After many rodeos, much traveling and good competition local cowboys Dean Edge, Brett Buss and Luke Butterfield will be heading to Rexall Place in Edmonton to compete at the Canadian Finals Rodeo from Nov. 5 to 9.
All three have recently finished competing at the Wrangler Canadian Professional Rodeo Tour Championship (WCRTC) in Calgary on Oct. 3 to 5.
Dean Edge, from Rimbey, and works at Vold, Jones, Vold Auction Mart in Ponoka, finished in the top five for tie-down roping and is looking forward to competing at the CFR.
“I’m really happy,” said Edge.
For Edge, the rodeo is a place he loves to be and he enjoys traveling and competing all over the province.
“It’s a thrill, it’s mentally and physically challenging and there are so many people you get to know,” he said. “You have friends in all different places.”
Edge not only is pleased with qualifying for the CFR but is also proud of his 13-year old bay, Sid, who was named calf roping horse of the year, for the fourth year in a row.
“I owe a lot of my success to him, big time,” he said.
Brett Buss claimed the top in Team Roping against 12 teams after the WCPRTC taking home about $18,000 and is getting ready for the CFR. Buss began team roping when he was eight and at 19 years old is excited to compete against the best.
“It should be pretty fun,” said Buss. “I think it will be a good experience.”
Buss will be roping in the days leading up to the CFR to keep in good shape as well as competing in a few jackpots. Buss enjoys the rodeo lifestyle and the people he competes against.
“Everyone’s out to help each other,” he said. “You can be competitive but it is still fun.”
Ponoka local Luke Butterfield placed in the top five in Saddle Bronc riding after the WCRTC and is gearing up for the CFR.
“I was really glad,” said Butterfield. “It was my goal to make the final round. I rode well and everything was clicking really well.”
Butterfield has been saddle bronc riding since he was in high school and enjoys all that rodeo has to offer.
“It was a change from hockey,” he said. “With saddle bronc you are on your own and if you don’t do well, you can’t make up any excuses. I really enjoy the rodeo lifestyle.”
Qualifying for the CFR has been a longtime dream of Butterfield’s and he is looking forward to the challenge of the event.
“It was a goal of mine to qualify since I’ve been watching rodeo,” he said. “I’m really happy that I made it. It will be tough riding against the best horses and riders but it feels good to be at this level.”
The CFR will be celebrating 35 years of history and all performances include bareback riding, team roping, steer wrestling, saddle bronc riding, tie-down roping, ladies barrel racing and bull riding.