Accomplished Women

I met Monica when I met my still-current husband 50 years ago, and she was a bubble-gummer (pre-teen) then.  She became my niece.  My husband and I attended the same dance after the Clinton Ball/Rodeo in 1965.   We were legally married a few years later at my childhood parish church on Vancouver Island.  Monica wore a pretty little skirt and straw hat.  I wish I could make a copy of that as her rodeo friends and relatives would laugh.  Then I moved out to the Bryson's Empire Valley Ranch. It was sometimes called the 'edge of beyond' for most women.  But I loved the silence and the ranch lifestyle.  Monica was a lovely little girl who loved horses then and Bean Belly was one of her favorites.  I wish we had a picture of Bean Belly. She was also a very good deer shooter, at an early age.  She had an 'eagle' eye  when using a rifle. 

The notes below are lifted off of Google

Monica Wilson grew up on one of the largest ranches in B.C. where she learned at an early age how to break and train horses. She was one of the founders of the B.C. High School Rodeo Association. She eventually moved to Cardston and began her successful rodeo career. She turned professional in 1990 and competed at 9 consecutive Canadian Finals Rodeos in the Ladies Barrel Race.

Monica was the ladies barrel racing director for the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association 13 years. She was very instrumental in getting ladies equality at the CFR and at the Calgary Stampede.

She has been very involved in the Indian Rodeo Cowboys Association for 12 years. Below is her daughter, Randa, who also loves horses.

She won the acclaimed Guy Weadick award at the Calgary Stampede in 1996, which is awarded to an individual who best shows sportsmanship, ability and leadership qualities. To date she is the only woman to receive this honor. Also, she won the “Cowboy of the Year” in the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association, which is awarded for ability, leadership and rodeo accomplishments.

In 2003 Monica was honored by being invited to judge the Miss Rodeo America contest in Las Vegas. She is the only Canadian to have ever been asked to complete this prestigious task. She did not care about make-up or costumes, or the thousands of $ spent on saddlery and fancy tack.  She would only judge on how those girls could ride and move a horse gracefully.  She was looking for real cow-girls, who could work all day on horseback to herd cattle.


I am proud of all my relatives and all their various skills.   I can  say cowboy prayers for them every day of the week.