The Calgary Stampede is one of the highlights of the rodeo world and brings competition from all over the globe to showcase their talents. While this is exciting in its own right, Brooks will have an even bigger reason to tune in, as Brooks native Lynette Brodoway will be competing in barrel racing!

Brodoway has been involved in the rodeo world her entire life. While barrel racing is her main focus, she is also involved in training horses and equine disciplines.

"I was born into a team roping family, so I started out as a team roper, I was a header and I did that for quite a while. I rodeoed with my mom in what was called the All-Girls Rodeo Association in the late 80s, early 90s. And then I went into training barrel horses, and I also rodeoed amateur. In 2016 I decided to try and make the CFR, I felt I had a good enough horse to possibly get me there, and we've been going every year except 2018, I had some health issues," she said.

Since bursting onto the scene in 2016, Brodoway has gone on to rapidly rise through the ranks; so much so that she qualified for this year's Calgary Stampede. It will be her second time competing.

"Last year I got there (Calgary Stampede) by invitation, this year I got there by qualification. You have to be within the top four in the Canadian standings after the finals in November, and I was reserve champion."

Brodoway enjoyed a lot of success in her Calgary Stampede debut and hopes to build on that this year. Last year, her horse "Cowboy" was new to the scene, but with more experience, Brodoway hopes she and her horse will do even better than before.

"This year my horse is more seasoned, he has some rodeos under his belt. I've been rodeoing on him all spring plus about twenty from last year, so I'm hoping for better results."

The relationship between the horse and rider is something Brodoway values a lot, and her relationship with Cowboy is a key reason why she made it to the Calgary Stampede.

"It's everything, that's what you do on a daily basis is work on the relationship between you and your horse, and when you compete at somewhere like Calgary you have to have a good relationship."

While the relationship with her horse is undoubtedly a huge reason for her success, the idea of "Sometimes you win, sometimes you learn" from John Maxwell also played a large role in getting her where she is now. 

"'Sometimes you win, sometimes you learn' turned things around for me, in that I wasn't handling my mistakes properly. So what he taught me is that if you learn from mistakes, they will propel you forward. I was fearful of making mistakes and I was very hard on myself when I made mistakes and I think it hindered me from some accomplishments that I'm now enjoying."

"I read that book in the spring of 2016, I made the CFR that fall, and here we are just a few short years later and I'm in the Calgary Stampede."

For Brodoway, the thrill of the Calgary Stampede is something that can't be found anywhere else.

"I will say this about Calgary Stampede, it's like nothing I've ever been involved in and I'm extremely honoured to be part of it."

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