For Miss Rodeo Canada Codi Wilson, celebrating the rich legacy — and solid future of — the nation’s rodeo circuit is top of mind.
Wilson, who was crowned Miss Rodeo Canada during last year’s Canadian Finals Rodeo in Edmonton, will be delving into all kinds of events and traditions at this year’s Ponoka Stampede.
“I grew up in a ranching and farming community here in Sundre. I’m a fourth generation cowgirl, and I’ve had family who have been involved in rodeo for three generations before I was, which is pretty cool,” she explained.
Her grandmother, Mary Ellen Wilson (nee Jones) was the 1956 Miss Ponoka Stampede. The year prior, she was the Miss Calgary Stampede queen as well.
“It’s so fun to be following in her footsteps,” said Wilson.
“The Ponoka Stampede is very unique in the sense that there is such a western heritage to it in the way they have carried on those traditions of rodeo,” she explained.
“When you go to the Ponoka Stampede, you really feel that spirit. I also love the way it brings people together. Obviously with my grandmother being a past queen it’s really special to have that family connection, too.
“The people behind the Ponoka Stampede are really like family.”
It’s no surprise Wilson has a big heart for the rodeo world.
“I kind of grew up on the rodeo trail. Dad steer-wrestled, mom did some barrel racing, and I had uncles and cousins who competed as well.
“We would be the family on the road travelling to different rodeos on the weekends. And so my love for the sport came at a young age just from being on the road, and through growing up in it.
“I started riding a horse when I was about three years old, and so I kind of grew up on the back of a horse. I’ve really loved this lifestyle from an early age.”
Besides her own rodeo experiences, Wilson also was a member of the Alberta High School Rodeo Association for seven years. Throughout her years in the association, she continued to compete in multiple events.
“I did the barrels, breakaway roping, goat-tying — different events like that. I also wanted a way to give back to the sport, so I found rodeo queening, and it was the perfect fit for everything that I love, from educating people to getting to showcase the talent in rodeo.”
Wilson was honoured to be crowned the Alberta High School Rodeo Queen in 2016, which is where her passion for sharing the sport of rodeo flourished further.
“I was able to represent high school rodeo for the province,” she said.
“I also went down to nationals to compete, and did quite well there against every other state queen as well. Then, I ran for Miss Rodeo Sundre and wasn’t selected, and then for Miss Ponoka Stampede and wasn’t selected that year.”
But things were about to change in a big way.
“I then ran for Miss Rodeo Edmonton, and ended up winning that title in 2023.
“I was then crowned Miss Rodeo Canada at the CFR in early October last year, and then you become what they call a ‘Lady in Waiting’ for a couple of months. You shadow the current queen and learn the ropes.”
Wilson officially took over this past January, and has been loving every minute of it.
Besides rodeo, Wilson was also a member of the Sundre 4-H Multi-Club in both the beef and horse projects for 10 years. She held many executive positions in the club as well, and attributes so much of where she is today to the 4-H program.
But her range of talents goes even further.
She has been an avid dancer since she was three years old, performing multiple disciplines, with her favourite being ballet. She continues to teach dance in her spare time and always loves the opportunity to share her passion with others.
And to top it all off, earlier this year she wrapped up her studies earning a Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Education combined degree with a major in Indigenous Studies.
For Wilson, the experiences of the past years in general — and of serving as Miss Rodeo Edmonton and Miss Rodeo Canada in particular — have brought so much to her life.
“Everywhere you go, you are meeting people and making new connections,” she said.
“You never know what doors are going to be opening up. I think that with doing this for nearly 10 years now, there has been growth I’ve seen in myself in the confidence that it builds.
“My passion for the sport has only grown as well, the more I get to work behind the scenes with various committees, and see the amount of work that goes into putting on events like these.
“Even for someone like me that has been involved in rodeo my whole life, I feel like I’m always learning something new everywhere I go,” she said.
“I have such a passion for the industry, and I thing that has only grown through my experience of holding these titles.”
Wilson has also had the opportunity to announce some rodeos, working closely with the production side of things.
“I’m passionate about that, about seeing rodeo continue to grow, and about seeing people become more and more knowledgeable about it. My passion for it all has grown immensely.”
Find all you need to know about the Ponoka Stampede at Ponoka News.
