Sunny Schutte and her horse have earned the right to compete against the best in the country. (Shannon Schutte)

By Nigel Maxwell

Rodeo

Shellbrook senior crowned Miss Sask. High School Rodeo Queen

May 29, 2023 | 5:00 PM

Later this summer, a Grade 12 student at Shellbrook’s W.P. Sandin High School will compete against other women from across Canada and the states for the title of National High School Rodeo Queen.

Sunny Schutte earned the opportunity after being crowned Miss Saskatchewan High School Rodeo Queen. The provincial competition was held over the weekend in Maple Creek.

“I decided to run for rodeo queen because the doors that open for opportunity in the rodeo world are huge,” she said, noting there are university scouts at Nationals.

“You’re the face of the association. You’re what they see on social media, you’re basically the role model,” she added.

Schutte explained there’s a lot of work and responsibility that comes with competing. In addition to showing her horsemanship skills, Schutte was also judged on her speech, modelling, and a written test.

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Noting she started rodeo in 2020, Schutte has been riding horses since before she could walk, and explained horses are her entire life. They were also the focus of the bio she submitted for the competition.

“In my bio it asks if I had one wish, what would it be and I said that my wish would be for every little girl to have the chance to grow up in the barn as I did and earn that love for the horse,” she said.

The competition in Wyoming will take place in July and Schutte acknowledged she’s already started to work on her speech and fine tune her pattern with her horse.

“It is nerve-racking but it’s also very exciting,” she said.

(Wildwood Imagery)

Sunny poses with a member of the high school rodeo association board. (Shannon Schutte)

And while the Saskatchewan High School Rodeo Association will help cover some of the costs of the upcoming trip, there’s still a big expense for Schutte and she is actively looking for sponsors. Anyone interested in helping, can email Schutte’s mother Shannon at Sd.langford@hotmail.com.

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell