SHSRA Queen Final Speech

With high school rodeo coming to the end of another year, it is hard to believe I was a Rookie Cowgirl just four years ago. When I started rodeo I had never done this before and my horse hadn’t been to a clinic or seen a trainer a day in her life. I didn’t come from a rodeo or ranching family, but I quickly fell in love with the sport and started doing all the events a girl could do. Along the way I got help from both parents and fellow competitors, a situation common with rodeo and Saskatchewan. I have had several personally traumatic issues to deal within my last four years, and rodeo has been something to look forward too, a bright spot among the dark.

  Inside every girl is a little glimmer that wants to be a queen, for some the desire is great. I was not one of those girls. While I had a little glimmer I always thought of myself as more of a tomboy than a princess. However, I started thinking more about queen when Tara Slade encouraged me to run, because of the opportunities it presents. A couple years later here I am, Miss SHSR Queen. I could not have done it with out the support of my family. They stuck by me and always encouraged me. There are many different ways to promote the sport of rodeo. As Queen, I wanted to go tell others about rodeo who might not of experienced it first hand. So I went to schools, camp and places not usually associated with rodeo. Being queen has taught me to deal and adapt to a lot of different personalities and situations. Things didn’t always go as I thought they would or quite the way I wanted them to, but I learned to “roll with it”. It has been a very good learning experience all around. One that I am glad I had the opportunity to experience in my life.  I give a big salute to everyone who carried a flag and supported me through the year.  The willingness to help in some people goes above and beyond what it required, thanks to J.B Moen for all the things you did to help, Dawson Lehman for those great pipes singing the anthem; Kathy Slade for her royal input; Rocky Martell for his encouragement and witty repartee, tirelessly announcing and of course, SHSR Princess Katie Dutchak for her willingness and always doing a great job of organizing flag runs. 

 I can’t say enough about the opportunities being queen offers and encourage all girls thinking about it, even remotely, to go for it. I am proud of the three girls who stepped up to the plate this year and threw their hats in the ring, to run for this years queen. It is not easy to put yourself out there like that, and you all did a good job. I want to welcome the new Miss SHSR Queen, Erica Friesen and the new Princess Cayla Holbrook, I know you’ll do a great job, have fun and enjoy your “reins” as royalty!

 As for me, I am hitting the trail to Lakeland College taking general agriculture and planning to be a part of the rodeo team. Hope to see you  all in the future.

                                                God Bless,

 Jenna Watamanuk