Ponoka breakaway ropers set sights on CFR52
Published 2:06 pm Thursday, October 1, 2026
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Ponoka Stampede Association held its Canadian Finals Rodeo (CFR) Send-off on Sept. 30 at the Stagecoach Saloon, wishing all the Ponoka-area contestants and participants good luck while showing them some hometown pride.
The Ponoka and area contingent heading to CFR52 Oct. 7 to 10 at Rogers Place in Edmonton is 22 strong.
“On behalf of the Ponoka Stampede, we are incredibly excited to pay tribute to some of the most hardworking and talented people in the world of rodeo,” said Miss Ponoka Stampede 2026 Brooke Baehl, opening up the evening.
“The Ponoka Stampede is a 90-year Legacy built on community and true Western spirit. Each of you in the room today contribute to what makes the family of Ponoka so unique and special.”
“Until you can see this, you are not going to be able to duplicate Ponoka, because I’m looking at a room full of people that live this, breathe this. This is your life,” said Mayor Kevin Ferguson of the calibre of local rodeo talent .
“That’s what makes me proud to be from Ponoka … What we have here is special, and it cannot be duplicated.”
“We know that you put your heart into your life, your event, and the rodeo way of life,” said Ponoka County Coun. Mark Matejka.
“You are better off because of your dedication. Please use your head, use it to protect your health, and hopefully it can all lead to happiness. Have a good time and a successful CFR.”
“The whole community will be supporting you and cheering your own up in Edmonton,” said Ponoka Stampede President Bruce Harbin.
“We sure hope we can bring some buckles back (but) we’ll be proud of you, no matter what happens an we hope it’s a good finals.”
Among those from Ponoka heading to CFR52 is 17-year-old breakaway roper Kelly Pugh, qualifying for the second year in a row.
Joking she had a ‘lighter’ season, competing in just 40 rodeos this year, the teen has now graduated from high school a year early from the BRICK Learning Centre in Ponoka.
The outreach school gave her the flexibility to complete her diploma while also competing on the rodeo circuit.
“I just try to get it nailed out as fast as I can,” said Pugh of balancing rodeo and school work.
“The teachers were a big help at the school.”
When she was just 16 she went into her first CFR in 12th place in the Canadian standings. Now, she’s in fourth.
“It’s a little more bit comfortable than it was last year. It’s a big year.”
Pugh has been breakaway roping since she was in Grade 6 and competed in junior and high school rodeo all the way through, and in peewee barrel racing before that.
Coming from a rodeo family, she has a lot of support from her parents and grandparents.
“My family has been a big help, and we’ve been doing it for a long time,” she said.
Breakaway roper Shaya Biever, 26, from Claresholm, Alta., recently moved to Ponoka and will be heading to the CFR for her fifth time.
“(My goal is) just touch every calf and see where it gets me,” she said.
The 2023 Canadian breakaway roping champion relocated to Ponoka to be closer to her boyfriend, Logan Cullen, who ropes with Kash Bonnett.
“(In Ponoka) you’re very central to all the events, and this year we rented from Levi Simpson, so just being around world-class athletes, I think, helps you get better every day,” said Biever.
Biever’s looking forward to competing at Rogers Place for the second time.
“I think the atmosphere is a little bit more jacked up. There’s a lot more people there,” she said.
Miss Ponoka Stampede 2026 Brooke Baehl will also be representing Ponoka at CFR52, competing for the national rodeo crown.
Previously holding the title of Miss High School Rodeo, the 20-year-old from Okotoks scored top marks at Ponoka’s selection day back in April, earning her the local rodeo queen title.
“You kind of keep in mind that one of the expectations with the (Ponoka) title is to run for Miss Rodeo Canada, so it was something I had started preparing for while I was preparing to run for Miss Ponoka Stampede,” Baehl said.
“I’m really excited. When I was a high school queen, I got to go down to Wyoming and compete for the national high school rodeo queen title and there there was about 50 other competitors,” she said.
“It was a very similar competition to what the Miss Rodeo Canada competition is going to look like so I’m relieved that I have that experience.
“Overall, I’m just truly really excited to be a part of the CFR and get to ride in Roger’s place and to to go to the CFR, not only is just like a spectator, but also as a competitor for the title.”
One aspect of the Miss Rodeo Canada competition she is looking forward to is the modelling.
“That’s something that we don’t necessarily have at the Ponoka Stampede competition that I’m really excited to get in the fashion show and model on stage,” said Baehl.
“I think that’ll be really, really fun.”
The contingent representing Ponoka and area at CFR52 are as follows:
– Clay Guthrie, Ponoka, sitting third in the Canadian steer wrestling standings and his second CFR.
– Taylor Manning, Ponoka, two-time Canadian champion, finished second in the regular season standings for ladies barrel racing.
– Colby Bonnett, Ponoka, third in the Canadian standings in barrel racing.
– Rene Leclercq, Clive, barrel racer, 2024 cowgirl of the Year award and five-time CFR qualifier.
– Jennifer Neudorf, Bluffton, barrel racer, three-time consecutive CFR qualifier and the 2025 Ponoka Stampede Champion.
– Keely Pugh, Ponoka, breakaway roping, second-time CFR qualifier.
– Shaya Biever, Ponoka, fifth CFR and 2023 Canadian breakaway roping champion.
– Lawrie Neal, Alix, 2024 breakaway roping season leader, and third CFR.
– Kash Bonnett, Ponoka, reigning Canadian champion team roping header, fifth CFR. His horse ‘Joe’ was named the team roping heading horse of the year.
– Logan Cullen, Ponoka, third-time CFR qualifier, heeler and horse trainer.
– Brett Buss, Ponoka, team roping header, 13th CFR and four-time Canadian season leader, in fourth place in Canadian standings.
– Derek Hadland, Ponoka, team roping header, 2026 Ponoka Stampede champion, second CFR and currently third in Canada.
– Logan Bonnett, Ponoka, team roping header, sixth CFR, currently in seventh place in Canada, owner of the 2022 heading horse of the year.
– Keely Bonnett, Ponoka, team roping heeler, fifth CFR, owner of a three-time heeling horse of the year, seventh in the Canadian standings.
– Tee McLeod, team roping header, 11th place in Canadian standings.
– Tyrell Flewelling, Lacombe, team roping heeler, three-time Canadian champion, in 11th place in standings.
– Annie Simpson, 10 years old, Ponoka, 2025 and 2026 Specialty Dress Act of the Year.
– Quaide Skjonsberg, Bluffton, the 2025 Ponoka Stampede Novice Bareback Champion and the 2025 Canadian Novice Bareback Riding Champion (not present).
– Miss Ponoka Stampede 2026 Brooke Baehl, running for Miss Rodeo Canada 2027.
– Nansen and Jayden Vold, Ponoka, of award-winning stock contractor Vold Rodeo Co., voted the 2026 Stock Contractor of the Year.
– Brenda Vold, Ponoka, official rodeo timer for her 21st year.