Two Cochrane area women are hitting the big stage next rodeo season.
The Calgary Lions Club announced the winners for the areas most prestigious rodeo crown’s, the Stampede Queen and her two Stampede Princesses, including Water Valley’s own Danica Heath and Cochrane’s former royalty, Shannon Black.
If Black rings a bell with anyone, it should.
Black spent the better part of a year working with the Cochrane Lions Club as the Cochrane Lions Rodeo Princess for the 2011-12 rodeo season, traveling near and far for the club.
She joins the Stampede royalty as one of two princesses with the other being Stephanie Patterson of Calgary.
Black said after taking a year off from rodeo, she felt she still had the drive to do more for the local area and working with the Calgary Lions allows her to continue.
“I wanted to come back to represent the western lifestyle that I enjoyed in my year as the Cochrane Lions Rodeo Princess,” said Black.
“I also wanted to do my part and become an ambassador for another great organization like the Cochrane Lions Club which is so heavily volunteered based.”
“The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth,” as the Calgary Stampede is known, has long had it’s history planted in rodeo royalty, so looking is hard.
“I have had the opportunity to be a part of the Calgary Stampede as a spectator since I was four-months-old and have looked forward to it every year,” said Black.
Black said she’s looking forward to working closely with Heath in 2014 not only because they share a local connection, but also because they both put community first, she said.
But, she said she’s sure to miss representing Cochrane.
“My favourite aspect of representing Cochrane was representing such an amazing community which, despite its growing size has the most amazing people and community spirit,” said Black.
“I loved attending all community events and I hope my new role allows me to visit Cochrane lots.”
