Dunmore Equestrian Centre crowns new rodeo royalty

Commentator/Courier Photo by Anna Smith. ANOINTED: Emma Baedke was crowned the Dunmore Equestrian Centre’s rodeo Miss on Aug. 24, making her the first to ever hold both the Miss and Sweetheart titles.

By Anna Smith
Southern Alberta Newspapers
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The Dunmore Equestrian Centre welcomed new ambassadors for the year on Aug. 24 with the crowning of this year’s Miss and Sweetheart.

The centre was pleased to crown Sweetheart Meadow Van Maarion and Miss Emma Baedke, out of a pool of two and three competitors, respectively.

The competition took place over two days, with both public speaking and modelling taking place Friday evening at the Safety Buzz Campus, and the horsemanship portion of the competition happening the following morning at the Dunmore Equestrian outdoor arena.

This is not Baedke’s first turn with a crown band around her hat, as she was previously Dunmore Equestrian Sweetheart. This makes her the first individual to hold both titles. Being from just outside Medicine Hat, she’s looking forward to representing her community and the arena once again.

“I’m hoping to do some volunteering at seniors’ homes and some preschools, and then helping out, like Joyce Stuber with the pet visits that she does, the chick hatching and all that, and also just going to some rodeos and just meeting the people,” said Baedke.

This level of experience makes her a perfect “partner in crime,” as put by 2023 Rodeo Sweetheart Sophie Cruthers, to Van Maarion, who has won the title in her first competition at the age of 11.

Van Maarion also calls the area just outside the city home, and said that while she had no idea what was going to happen when she entered the competition, she’s excited to see what she’ll learn and get to help out with over the course of her year.