Strathmore's rodeo school is back and bigger!

Rodeo School is back, and bigger this year with six events for athletes to learn the ins and outs of how to become the future stars of the Canadian rodeo circuit.

This year Rodeo School is scheduled for August 15 to 18th. Ryan Schmidt CEO of the Strathmore and District Agricultural Society speaks about what’s new this summer.

“We will be adding breakaway roping, this is a growing sport within rodeo and it's breaking into the pro rodeo circuit. It was added to our pro rodeo in Strathmore this summer.”

Included with this year's new addition, some favourites will be returning this summer including saddle bronc, bareback, bullfighting, bull riding and barrel racing.

And Schmidt is thrilled to see some past coaches returning and some new coaches joining the team.

With championship instructors including Scott Schiffner, Jake Vold, the Johansen Brothers. Clay Elliott, Skeeter Thurston and Levi Hale returning this year the athletes will be in for a fully packed week of education and hands-on experiences.

They will be joined by Brett Monea in bullfighting and Matt Laitt in bareback, tentatively Raylee Edwards in barrel racing and Mark Nugent in breakaway roping.

This type of event cannot happen without help for coaches and the stock contractors who Schmidt says will step up to help for very little cost which in turn allows them to make this school very affordable for the athletes.

“Everyone’s got the same philosophy. This is about the kids,” he said.

Schmidt explains the organizers and coaches are proud when they see some of the athletes that they have instructed coming back on the circuit.

"What's really amazing is to see kids a couple of years later, perhaps on the Foothills Cowboy Association circuit and you're saying to yourself, 'hey, I remember that kid.' It's nice to feel like you made a contribution and gave kids an opportunity to get the training that they need to go on and become an amateur and hopefully eventually we'll see some of these kids in the pros.”

There are a lot of athletes that come from across Canada and this year one of the goals for Schmidt and the Rodeo School is to see more athletes from Strathmore and area come out to participate.

“You do not need to have any experience to come to the rodeo school. The school is all about developing young athletes, some may have experience already, we will help you get to the next level.  But if you're brand new we'll take you from there show you how to do it and get you on your first animals.”

Registration opens on March 15, find out more about Rodeo School at strathmoreag.com or call the office at 403-934-5811.