Skip to content

The search is on for Miss Ponoka Stampede 2025

Vice president Bruce Harbin: The Ponoka Stampede has 'been blessed' with all their past and present rodeo queens

The quest to find the next Miss Ponoka Stampede has begun. 

Entries for the 2025 competition are now open and will close on April 1. 

"We encourage everyone that's interested to put in an application," said Bruce Harbin, Ponoka Stampede Association (PSA) vice president and the director that oversees the pageant. 

The application form and all the details about the rodeo queen contest are available on the PSA website, ponokastampede.com. 

"We look forward to moving on to 2025," said Harbin.

The main skills the successful candidate needs are horsemanship, public speaking, and being personable. 

As an ambassador for rodeo, one of the most important skills Miss Ponoka Stampede needs is the ability to connect with people, from young children to officials and everyone in between.

"The ability to communicate and make people feel comfortable around you is an asset," said Harbin. 

"It's a good job to have and we're looking for the right one to do it."

Whether applicants dream of going on to winning the national title, or have aspirations of continuing their post secondary education or pursuing their passions, after their reign, the Miss Ponoka Stampede crown has proven to be an effective springboard for launching to new heights. 

And the best part is, past and present Ponoka royalty stay connected and engaged in the local rodeo community, Harbin said, adding the ladies affectionately call their group the 'Sorority of the Travelling Chaps.'

"We've been blessed with a lot of great young women who have been Miss Ponoka Stampede."

The ladies are "keen" to support the candidates, from selection day and beyond, he said.

Former Ponoka Stampede royalty Ashley (2015) and Naomi Akkermans (2019, '20, '21), are still involved locally.

Karen Skeels, mother of MacKenzie Skeels, (2022), helps out on selection day of the pageant.

Katie Lucas (2014) is now a broadcaster on the Cowboy Channel and Alicia Erickson (2018) is now a media liaison for PBR Canada and TSN.

"We've just been blessed to have them and the careers they've gone on to build from then to now are just amazing," said Harbin. 

While many have gone on from Miss Ponoka Stampede to run for, and win, the national rodeo title, planning to run for Miss Rodeo Canada isn't a requirement to be the successful candidate for Ponoka's crown.

"We're hoping the candidate that wins has it in her plans to compete for Miss Rodeo Canada, but at the same time we're mindful of career and life plans," said Harbin.

Selection day, where the rodeo royalty hopefuls are put through their paces in several competition categories, is held early in April and the new Miss Ponoka Stampede will be crowned at the Ponoka Stampede tarp auction in the beginning of May.

 



Emily Jaycox

About the Author: Emily Jaycox

I'm a reporter for Ponoka News and have lived in Ponoka since 2015.
Read more