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Ponoka queen aims for Miss Rodeo Canada title

It is a shot at the big league for Miss Ponoka Stampede as she set her sights on Canada’s highest title, Miss Rodeo Canada.
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Miss Ponoka Stampede Katy Lucas (center) took part in a Global interview as part of the pre-Miss Rodeo Canada competition duties.

It is a shot at the big league for Miss Ponoka Stampede as she set her sights on Canada’s highest title, Miss Rodeo Canada.

Katy Lucas has been dreaming of that crown since she was three years old, when she met Miss Rodeo America. “I fell in love. It was never a question of if I’m going to run.”

Since the Ponoka Stampede in July, Lucas has been attending many media events and preparing for the Miss Rodeo Canada pageant. “I’m good, I’m nervous, I’m exhausted, I’m anxious but I’m mostly excited.”

During the competition, which runs from Nov. 3 to 7, at the Northlands Expo Centre in Edmonton,  Lucas will get up around 5:30 a.m. and will not be back to bed until midnight, as she will have to compete and win over the judges in a number of categories.

The pageant encompasses public speaking, horsemanship, a written test, a personal interview and a fashion show. “Each of those are just to show what a well-rounded person you can be,” Lucas explained.

“Even in horsemanship, they want your personality to shine through,” she added.

To prepare for the competition Lucas has been speaking with former Miss Rodeo Canada women for advice. “The only answer I’ve ever gotten is, ‘just be yourself’”.

The uplifting answer is a relief for Lucas, as she wants to show the judges what kind of representative she would be for the sport. “I think I’m a very professional person and I’m good at articulating what this sport means.”

Lucas conveys many different views in the world of rodeo to the public, as a competitor, rodeo queen and a rodeo journalist. “I know these competitors because they’re my friends, I don’t know them from a book.”

Lucas says this year’s group of contestants is extremely competitive. “It’s really special that it’s such a tough competition . . . all these girls are really experienced.”

Even without the crown, Lucas believes the experience has already improved her. Running in queen competitions has alleviated the shyness from her younger years.

“I’m a better version of myself . . . I feel like I’ve already won in that regard.”