Just days away from the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth, Stampede Rodeo Princess and Cochrane’s own Brook Fielding is gearing up for the Stampede season.
Fielding said she’s been a Stampede regular since she was young. A big inspiration for her was always watching the Royalty Ride, which helped inspire her to become this year’s Stampede Rodeo Princess.
“I really wanted to become that because these women are such incredible role models,” Fielding said. “They’re strong, independent, and proud voices for women. So, I’m incredibly grateful that I have now been given that opportunity to ride in the Calgary Stampede Parade, and to be that role model for young girls as well.”
Fielding said she also has the honour of hoisting the Canadian flag at the start of the rodeo, every day at 1:30 p.m.
“I’m really excited to get to do that,” she said. “I’ve been riding my entire life, so it’s really all kind of leading up to those 10 days that I get to be in the arena.”
With everything from the midway rides, the food, the rodeo and chuckwagons, watching Grandstand Show, or even enjoying the fireworks show, Fielding said there’s always plenty to do at Stampede this year.
“Or even checking out our brand-new buildings on park,” Fielding added. “We have the BMO Centre expansion, and the brand-new SAM Centre. There’s just so much happening on park this year that people can check out.
“I’m so excited.”
Already 6 months into her reign, Fielding said she is in the peak of her duties. Since the grand opening of the two aforementioned buildings, she outlines that she is nothing short of crazy busy.
“We’ve been getting ready for Stampede, there’s a lot going on, so I would say there’s a lot of training that went into the beginning of the year,” she said. “But now, the training wheels are off, and I’m ready to go.”
She hopes to see Cochranites come out to this year’s event, and encourages everyone to drop by the Stampede Parade on July 5.
“You definitely have to go early in the morning to get your seats because it’s packed,” Fielding advises. “But after the parade, it’s great because it’s free admission into the park, and you can see everything that Stampede has to offer.
“So, I would really encourage everyone from the Cochrane community to come out and see what Stampede has to offer.”
A new addition to this year’s festivities that Fielding is excited for, comes from a rodeo she visited that took place in Houston, Texas.
“In Houston, one of the things that they did incredibly well was their wine and food garden,” Fielding said. “We have now introduced that for the very first year at Stampede. I’m super excited to see how it turns out, and how the park is utilized with it.
“So, I would encourage everyone; if wine and food are your thing, definitely come down to the park.”
With a team of around 40 people behind her, Fielding said she thanks everyone including her friends and family for supporting her through her efforts.
“Thank you to everyone that’s helped me get here,” Fielding said. “We’re ready, and I’m ready.”
