CARSTAIRS - Cayden Cyrankiewicz is enjoying her reign so far as this year's Carstairs Rodeo Queen.
Cayden, along with her sister Casey, who was named princess, was crowned on July 20 at the Carstairs Rodeo during Beef and Barley Days.
Cayden, who is entering Grade 9 at Hugh Sutherland School, has been involved in rodeo for several years and participates almost every weekend in the summer.
"My dad rodeoed when he was a kid and my mom showed horses," said Cayden. "I grew up around horses. I was always around them. We would go out all the time."
The family lives on a farm east of Carstairs.
Cayden competes in a number of rodeo events including barrel racing, team roping and pole bending. She has participated in the junior high rodeo circuit for two years, qualifying for provincials both times.
This coming year she will be moving on to the high school rodeo circuit.
Cayden says she enjoys both the social and competitive aspects of rodeo.
"You get to meet a lot of people," she said. "There are a lot of good opportunities in the rodeo part of things. Horses are just kind of my life. It's the way I've always been."
Cayden was happy to see her sister crowned rodeo princess ahead of three other contestants.
"It's definitely a family affair," she said. "It's good. She has her own stuff to do as princess and I have my stuff to do as queen. We don't bump into each other lots."
Casey is a Grade 5 student at Hugh Sutherland. She has been riding horses since she was two years old.
As queen, Cayden rode with sash and crown and carried the Canadian flag at the grand entry during the Carstairs Rodeo. She also received a number of gift cards and a scholarship.
Over the August long weekend, Cayden performed at a Ponoka rodeo where she finished first in break away and fourth in team roping.
