Area cowboys shone at this year’s Canadian Finals Rodeo.
Residents of Donalda, brothers Curtis and Cody Cassidy and Big Valley resident Josh Harden saddled up for a wild ride at the 42nd Annual Canadian Finals Rodeo in Edmonton in November.
Curtis Cassidy won the High Point Champion. He explained that the High Point Champion is the competitor who wins the most money in any two combined events in Canada. He won approximately $67,000 last year.
“It helps get you down the road but there are a lot of expenses, it is not all profit,” he chuckles.
He will continue his rodeo season by going to events in Texas to hopefully win some money before heading off to the National Finals Rodeo in Vegas.
Steer Wrestling Champion Cody Cassidy won approximately $100,000 last year. His plans this winter are to rodeo in Ft. Worth, Texas and if he is in the top five, he gets a bye for The American in Dallas, Texas.
Cody raises cattle with his father just outside of Donalda and his favorite horse is Tank which he rode in the CFR.
Josh Harden won the All Around Champion buckle. He explained that the award is for the cowboy who works both ends of the arena, rough stock rider and timed event. His winnings were about $25,000. Future plans are not written in stone yet as they are still in the planning stages for rodeoing in the states. Josh raises 7 or 8 horses in the Big Valley area and eventually they will be used in rodeos.
