Richard Froese
South Peace News
Kenzie Skene, of Sexsmith, is the 2024 High Prairie Elks Pro Rodeo Queen!
She was crowned the winner at the 62nd annual High Prairie Elks Pro Rodeo on July 30.
The new queen is delighted to be crowned the Rodeo Queen.
“I am very excited about being selected the Rodeo Queen,” says Skene, 19.
“I hope to make the town and rodeo proud.”
She already has plans to reach out as rodeo royalty.
“I envision going to schools, seniors’ lodges and rodeos, spreading my knowledge of rodeo and helping build the sport,” Skene says.
“I entered the contest because I want to help represent the sport of rodeo and be able to spread the word about it both inside and outside the community.”
Skene is the daughter of Jason and Angie Skene and has some roots in the wider High Prairie region. Her grandparents Bob and Theresa Hitchens, who lived in McLennan from 1972-79. Both were also active in the Elks in McLennan.
Bob Hitchens served as Exalted Ruler around 1975 while Theresa served as chaplain and on the drill team.
Skene will represent the High Prairie Rodeo, the Elks and the High Prairie region at various rodeos and other events over the next year.
For her efforts, she won a $1,000 bursary from the High Prairie Elks, flowers from Marquardt Ranches, and a buckle and earrings, says Brooke Monteith who co-ordinated the contest with Sarah Neill.
Monteith was the High Prairie Rodeo Queen in 2017 and Neill was the Rodeo Queen the year after, in 2018.
Skene was happy to participate in the contest.
“I am very excited about this new adventure, running for a rodeo queen,” Skene says.
“If you told me that a year ago, I would have thought you were crazy, but now I am so happy to learn.
“Rodeo queens are such an important part of the rodeo community as they are the ambassadors teaching the heritage or our sport.”
Skene has been riding horses since she was two years old.
“It is something I have become passionate about,” Skene says.
She has been active in rodeo since she was six years old, competing in events such as barrel racing, team roping and ladies’ breakaway roping.
Skene is also a horse trainer.
“Through rodeo, horses, and ranching, I have learned a lot about life and how to always push through anything that gets hard, even when you want to give up,” Skene says.
Passionate about teaching children, she will enter her second year for an education degree at Northwestern Polytechnic in Grande Prairie.
Skene currently works at a daycare and teaches riding lessons.
“Children are the future of the world and I feel honoured that I can be part of shaping them both in the rodeo world and outside,” Skene says.
Monteith and Neill both trust the contest will grow in the future with more contestants after two entered this year.
“We encourage young ladies ages 14-24 (years) to enter the contest,” Monteith says.
“It’s a good learning and growing experience,” Neill adds.
Contestants are judged on various skills including horsemanship, dress and appearance, modelling, public speaking, poise and personality and a written exam.