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Calgary (Rural Roots Canada) — Over 80 youth from across Alberta braved the snowy weather on the weekend to learn, compete and meet new friends at the Calgary Stampede 4-H Rodeo.

The 22nd annual event saw youth enhance their skills in barrel and pole racing, breakaway roping, cow riding, goat tying and steer daubing under the watchful eye of seasoned clinicians.

Hanna Martz from Forestburg, Alberta, who attends every year, says she’s here to meet new people and build her skills.

“The clinics are good, there’s lots of new people that come in and the clinicians are sometimes different and sometimes they are the same people, but you learn a lot and then you are prepared for the rodeo,” Martz said.

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Those thoughts echoed by Veronica Pedersen, who made the trek to Calgary from Hanna.

She says the event is always a lot of fun.

“I just like doing all the clinics before the rodeo to get all the practice in,” Pedersen said.

Martz and Pedersen says they attend between 10 and 25 4-H and High School Rodeos every year making for a very a busy schedule.

The annual two-day event features clinics on the Saturday and competitions on the Sunday.