Many events have been cancelled or postponed during the last few months due to the COVID-19 pandemic and it has a great effect on a lot of people. Larger events being cancelled means less tourists and all in all less money being brought in. The cancellation of rodeos effects Strathmore as well as many other cities and towns across Alberta. Many small towns host rodeo events that bring lots of people in from surrounding areas to compete and enjoy the festivities. Without these events many up and coming local rodeo athletes feel the impact as well.

Local up and coming Bull Rider from Strathmore, Riley Sibbet said it’s hard to not be able to do something he enjoys doing. Sibbet explains that without the busy schedule of rodeo it’s easy for him to just laze around and not do much, but he has been keeping busy with work and as much training as he can right now. Unfortunately, there’s not a lot of practicing he can do right now says Sibbet, “No ones really got any practices open or anything like that so you just have to stay home and ride the barrel or rope the dummy.”

Not being able to compete is one thing, but Sibbet says that you miss out on seeing your friends that compete and just overall being in the environment. When asked if he’s heard any plans of potentially competing this year Sibbet said, “There’s nothing so far but there is a high school rodeo finals down in the States that’s still going on so hopefully if I make that I can go down there.”