A group of rodeo trick riders from the area will be representing Canada in Las Vegas next month in the North American Championship.
    A team of 15 riders from Canada will be heading to Vegas for the competition from December 5-7. Among them are four riders from the rural vicinity of Drumheller.
    Mackenzie Jensen, 13, of Rockyford, Jayana Hale, 11, of Dorothy, Shelby Burns, 17, of Bassano and Piper Yule, 6, of Wardlow are on the team. Bella Da Costa, 12, of Stony Plain also rounds out the contingent.
    “It is about the same time the National Finals Rodeo is held,” explains parent RoxAnne Hale.

    While the North American Championships have been held for a number of years, the Canadian Trick Riding Association (CTRA) is only a couple of years old. To qualify, the girls competed in Edmonton during the Canadian Finals Rodeo, Sundre, Athabasca, The Calgary Stampede, Rockyford and Teepee Creek. At these competitions, they earn points to qualify. The championships were held in Lloydminster on August 19 and 20.
    “I have only been trick riding for 2 1/2 years but I am so happy with how far my horses and I have come,” said Jayana. “I am very lucky to have been taught by RaeLynn Armstrong, Niki Cammaert Flundra and Madison MacDonald who are among the best in the North America. I am very excited and nervous to represent Canada and compete in Las Vegas this December."
    The riders train together near Bassano.
    These girls will get to go down and compete in their age categories,” explains RoxAnne. These range from under eight, up to 17 and older. “All the girls are competing in the individual part of the competition where they are judged on horsemanship, presentation, and on their tricks.”
    There is also a team competition and Piper is on one of the squads.

    “It is a pretty intense competition for these girls and we’ll see how they do,” said RoxAnne.
    Leading up to the event, the team is doing a demonstration at the Canadian Finals Rodeo on November 9. They will also be selling raffle tickets to help fundraise for the trip. They are actively looking for sponsors to cover the cost of the competition and travel.
    “Ever since I was a little girl, it has been a dream of mine to perform in Vegas. Through hard work, dedication, countless bumps and bruises, I have been able to turn that dream into a reality. I am very excited to be representing Canada this December in Las Vegas,” said Shelby Burns.

Patrick Kolafa
The Drumheller Mail
    
  

 In a season, that saw no worries about crops getting enough rain, farmers are now hoping it stays dry to get their crops off.
    Harvest is in full bore, however, moisture is delaying it for many producers who have no choice but to wait for the sun and wind to dry the crop.
    Agricultural Fieldman for Starland County Al Hampton says with most of September in the books, he is seeing progress stifled.
    “I imagine we are not even a third done yet,” he tells The Mail, explaining that he is seeing more progress made on the west end of the county.
    “The weather hasn’t cooperated to the extent that most farmers would like,” he said.
    He expects there may be a little bit of an impact on quality.
    “I think a little bit of the wheat will probably bleach out a bit and the grade will suffer a little,” he said. “Barley and all of the malt varieties are pretty sensitive to the cool, wet conditions, so this type of stuff could deteriorate into feed quality.”
    He expects oil seeds to be fine, but there has been a little bit of disease, which might affect yields.
    With the moisture producers have seen this year, there were expectations of a strong yield. While for the most part he says yields appear to be satisfactory, they might not be what many were hoping for.
    “Overall unfortunately, is typical of what goes on at harvest,” he said. “If you have a good crop and have had good rain, you can’t always expect a perfect fall. You’d like it, but generally, you don’t get it.”
    Jason Regehr, assistant Ag Fieldman for Wheatland County, says the moisture has slowed down harvest a bit in Wheatland.
    “There is lots of dew at night, so they are starting later,” he said, adding that while it looks like good progress was being made, rain put a damper on it.
    “Percentage wise done? I’d say on the average we are 40-45 per cent,’ he said.
    He says so far the quality appears to be okay.
    “I think it has ripened off okay, we haven’t had any substantial frost,” he said. “I had a little bit of frost one morning, but I don’t think it would have been enough to cause anyone concern.”
    The bottom line for most is to look to the sky.
    What we need is a couple of weeks of good of weather so they can knock this crop down,” said Hampton.