High school rodeo finals coming to Claresholm

By Rob Vogt

Claresholm will play host to the Alberta High School Rodeo Finals for 2026 and 2027.
At its July 23 meeting, the council of the Municipal District of Willow Creek was updated on the event when Santanna Thom of the Willow Creek Agricultural Society and Logan Gertner, representing Alberta High School Rodeo, appeared as a delegation.
Thom advised council Claresholm will host the provincial high school rodeo finals June 3 to 7, 2026 and June 9 to 13, 2027. There is also an option for a third year, which would be June 7 to 11, 2028.
“Bringing it to Claresholm is going to be a pretty huge deal,” she said.
There will be 220 contestants and approximately 1,000 people in Claresholm the entire week of the finals.
There will also be trap shooting, light rifle, cutting and cow horse competition.
“We’d like it to be huge for the whole area,” Thom said. “These kids work really hard to get here.”
She said they were seeking whatever support could be provided from pancake breakfasts and barbecues, to funding, volunteers and more.
“We’d love as many people involved as possible,” Thom said.
“It is a very big deal, it’s great we got it,” Gertner said.
He added the amount of money it will bring in will surprise everyone, and the 1,000-people estimate may be much higher.
“It does bring quite a few people to the area,” Gertner said, adding that is for an extended period.
He also pointed out Claresholm has a unique facility with the Agriplex. It has two buildings, two outdoor arenas, ample parking, 60 plug-ins, and the community centre nearby for the finals’ Cowboy Prom.
“The more people we get on board for this, the better,” Gertner said.
He noted Stettler, who was the previous host, did a fantastic job, but it was all done by their agricultural society. The community involvement wasn’t there, and he wants to go one notch above that.
Thom said she goes to different towns for high school rodeos, and often the town doesn’t even know a rodeo is going on.
She said signs welcoming the competitors would be great.
Gertner observed the M.D. has put up signs recognizing rodeo champions in the past, and said they got their start right here in high school rodeo.
He also explained the platform for the finals has changed. They looked for a host committee, not a rodeo committee, and a host facility. Alberta High School Rodeo has put up money for awards and stock, and partners with the agricultural society. The ag society doesn’t have to do it all alone now.
“It’s going to take some hands for sure,” Thom said.
“We’re hoping everybody will get excited and jump on board and help us out,” Gertner added, noting they have already been to Claresholm town council.
Coun. Earl Hemmaway asked if they have approached the local service clubs.
Thom said they plan to, but wanted to talk to the town and M.D. councils first.
Gertner also pointed out Alberta has the third largest high school rodeo membership, at about 700, only behind Texas and Oklahoma.
Reeve Maryanne Sandberg said it is important, when approaching organizations, to also emphasize the positive values and expectations of rodeo.
She also said the M.D. may be able to provide some financial support through the discretionary funds of council, and signage at the entry points of the municipality.
Derrick Krizsan, the M.D.’s chief administrative officer, added that information on the rodeo finals could also be included in the M.D. newsletter.
Thom asked everyone to keep the rodeo finals in mind when they are talking to their connections.
“The more we can work together is the main thing,” she said.