MOUNTAIN VIEW COUNTY – Tie-down roping runs in the blood of a Mountain View County rising contender who recently earned his first provincial championship title at the Alberta High School Rodeo Association’s finals, earning him a spot at upcoming nationals in Wyoming.
Levi Hunter, a Grade 11 student who’s called the James River area home since his family moved there when he was little, grew up excitedly watching his dad and grandparents competing in rodeos sanctioned by the Canadian Cowboys Association, eager for the opportunity to one day follow in their footsteps.
“My grandma and grandpa did a lot of rodeo and so did my dad,” said Hunter, adding his father and grandfather were both tie-down ropers.
“I watched my dad and my grandpa rope quite a bit.”
So as soon as he could get started, Hunter hopped right into the rodeo life at the age of around five or six.
“I’ve been at it for quite a while,” said the 16-year-old, who is taking his education online through the Vermillion School of Hope.
The Alberta High School Rodeo finals were hosted in Stettler and wrapped up on June 8 following three days of competition.
There were 36 contenders in tie-down roping.
Cheering him on from the stands the whole time were his parents Amanda and Tee as well as his little brother Chance, who has also taken up the reins and qualified for the junior national high school rodeo finals.
His grandparents also came out to watch the final day of competition.
Asked how everything went, Hunter said he placed second in the first round and then second in the second round but went onto win the average and the provincial title, earning him a championship buckle and a saddle.
“My last one wasn’t quite as good as the other two,” he said. “I just had to get one tied down and not break the barrier."
Breaking the barrier comes with the dreaded 10-second penalty.
“And I managed to do that, so I got the win," he said.
That means he will for the second time now be competing at the National High School Finals Rodeo, which take place July 13-19 in Wyoming, where the top-four contenders from state and provincial events test their mettle.
“I’m very excited,” he said. “I’m hoping to go for the world title.”
In 2024, he had placed fourth provincially, qualifying him to compete. Most of the contenders come from the U.S. and Canada but there are some who hail from Mexico, Australia and Brazil.
“It was pretty awesome last year when I got to go as well," he said.
Having started his career at the junior high level, Hunter has since begun to make a name for himself.
“In junior high, I won the Canadian champion heeler,” he said, adding he had also won the ribbon roping provincial champion.
Provided his plans fall into place, he hopes to eventually compete professionally.
Asked if he had his sights ultimately set on one day going up against the top contenders in the Sundre Pro Rodeo as well as the Calgary Stampede, he without hesitating replied, “100 per cent. I’ll definitely be trying to make those.”
Responding to a question about what keeps him fired up about getting back on the saddle, he said, “It’s hard to explain it.”
There are multiple factors, he added, citing first and foremost the adrenalin rush.
“When you’re roping and then going down to the tie the calf is usually what makes me most excited about it,” he said.
But Hunter said he also enjoys the chance to compete alongside “a bunch of good guys” while along the way trying to “push yourself to be better and better every day.”
Offering parting thoughts, he expressed gratitude to his family for supporting him every step of the way and making possible the opportunity to compete.
