The Stettler Agriplex grounds came alive with trailers and rodeo community on Wednesday morning, March 23 as Melissa Thiessen and her team organized the second annual futurity and derby to raise money for the Make a Wish Foundation.
The event's pony race raised $12,714 for the foundation.
The winner of the futurity was Nicole Pana from Wood Mountain, Sask., who won $3,059.49, while Carman Pozzobon from Kamloops, B.C. won the derby and earned $3,346.
"We had tons of local help and raised nearly $13,000 for Make A Wish Foundation," said Thiessen. "We paid out over $26,000 in prize money to the winners and ran 417 barrel racers that day."
Participants had come from all over, even as far as Manitoba and Saskatchewan.
In the futurity draw, Pana clocked in an average time of 26.504 seconds and came in first place, followed by Kali Kott with a time of 27.029 seconds and Twylla Bruhn in third place with an average time of 27.17 seconds.
In the derby draw, Pozzobon made an average time of 26.088 seconds winning the first place, followed by Bailey Hughson with a time of 26.362 seconds, and in third place was Jessa Galloway with 26.511 seconds.
In the open barrel race, for 1D Stephanie Mather came in first with 12.885 seconds, in second place was Kandi Horn with 13.018 seconds and the third place winners were Shelly Manning and Rene LecLercq with 13.29 seconds.
For 2D the winner was Lisa Zachoda with 13.608 seconds, followed by two second place winners, who were also the third place winners with 13.616 seconds – Krystal Grad and Corina Dixon.
For 3D the winner was Rayel Little with 14.3 seconds, followed by Candace Lefebvre in second place with 14.309 seconds and in third place was Lindsey Smith with 14.327 seconds.
For 4D the winner was Molly Marquardt with 14.995 seconds, followed by Misty Ruggles in second place with 15.001 seconds and Katelyn Kippers being the third place winner with 15.005 seconds.