Ponoka and area cowgirls and cowboys did their hometown proud at the 50th annual Canadian Finals Rodeo, held at Rogers Place in Edmonton from Oct. 2 to 5, bringing home titles, accolades, bragging rights, and of course, loads of prize money.
Top of the list is Ponoka breakaway roper Macy Auclair, who took home both the breakaway champion and aggregate winner titles.
Right from the get-go, Auclair set the pace, putting a 1.8-second run on the board, a time no one managed to beat on night one.
Despite winning round one and placing on night two, Auclair wasn't completely satisfied with her performances and took time to reset on night three, which also happened to be her birthday. She reached out to her mentor Cody Ohl, known for his ability to rope calves in record times.
“I cut a new rope and set up a Facetime today with Cody Ohl while I roped the dummy. After that conversation, I just tried to keep it pretty simple, keep my mind right and stay calm, and it worked out," said Auclair.
The pep talk worked and she posted a blistering 1.5-second run on night three, a CFR record. The run brought her CFR earnings to just over $11,500.
On the final day, Auclair posted times of 3.2 seconds and 1.8 seconds to finish fifth and first in the final two rounds.
Before that final run, she knew all she had to do was post a clean run, but she had no plans on taking it easy.
"That’s just not really my mentality," Auclar told the Cowboy Channel.
Her total earnings of $24,000 at CFR50, earning her the CFR title by $6,000.
"(A) huge thanks to everyone for all of the overwhelming love and support last week," Auclair said in a Facebook post.
Ponoka and Central Alberta were well represented in the breakaway roping, besides Auclair taking the title.
Breakaway roper Lawrie Saunders from Alix fared well at her second CFR. Despite a slow time in the third round and a no-time in the fourth, her runs in the first three goes were fast enough to carry her to fourth in the aggregate. Her season earnings placed her in third overall.
Bobbi Henderson, also from Alix, went 18.9 in three rounds after a pair of no-times.
Brooke Pomeranz of Ponoka, struggling a bit at her first Canadian Finals Rodeo, had two qualifying runs at CFR50.
With the fastest overall times at CFR50 with 40 seconds in five rounds, Ponoka header Kash Bonnett won the title of aggregate champion.
After a whirlwind August with partner Logan Spady, roping in $18,000 in August, the pair was in first place in the standings heading into CFR50.
Earning $23,623.08 in the finals was enough for second place in the overall standings.
Jacob Stemo, originally from Ponoka and now living in Calgary, dominated the opening round in the bareback riding.
Earning the highest score of round one at 86.75 points, the next closest was Brett Williams six points behind in second place.
Jacob Stemo dominated the Canadian Finals Rodeo opening round in the Bareback Riding. He was marked 86.75 points, six points better than Brett Williams in second.
Stemo earned $11,100 with the win, bringing his season earnings to over $26,459 at Canadian Rodeos.
On Saturday night Stemo posted an 86-point ride, enough to earn him second place in the aggregate. He finished third in the money overall, taking home $35,434.62 from CFR50.
Dantan Bertsch, Ponoka, bareback rider, third place, SMS Equipment Pro Tour champion, 8th CFR (absent).
Just behind Stemo was Dantan Bertsch of Ponoka. His strong season earnings and solid rides in each round at the CFR put him in fourth place in both the aggregate and overall earnings.
Though Stemo and Bertsch tied in the third round, both posting 87.75 rides, Stemo ultimately widened the gap.
Heeler Tyrel Flewelling from Lacombe went into the finals in sixth place, in a solid position for this 10th CFR.
After a no-time in the first round, he came back in the second at a quick 5.4 seconds.
Ultimately, he placed fourth in the aggregate and earned enough to finish seventh in the money.
Hometown Ponoka header Levi Simpson, 2016 world champion, started CFR50 at seventh in the standings. Earning $25,473.08 at CFR50, Simpson finished third overall in the money.
Miss Ponoka Stampede 2024 Olivia MacLennan competed for the national crown at CFR50.
"I am beyond proud to be carrying the title of Miss Ponoka Stampede into this week," said MacLennan in a social media post before the finals began.
The contestants all worked hard through each of the competition categories throughout the week and in the end, Codi Wilson from hometown Edmonton, was crowned Miss Rodeo Canada 2025.
Vold Rodeo's 916 Chico was named Bull of the CFR.
