The Empty Saddle: Grief, Grit, and the Heart of the Rimbey Rodeo

Grief, Grit, and the Heart of the Rimbey Rodeo

    If you want to understand the true DNA of Rimbey, Alberta, you don’t just look at the dirt—you look at the iron.

    This town is famously home to the largest and most complete collection of International Harvester half-ton trucks in the world. That isn’t just a roadside attraction; it is a mechanical testament to exactly who built this place. Settled at the turn of the century by pioneers and named after three brothers who carved a life out of the Blindman River valley, Rimbey was built on the backs of farmers, the rumble of old iron, and sheer western stubbornness. It is the undeniable heartbeat of the agricultural world in Central Alberta.

    When you stand in the dirt of a grassroots rodeo here, you are standing on that exact same century-old foundation.

    The CARA (Central Alberta Rodeo Association) series holds a very specific place in my heart because of what it stands for. It caters to the grassroots, the families, and the next generation. It isn't about massive corporate grandstands; it is about community. This past weekend in Rimbey proved exactly that, taking us through the entire spectrum of human emotion over the course of three days.

The Future in the Dirt

    Friday evening was dedicated entirely to the kids, and it was a masterclass in community. With close to 40 kids entered in the mutton busting, there was no pressure to rush the clock. It was just pure family time.

    Every kid got a cup of sugary candy and a t-shirt just for completing their ride. When families showed up not realizing they needed a helmet, you saw people passing helmets back and forth across the fence line to make sure every single child got their chance in the dirt. From goat tail untying and wild goat milking to the junior barrel racing that featured girls from under ten up to fifteen years old, Friday night was all about letting the kids get their hands dirty and feel like they were a real part of the rodeo.

    But a rodeo isn't just about watching the next generation find their footing. For a tight-knit agricultural town, the arena also serves as a sanctuary. It’s where a community physically gathers to celebrate their victories, and more importantly, where they gather to carry their grief.

The Empty Saddle & The Back-to-Back Heartbreak

    February of 2026 brought a devastating, back-to-back hit to the Rimbey community.

    On February 25th, the town lost Harlee Eugene Arnold Wilson at the age of 60. Harlee had ranched in the area for nearly thirty years, deeply involving himself in the local community and pouring his heart into the Rimbey Rodeo. He was a true pillar of the old guard—one of the hands that helped build the foundation these kids ride on today.

    But the heartbreak didn't stop there. That exact same month, the community also suffered the tragic passing of their young 2026 Rimbey Rodeo Queen, Kayla Peacock.

    In the western world, the Rodeo Queen is the face of the future. She is the ambassador of the sport, the role model for the little girls sitting on the fence panels, and the pride of the Ag Society. Kayla should have been riding under that summer sky this weekend, carrying the flag and the title she earned. Instead, the community had to carry her memory right alongside Harlee's.

    Losing a 30-year veteran of the dirt and a bright young face of the future in the exact same month leaves a massive, unfillable void in a town. This weekend, Rimbey made sure neither of them would be forgotten.

Honoring Their Own 

    On Saturday, under the threat of microburst downpours, the opening ceremonies brought the arena to a standstill. Cousin Colt Calvert rode into the dirt leading Kayla’s horse and empty saddle, adorned with a beautiful wreath of flowers. The reading detailing who Kayla was and what she meant to Rimbey was eloquent, heartbreaking, and done with incredible grace.

    Because of the time it took to properly honor her, the schedule got pushed back. Slack ran late into the night, finally finishing up around 10:30 PM after watching over 70 barrel racers—ranging from 12 to 56 years old—compete throughout the day. But nobody complained about the hour. Grassroots rodeo takes the time it needs to honor its own.

    On Sunday, under a beautiful, sunny sky, the tribute to Harlee Wilson was held. Right after the singing of O Canada, the arena held a moment of silence for Harlee, which transitioned flawlessly into the Cowboy's prayer. It was a perfectly timed, quiet moment of deep respect for a man who helped make events like this possible.

Stepping Up Under Pressure

    With Kayla's passing, the sheer weight of the crown was carried this weekend by Rodeo Princess Shelby Oldale.

    Shelby had to step up into the space Kayla left behind. Hanging out with her this weekend, you could see the gravity of it. You could see the immense, added pressure resting on her shoulders, knowing exactly the magnitude of the boots she had to fill.

    But Shelby didn't fold. She went to work. We did a mini photoshoot to recognize all the sponsor banners so the committee could send out proper thank-yous, and most importantly, she made sure that every single child got a picture with her after their mutton busting runs on Saturday and Sunday. She honored Kayla by continuing the work, holding her head high, and inspiring the kids on the fence line.

Toughness and The Patchwork Bear

    That heavy, resilient energy bled perfectly into Sunday’s "Tough Enough to Wear Pink" day.

    If there is one thing a rodeo crowd understands, it is toughness. But true toughness is a lot more complicated than taking a heavy hit in the dirt. Sometimes, the bravest thing you can do is just look out for the person sitting next to you.

    That is exactly why I brought ten of my signature Patchwork Bears with me to the arena on Sunday. These bears are the physical embodiment of the #ComfortCore philosophy I built this studio on. They are perfectly imperfect—stitched together to remind us that it is okay to be a little worn down, and it is absolutely okay to be soft in a tough world. Throughout the afternoon, I quietly handed those ten bears over the fence line to kids in the crowd. No big announcements, no fanfare. Just a quiet exchange in the dirt to remind them that whatever unseen battles they are fighting, they aren't riding alone.

Stitched Together

    The weekend in Rimbey was a heavy, beautiful reminder of the reality of rural life.

    It is a world where a family traveling all the way from Costa Rica can show up, get their kids into the mutton busting, and be interviewed with open arms by announcer Josh in front of the crowd. It is a world where 60-year-old veterans and 10-year-old rookies share the same dirt.

    We are all just stitched together from different seasons, different wrecks, and different tragedies. But as the Rimbey Ag Society proved this weekend, those fraying edges and the scars we carry are exactly what make our stories worth telling. We hold the seams together by showing up for each other.

Keep fighting the good fight.

Lee J. Kemp

Every Moment Is A Choice Studio 🔗 emiacstudio.ca

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