While being named Miss Rodeo Sundre was initially an intimidating experience, Alisa Brace recently told the Round Up the supportive encouragement of other royalty has helped build her confidence.
Crowned earlier this summer during the 38th Sundre Pro Rodeo, the 20-year-old who lives east of Sundre on a family farm along the Westward Ho road said her experience over the past few months has been a lot of fun.
"I've had a really good time travelling all over Alberta."
From visiting areas she's never seen, as well as participating in events from the Calgary Stampede to the Medicine Hat Exhibition and Stampede, Brace has had the opportunity to meet with many other young women who are passionately involved in rodeo as representatives of the lifestyle.
"It's been really great to meet all of these new people and see different things," she said, adding that being named Miss Rodeo Sundre 2017 has provided her with the chance to branch out and discover many places.
Since Sundre's main event of the year, Brace said she has attended about a dozen rodeos and events. Those appearances included the Ponoka Stampede as well as Airdrie's Canada Day parade.
"That was really cool, to be a rodeo queen in the Canada Day parade for the 150 celebration," she said.
At the Calgary Stampede, Brace met with visiting royalty from places such as Australia and the U.S. as well as throughout Alberta, and she enjoyed being able to make new friendships with other titleholders that had similar experiences to share.
"They were all super great," she said.
When asked what she has most enjoyed about fulfilling the duties of her new role as a representative of not only Sundre but also the local rodeo, Brace said, "It's been really great to promote not only a rodeo that I've been going to since I was really young, but also a really incredible community."
And along the rodeo trail, she has even been able to reconnect with past acquaintances and friends. At the recent Didsbury Fair and Rodeo, she got the chance to catch up with Tanner Kelley, a local cowboy who lives in the James River area. The two went to school together from kindergarten until their graduation from Sundre High School in 2015.
"It was cool to watch him be successful in his rodeo efforts and come home with a championship as a team roping header."
Meeting rodeo athletes from home and promoting her town and rodeo have all been part of an overall rewarding experience, said Brace, adding she has also appreciated being able to meet young children and listen to their dreams about rodeo life.
"That's really exciting, to be able to meet the future of our sport."
The biggest challenge to date was simply initially getting started. Being crowned at the Sundre Pro Rodeo and just one week later attending the Ponoka Stampede, which is among the largest in the world, was intimidating for someone without previous experience as rodeo royalty, she said.
But the support offered by more veteran queens ó including Miss Rodeo Canada 2017 Ali Mullin, who previously held the title of 2016 Miss Medicine Hat Exhibition and Stampede Queen ó played a big role in helping Brace build up her confidence.
"She gave me some really encouraging words."
And young rodeo fans are so easygoing and excited, their enthusiasm is contagious.
"When you go into the crowds, the kids don't care if you've had a bad day. They all think you're amazing," she said.
"That really helps to have such a big support system behind you."
While the fall might be upon us, that does not mean things have slowed down in the lead-up to the Canadian Finals Rodeo, which take place Nov. 8-12 in Edmonton, she said.
Since Brace spoke with the Round Up a couple of weeks ago, she had plans to go to Okotoks, Armstrong, Olds and Brooks.
"It's pretty busy."
Grateful for all of the support and "constant words of encouragement" that she has received since being crowned, Brace expressed appreciation for the opportunity she has been granted.
"I'm proud to be representing such a great community across Canada."
