Jasmine Dahl candidly admits not having been raised in a rodeo family, but that getting involved in a 4-H Club nevertheless introduced her to the lifestyle that she now hopes to promote.
She is one of three contestants running for the 2018-19 Miss Rodeo Sundre title. Click here and here for feature stories on the other two contestants.
Dahl, who is from Carmangay but currently resides in Olds where she is pursuing a one-year program to become a veterinary medical receptionist, said during an interview that she was not always into the rodeo life, even if her mom Sue occasionally rode horses.
However, through her experiences with 4-H, which she joined at the age of about 10, Dahl said she was introduced to the rodeo lifestyle and before long began to train horses, which eventually in turn led her to start barrel racing.
She went on to participate in several junior rodeos all the way up to some high school level competitions, and remained involved in 4-H until last year, when she began her post-secondary program.
In 2015-16, Dahl did not pass up the opportunity to join the Calgary Stampede Showriders, and along the way also had the chance to work with the Calgary Stampede Rodeo Royalty.
She enjoyed working with them and learning more about the showriders. That was about the time Dahl said she was inspired to follow a path that walked parallel with rodeo life.
“I really love the idea of talking with people about rodeo,” she said.
There is no shortage of misconceptions about what takes place in a rodeo arena and educating people is important, she said, adding that being a member of rodeo royalty opens the doors to engage with the public.
Meanwhile, she has all but completed her courses at Olds College and plans to pursue her practicum at Pioneer Veterinary Clinic in Sundre where she was to start working on April 16.
If crowned Miss Rodeo Sundre during the Pro Rodeo in June, Dahl said representing this community “would be a big honour. I really love Sundre.”
Being rather new to the area, she said making fresh connections would be a great experience.
Although she does not necessarily have a specific goal in mind moving forward, Dahl said she is considering the possibility of in the future running for Calgary Stampede royalty, and depending on how everything turns out perhaps even Miss Rodeo Canada.
See a coming issue of the Round Up for a feature on another Miss Rodeo Sundre contestant.
