With many cancellations and postponed events, residents are looking for ways to get out and enjoy summer.

The AG Society is one of those organizations that has seen many events have to be postponed or canceled this year, however, there is one that will go ahead in August.

"The Strathmore and District AG Society is very happy that we can go forward with our second annual rodeo school. We did our first one last year with just junior bull riding because it was very successful last year this year we're adding in both bareback and saddle bronc and the rodeo school has expanded to four days," said Ryan Schmidt GM of the Strathmore AG Society.

The Strathmore AG society Rodeo School will be taking place from August 17-20 this summer, with training taking place for junior bull riding, bareback and saddle bronc. With the saddle bronc and bareback school taking place on August 17-18, and the bull riding school on August 19-20.

The goal for the AG Society has always been to put on top-notch rodeo schools said Schmidt and this year will see growth from last year including instructors again in junior bull riding but also in two other events.

This year's rodeo school will be hosted by champion bull riders Scott Schiffner and the Johansen brothers, along with saddle bronc pro rodeo athletes Zeke and Skeeter Thurston and Jake Vold a current bareback rider on the rodeo circuit.

Schmidt notes the reason to holding a rodeo school later in August, "It is intended to benefit the kids going into their high school rodeo season, so we've timed the school so that it can be a tune-up and practice session for them going into their events starting with the new school year."

Schmidt goes on to say that the school is designed specifically for the athletes heading into high school and that is why they have it set for participants aged 14-18.

Schmidt has registration open for this year's rodeo school those interested can contact the AG Society at 403-934-5811, "We would really like to encourage any local kids who are interested to come and sign up, we've had a couple of registrations from the area and we would love to have more local kids."

The Rodeo School will also include the opportunity for young and upcoming bullfighters to train.  Bullfighters have the important job of keeping cowboys safe from the bulls at every rodeo.

With a school like this Schmidt says that they have low numbers, to begin with in order to provide the athletes with quality one on one training with only 20 athletes registering for he junior bull riding and 20 also for both saddle bronc and bareback. This ensures a great school experience for those involved as well they are able to stay within the regulations set out by Alberta Health Services.

For more information on this year's rodeo school visit the Strathmore AG Rodeo School site here.

 

Photo courtesy of the Strathmore AG Society