Oak Lake will be hosting the 3-day Manitoba High School Rodeo Finals (MHSRA) this coming weekend (June 2-4), showcasing skills learned over the past 12 months in everything rodeo!

With 3 sons participating in this high-action sport, Manitoba Association President, Trevor Gompf, says he got involved in the circuit when his first son started school in Grade 6, continuing in the rodeo program through to Grade 12.  He adds the interest is certainly on the increase, especially in the western part of the province.

The rodeo season starts at the end of August, continuing through the Fall, with winter months off, then resuming in spring, following the school year, until graduation in early June.  "They have to keep their grades up in order to attend," shares Gompf, "and the points they accumulate throughout the year go towards prizes for the season, and there are also prizes for the Finals."

This weekend event begins Friday morning, finishing up Sunday afternoon after the 4:00 pm awards ceremony.  "It's the Finals so there will be a Grad Ceremony on the Saturday evening because we have members who are graduating this year and moving out, and we'll have the Grade 8 grads moving into Grade 9 into High School."

This weekend, from Friday to Sunday afternoon, attendees will see approximately 95 young riders compete in a variety of events including drilled goat-tying and bull-riding, barrel-racing and steer wrestling, saddle-bronc and bareback riding, calf-roping and team-roping.  "This will be an action-packed weekend!" adds Gompf.  "It takes a huge volunteer base to put this on, but we all work together and get the job done!"

Top riders in this week's competition will go on to compete against other finalists from all participating provinces and territories in the Canadian High School Rodeo Finals, taking place later this summer in Brandon, August 2-4, 2023.

For more information, visit their website at:

High School Finals – Oak Lake (JH & HS can compete 3 Days) – MHSRA