Previous experience as a local rodeo queen in large part inspired a hometown girl to pursue the prestigious national title of Miss Rodeo Canada.
Alisa Brace said that shortly after being crowned Miss Rodeo Sundre in 2017, people started asking her whether she planned to run in the national competition.
“At the time, I didn’t think much of it,” Brace candidly confessed during a phone interview last week.
She said her mind at the time was more preoccupied with fulfilling her responsibilities as Miss Rodeo Sundre and that she wasn’t yet convinced she was qualified to run for the title of Miss Rodeo Canada.
However, her year-long experience as Miss Rodeo Sundre, which involved interacting with rodeo fans at events around Alberta as well as offering educational presentations about the sport and agriculture to students at schools, eventually started to plant the seed.
“It inspired me and gave me the idea that I have this amazing opportunity to do this all over again on a national stage,” she said.
A Sundre High School graduate of the class of 2015, Brace later picked up her post-secondary education after wearing the Miss Rodeo Sundre crown. She enrolled in an animal health program at Vermilion’s Lakeland College, which she completed in 2018 to become a registered veterinary technologist.
Since then, she has been working at the Moore Equine Veterinary Centre just south of Balzac, and relocated to Airdrie last July to be closer to the clinic.
“I get to work with lots of rodeo horses,” she said, adding her experience has involved spending time at the Calgary Stampede with bucking stock that was destined to perform in the U.S.
“That’s a cool opportunity I have to share with rodeo fans. I’ve seen first-hand how the animals are treated and all of the work rodeo competitors put into their animals.”
Having a background in animal health, she said, is a beneficial experience that further convinced her to consider running for Miss Rodeo Canada.
“Animal health and welfare is an ongoing issue in the rodeo industry,” she said, adding there are misconceptions in the public’s perception of how livestock is treated in the world of rodeo.
If crowned, Brace expressed a commitment to represent the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association to the best of her ability while also continuing to promote her hometown and community, which she said have always offered her a substantial source of support.
“That’s something that’s really important to me — I wouldn’t want to forget about that or disregard it if I move on to represent Canada.”
Given the opportunity, she also aspires to inspire young people to “pursue their goals and make big dreams for themselves.”
Students in high school and college often think mostly about getting a job, but she wants them “to look past all of the things you think you’re supposed to do…I want to encourage them to live a very full life, and not to set any boundaries for themselves and what they want to accomplish.”
Another cause that’s also close to her heart is continuing her efforts to educate not only rodeo fans but also the general public about the treatment of animals in rodeo.
“These animals are cared for,” she said, adding there are many rules to ensure the best treatment possible.
Brace considers the title of Miss Rodeo Canada to be a very important role. The successful candidate, she said, plays a huge part in acting as a liaison between rodeo contestants and rodeo fans.
To keep fans engaged and motivated to keep coming back, she said a queen must be prepared to answer questions, sign autographs, pose for photographs, provide an educational perspective on how rodeo events work while also offering some insight on ranching, farming and the western way of life.
“What really makes me passionate about the western way of life and the rodeo industry is the really deep family ties and deep history that comes from the rodeo world,” she said.
Although originally coming not from a rodeo background but rather a farm family, Brace said she was initially drawn into the rodeo life because she enjoys the work ethic and sense of community.
“Everyone’s so great to each other,” she said.
Above and beyond all of the aforementioned duties, she added, “Miss Rodeo Canada is essentially the spokesperson for the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association.”
Holding a previous professional rodeo title is a prerequisite, and a contestant has only two years afterwards to run for the national crown, she said.
“This is my last year that I would be able to go,” she said.
The competition starts on Oct. 29 in conjunction with the Canadian Finals Rodeo in Red Deer at Westerner Park. The successful contestant, who will be named in November, then remains a lady-in-waiting, and begins her official role as Miss Rodeo Canada on Jan. 1.
With about 500 appearances a year, the queen’s busy schedule would require taking a hiatus from her job. Regardless of whether she is crowned, Brace said her long-term plan is to pursue her interest in equine sports and rehabilitation.
“I think I’ll probably stay involved in equine work for as long as I can.”
Bronwen Bowhay, Miss Rodeo Sundre coordinator, has over the past four years gotten to know Brace, who since handing in her crown has often lent Bowhay a helping hand.
“We’re super excited for her to take the Sundre crown to the national level,” said Bowhay.
“We were extremely pleased with how she represented the community as Miss Rodeo Sundre, and know she’ll do great in the Miss Rodeo Canada competition.”
A fundraiser supporting Brace’s bid for the Miss Rodeo Canada crown is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 21 at the Eagle Hill Memorial Community Hall. The function will feature a dinner, a live and silent auction, as well as live entertainment provided by cowboy poet Bryn Thiessen, who lives just west of Bergen.
Brace expressed a profound appreciation for everyone in the Sundre and surrounding area community that have offered their support in her pursuit of her life’s next “exciting adventure.”
Running for the national title, she said, was not an easy decision.
“You’re putting your neck on the line — putting yourself out there to possibly not come home with the title,” she said.
“That can be intimidating. But everyone’s been so encouraging and kind.”
The flood of supportive messages and feedback she’s received on social media and in person “Will give me a lot of courage and confidence going into the competition.”
Alisa Brace was pictured in this file photo riding around the Sundre Rodeo Grounds arena after being named Miss Rodeo Sundre 2017 during the Sundre Pro Rodeo. Brace is currently pursuing a bid for the national title, Miss Rodeo Canada.
