Many families make it a tradition to come to the annual Agribition in Regina to enjoy the festivities, but some make it a tradition to participate in the Saskatchewan High School Rodeo competition.
Thirteen-year-old Tanner Skene and his family from Maple Creek have been coming to the Saskatchewan High School Rodeo for three years. Skene and two of his brothers competed in five different competitions including goat tying and steer riding on Monday at Evraz Place.
“It’s pretty hard. You just gotta have your horse ready and all your stuff ready and prepared earlier before the rodeo,” said Skene.
He says his favourite part of the event is being able to compete and see his friends. One day he hopes to land a rodeo scholarship in the U.S.
Skene’s family wasn’t the only one involved at the high school rodeo on Monday.
Seventeen-year-old Jayne Keeley and her two sisters from Whitewood also came to the High School Rodeo to compete. It’s important for Keeley to have her sisters at the rodeo to support her and cheer her on, but also to keep the family tradition alive.
“Our family has been (going to rodeos) for a long time,” said Keeley. “Of course, we fight with each other because we’re siblings, but we do our best to help each other out.”
Keeley’s plans for the future include going to college rodeos, hopefully in Montana with her friends.
Walt Lockie, national director for Saskatchewan High School Rodeo, also said getting his family involved in the rodeo is important to him.
“It’s a big deal for the kids to come here,” said Lockie. “It’s really nice that we all get to stay together."
