Can I get paid for Rodeo at school?

Three years ago I would never have dreamed of doing something like this. However, many things have changed since then. Graduating from high school instigates a host of changes. The biggest change can probably be one of two things; stay in school or pursue higher education. College is very important these days, and for us rodeo competitors, college is a very possible option after high school. For me it was an easy choice. I still hope to make a living in the arena. A problem soon arose when I discussed this with my parents.

“You know, Teddy, you won’t be able to ride a rodeo all your life, right?” my mom said.

“Dang, that’s what I was hoping to do” I replied.

Well in the last two years I’ve been hurt several times and I still don’t want to get a real job so now I’m a college student. And you know what? The school really isn’t that bad. What many students and parents may not realize is how easy it is to get scholarships to go to college. The best part is how many there are and how many different entities grant them. Scholarships can come directly from high schools and colleges, government foundations, private donors, rodeo associations, and businesses. Another place they come from that I heard about this year is the rodeo committees. Not so much in Canada so far, but I’m looking. The Alberta High School Rodeo Association has to be one of the best associations in North America for high school students to learn about, rode with, and prepare for a successful future in college and in the rodeo arena.

Since I would like this article to be useful to its readers, I would like to talk about all the scholarships I know of that exist for students graduating from high school. The money is available for the most part whether or not a person takes the time to apply. The biggest cost when applying for scholarships is the stamp on the envelope. Sure you can win some scholarships now, but you can’t get any of their free money if you don’t try. Here are a few that all high school students should apply for:

Montana Silversmiths Pursuit of Excellence Scholarship: Deadline: August 1. This scholarship is open to graduating high school students and current college students with a minimum GPA of 2.0 or higher. For those of us north of 49, you should be averaging around 70%. For more information and to apply, visit: montanasilversmiths.com. Or call 888-677-9487 for an application form.

Bill Kehler Memorial Scholarship: Deadline: August 28. Open to students who have completed grade 12 or are currently in college. Up to four $2,500 scholarships are awarded each year. The scholarships are awarded to students studying agriculture and broadcasting, along with those who are great ambassadors for the legacy of Mr. Bill Kehler. Professional rodeo contestants may also apply for a scholarship to support their post-secondary studies.

The Alexander Rutherford High School Achievement Scholarship: Deadline: May 1 if you are going to school in September and December 1 if you start college in January. If your 10th, 11th and 12th grade averages are above 75% in all four core subjects along with an option class, this scholarship could be worth a lot of money to you. If your average was above 80%, it may be even higher. And the best part is that if you apply and your grades are correct, you get the money. Your high school counselor should have the information for this scholarship, but if not, look them up.

Alberta High School Rodeo Association Scholarships: Deadline April 1st. You must now be a member of AHSRA to apply for these scholarships. So those of you who want to go to college and aren’t members yet should join. This association is absolutely the best place to start your rodeo career. Nowhere else will you find better help, stock, and a positive atmosphere to be the best you can be. You can now start at Jr. High School Rodeo in sixth grade and have most of your first year of college paid for before you get there.

The last type of scholarship I want to talk about in this article are those awarded by colleges and universities in Canada and the United States. Some of the schools in Canada that are part of the Canadian Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (CIRA) are: Olds College, Lakeland College in Vermillion, AB, Red Deer College, NAIT, SAIT, The University of Lethbridge, U of A and U of C. CIRA is growing and is a great place to continue your education and rodeo at the same time. College rodeo in the United States is held in the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA). Member schools are spread throughout the western United States and are geographically divided into eleven regions. NIRA member schools award many scholarships to students from all over North America. If you are a student who wants to go to college here in the United States, look up College Rodeo. There you can find all the contact information of the coaches of each school. You don’t have to be the best in Canada to get a scholarship to go to school somewhere here. All it takes is the desire.

Good luck and remember:

“As long as there is a sunset, there will be a West” Dr. Lynn Phillips