‘So thrilled:’ First-ever Miss Rodeo Agribition crowned

Arianna Dyck has been coming to Agribition since she was eight years old.

Now, she’s wearing a crown on top of her cowboy hat as the first-ever Miss Rodeo Agribition.

“I was just overjoyed. There was so many emotions running through my body,” the 19-year-old Dyck said Thursday. “I’m pretty sure I cried. I was pretty sure there was tears running down my face.

“It felt really out of body almost.”

The crown was put on top of Dyck’s cowboy hat on Wednesday evening on the dirt at the Brandt Centre. She landed the hardware after being judged in a horsemanship competition, a written test, a personal interview in front of a panel of judges, and a public speaking competition.

“Eight-year-old me is screaming right now because I’m making a childhood dream for myself come true that I honestly never knew I had,” said Dyck. “I grew up watching Miss Rodeo Canada get crowned every year and I never thought I would be a rodeo queen myself.

“But here I am, and I am so thrilled for what the year is going to bring.”

During Dyck’s speech, she spoke about what her experience has been like as a woman in the trades. With only a small percentage of women in the welding field, she wants to inspire others to follow their dreams.

“Welding is an art. It’s an art form in itself,” said Dyck. “Every day, I strive to lay down the perfect weld bead and make sure that my welds are strong enough to pass inspection.”

Dyck is still a student taking her Level 1 technical training for welding at Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s Moose Jaw campus. She said there were times when she felt discrimination at work.

“There are times where I am getting judged just based off my looks, and not even getting a chance to show my skill level with my welding capabilities,” she said.

Despite the ups and downs, she has persisted within her field, and her passion for her job is what keeps her going.

Dyck moved to White City when she was eight years old from Canmore, Alta., and she has been coming to Agribition ever since. Some of her fondest memories of the livestock show are when her parents would take her to the rodeo.

The new Miss Rodeo Agribition will serve as an official spokesperson for Agribition at major events across the province.