Welcome everyone to another year of High School Rodeo, for those of you who don't know me I am Jenna Watamanuk, 17 years old from Crane Valley . I attend Assiniboia composite high school and have been in high school rodeo for the past three years. It was a busy summer for me as I attended Nationals, despite having an extremely small team it was fun, an experience like no other. I also went to SBRA finals, Canadians in Williams lake, attended
Relay for Life, went to Glad Tidings camp, Oro Lake ranch rodeo and did a radio
interview. There are always opportunities to promote High School Rodeo, especially to people who may not know about it.  I want to encourage all members to go out and promote rodeo and the positive values it instils, like sportsmanship, family, education, respect and western heritage to others, not just people who are rodeo families, but anyone who might be interested. There are people out there that do not know about high school rodeo and what it represents, future contestants and sponsors.  I also want to encourage girls to start thinking about being next years queen so you have lots of time to ask questions and find out what it’s all about. I look forward to meeting new friends and connecting with old friends for another rodeo season, good luck to everyone and have fun in the upcoming season.
   We all know steers, bulls, barrels and poles, but I am going to tell you what rodeo is really
about, so sit back relax and listen. I am proud to be a Saskatchewan cowgirl born and raised in this vast diverse province, where everybody is willing to help each other out, volunteering, sharing and donating, where a gentle hand is still extended to help a neighbour. One of the places this is most prevalent is rodeo. Rodeo is a long standing tradition of honesty, hard work and willingness.   
  It is a place where everyone is willing to help each other out from the major factors to the tiniest details, things like carrying a flag, sharing a goat rope, pushing a steer or borrowing a horse. Rodeo takes everyone in and makes them feel like they belong, part of a family, No strays in our Saskatchewan camp.
  The competition is intense yet every rodeo friend becomes like family. Individually we compete with passion, but together we cheer each other on with integrity. Saskatchewan hospitality is second to none, a knock on the trailer door for a place to sleep, a borrowed piece of tack or a meal for three split into a meal for six. All are given freely without hesitation, please and thank you are still part of the everyday vocabulary. It doesn't matter if it’s unfavourable weather or an unfavourable draw, rain, wind, snow or sun,  Saskatchewan rodeo kids know how to get it done. With enthusiastic, ambitious attitudes Saskatchewan kids are willing to get their jeans dirty and boots wet. Hospitality and versatility in the face of diversity is what Saskatchewan rodeo is all about.

Jenna Watamanuk
Miss. SHSRA Queen 2009/2010