeo and visit.”
“It is cool to have grown up with the Hand Hills rodeo, and then to see how the tradition has formed over the last 100 years.”
The Stampede Queen and Princesses have been keeping a very busy schedule and most recently returned from England. For Jacobson, a highlight was seeing the Phantom of the Opera. She is enjoying the travels, with an itinerary that includes everywhere from Las Vegas to Berlin.
"It is quite the year for us,” said Jacobson.
But coming home is a special treat, as Stampede Queen Maggie Shortt, a Strathmore native attests.
“I am super excited for the Strathmore rodeo," laughs Shortt.
Stampede Princess Bailee Billington is a Calgary girl, but is looking forward to experiencing the Hand Hills Rodeo.
“I’ve never been to the Hand Hills parade or rodeo, so I think Maggie and I are both really excited to be joining Chelsey and seeing her hometown rodeo,” said Billington.
